MCG Youth admits students of any race, sex, national origin, religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

Winter 2026

MCG Youth has been dedicated to inspiring creativity, learning, and personal growth through the arts for almost 60 years.

By providing opportunities to hone their creative skills alongside teaching artists, we are focused on developing personal, artistic, future-ready, and civically minded high school students.

We are committed to creating a community that fosters a sense of belonging, interconnectedness, and hope.

ENROLLMENT

Apprenticeship Training Program(ATP) enrollment will be held exclusively via our website.

Enrollment will open on Dec. 9th at 6:00 p.m.*
Spaces fill quickly, so sign-up early!
Courses are offered at no cost to students.
Admission is on first-come, first-served basis.
Waitlists will be maintained.

*Jazz Enrollment will remain open from Dec 2- Jan. 6.

Not sure which class to try? Visit our Open Studios on Mondays and Fridays and see what medium fits your creative flow!

TRANSPORTATION

There will be a van or bus at most PPS high schools going to MCG Youth.

For all other students, transit tickets will be provided or MCG staff will arrange for pick-up.

Public transit tickets will be provided to get home.

Questions?

Contact- Bryce Hemington
Email- bhemington@manchesterbidwell.org

Phone- 412-322-1773 Ext. 112

Fax- 412-321-2120

Click Here

Registration

Winter Course Listing

Screen Printing 101

Tuesday Class: Jan. 6 – March 3,
9 class sessions

Learn how to design, transfer, and print your own hand-drawn and digital designs onto paper, fabric, and clothing. We’ll explore the basics and more of how to take an idea and turn it into pieces that you can sell or keep for yourself.

Stitched & Stuffed

Wednesday Class: Jan. 7- March 4
(9 class sessions)

Let’s make weird, silly, soft, or scratchy animals and creatures! Students will practice hand and machine sewing as well as using simple patterns to bring their idea to life. You can make anything from a cute, cuddly bear to a creepy, rag doll.

Drawing Outside the Box

Thursday Class: Jan. 8 – March 5

(8 class sessions; No class Jan. 22)

Students will explore drawing beyond traditional techniques through experimentation and self-expression. We’ll doodle, make patterns, explore different drawing materials, and hopefully have fun. Experience is not necessary.

Pixel Playground: Photoshop

Tuesday Class: Jan. 6 – March 3,
9 class sessions

Dive into digital art with Adobe Photoshop! Learn essential tools for painting, editing photos, and building layered designs. Great for all skill levels—leave feeling confident and creative.

PaperCraft 3D: Pepakura

Wednesday Class: Jan. 7- March 4
(9 class sessions)

Turn 3D models into real paper sculptures! Use Pepakura to unfold, print, cut, and assemble props, figures, and more. Hands-on fun for beginners and makers alike.

Motion Magic: The Basics of Adobe Animate

Thursday Class: Jan 8 – March 5

8 class sessions; No class Jan. 22

Learn to bring your drawings to life using Adobe Animate! Explore character design, keyframes, tweening, and sound as you create short, animated projects and let your imagination move on screen.

Design & Dine

Tuesday Class: Jan. 6 – March 3,
9 class sessions

Design your dream dinnerware! Create cohesive sets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner using slab-building and paper templates. Learn precise construction techniques to craft mugs, plates, tumblers, and serving pieces that are both functional and beautiful.

Scratching the Surface

Wednesday Class: Jan. 7- March 4
(9 class sessions)

Take your wheel-thrown pottery to the next level with dynamic surface decoration! Experiment with carving, inlay, water etching, slip trailing, and underglaze transfers to create layered textures and patterns. Perfect for students looking to add personality and flair to every piece they make.

Go Big or Go Home!

Thursday Class: Jan. 8- March 5

(8 class sessions; No class Jan. 22)

Transform a favorite object—toy, game controller, or personal item—into a larger-than-life ceramic sculpture. Learn advanced coil-building, structural techniques, and surface finishing to make your oversized creation truly spectacular.

Winter Photoland

Tuesday Class: Jan. 6 – March 3,
9 class sessions

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Let’s go out and take some pictures! Learn about the digital camera using manual settings to capture the fantastic winter scenery. Local and regional trips will be taken to gain a better appreciation of the winter vistas. Open to all levels of photo skills.

Studio Photography

Wednesday Class: Jan. 7- March 4
(9 class sessions)

Lights, camera, action! Be in control of the lights and camera in our portrait studio to get some terrific action. After creating your studio images print them to the max. Using the sublimation printing technique, print your creations on fabric and materials such as metal and glass. This course is open to all skill levels.

Darkroom Mania

Thursday Class: Jan 8 – March 5

8 class sessions; No class Jan. 22

So, you want to print those negatives? Let’s do it! Even if you don’t have any negatives, we’ll go out taking pictures so you can print in our darkroom. You’ll have the chance to print from 5X7 all the way up to 11X14 paper! Learn tradition printing techniques as well as creative printing techniques. Open to all photography skill levels.

Tell Your Story

Two-Day Class held Tuesdays and Thursdays

Tuesday Class: Jan. 6- March 3

Thursday Class: Jan. 8 – March 5

No Programming: Jan. 22

Mandatory Events:

Tamara Tunie at MCG - 2/12/26

Family Night at MCG - 3/6/26

Number of classes: 17

Maximum Class Size: 15

Cost: Free

Calling ALL instrumentalists! Jazz is more than music. Jazz is a way of thinking about your environment and how you interact with it. Through the study of the legacy of jazz composers from Pittsburgh, Mark Jackovic will lead high school students in creating original compositions combining melody, harmony, and rhythm.