Each festival season, Cheekwood offers workshops for adults! Whether you’re interested in art or gardening, these workshops give you a taste of what’s offered in our more comprehensive 6-week class series. This allows participants to learn the basics of a new skill or art form, without a large time or financial commitment.
These classes and workshops are for participants 18 years old and older only. Minors should not be brought into classrooms and other instructional areas.
Gardening Workshops
Gardening with the Grimaldis
Location: Botanic Hall – Massey Auditorium
There’s no better place than Cheekwood to learn about all things gardening! Join Peter Grimaldi, Cheekwood’s Vice President of Gardens and Facilities, and Megan Grimaldi, a garden expert from Moore & Moore Garden Center, to explore ways design, build, and maintain better outdoor spaces. The four-part series will progressively establish a methodology for creating a space of your own and cover topics including garden resources, design, and maintenance. With over 40 years of professional gardening experience between them, Peter and Megan can answer any question and help gardeners take the next step in their educational journey.
Not Yet Members: $200
Members: $160
1.5 Hours
Top Plant Picks Tour: September
Location: Botanic Hall
Each month, Cheekwood’s Horticulturist selects eight unique plants to highlight throughout the gardens. Join a member of the Gardens Team and explore this month’s plant selections!
Not Yet Members: Free
Members: Free
1 Hour
Sep 16 | 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
No advanced registration required.
At Home Garden Checklist: Autumn
Location: Frist Learning Center Courtyard Classroom
As the cooler weather approaches, there are many things that you can do to prepare your garden space. Master Gardener James Hearn will outline the necessary steps to maintaining your garden space throughout the coming months and prepare your beds for winter. Tips will include when to plant your bulbs, pruning trees and shrubs, adding compost, seed storage, and so much more!
Not Yet Members: $40
Members: $32
2 Hours
Garden Tools 101
Location: Frist Learning Center Courtyard Classroom
Join Master Gardener James Hearn as he walks you through the tools of the trade! James will explain which garden tools are best for particular jobs, how to use them, and how to maintain them through regular cleaning and sharpening.
Not Yet Members: $40
Members: $32
2 Hours
Bonsai Basics
Location: Frist Learning Center Courtyard Classroom
Explore the world of beginning Bonsai with your local experts! Members of the Nashville Bonsai Society will walk through the basics of Bonsai. From container and plant options to shaping and styling, you’ll gain the information you need to start your own living piece of art!
Not Yet Members: $40
Members: $32
2 Hours
Native Plant ID
Location: Frist Learning Center Courtyard Classroom
Get down to the roots of some of your favorite Middle Tennessee plants! Master Gardener Paul Prill will demonstrate how to properly identify native plants, trees, and shrubs by characteristics like leaf shape, leaf arrangement, flowers, fruit, and more!
Not Yet Members: $40
Members: $32
2 Hours
At Home Garden Checklist: Autumn
Location: Frist Learning Center Courtyard Classroom
As the cooler weather approaches, there are many things that you can do to prepare your garden space. Master Gardener James Hearn will outline the necessary steps to maintaining your garden space throughout the coming months and prepare your beds for winter. Tips will include when to plant your bulbs, pruning trees and shrubs, adding compost, seed storage, and so much more!
Not Yet Members: $40
Members: $32
2 Hours
Top Plant Picks Tour: October
Location: Botanic Hall
Each month, Cheekwood’s Horticulturist selects eight unique plants to highlight throughout the gardens. Join a member of the Gardens Team and explore this month’s plant selections!
Not Yet Members: Free
Members: Free
1 Hour
Oct 7 | 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
No advanced registration required.
Caring for Houseplants
Location: Frist Learning Center Courtyard Classroom
Philodendron falling flat? Ivy looking ill? Look no further: Local horticulturist Lilly Oaks will get down to the basics of houseplant care, from repotting, to soil needs, pest management, and so much more!
Not Yet Members: $40
Members: $32
2 Hours
Gardening in Small Spaces
Location: Frist Learning Center Courtyard Classroom
Interested in testing your green thumb, but only have a porch, balcony, or small patio space? Whether you have room for containers, window boxes, or small garden beds, join an expert from the Master Gardeners of Williamson County to learn how to spruce up your limited outdoor space.
Not Yet Members: $40
Members: $32
2 Hours
Late Fall Perennials
Location: Frist Learning Center Courtyard Classroom
Fall in love with fall perennials! Join Master Gardener Paul Prill to take a deep dive into the world of fall-blooming perennials, and how they can add a pop of color to your yard as the temperatures get cooler!
Not Yet Members: $40
Members: $32
2 Hours
Pick-Your-Own Rose Bouquet
Location: Botanic Hall- Massey Auditorium
As the weather cools, what does a rose garden need to thrive? Led by members of the Nashville Rose Society, this workshop will cover fall activities like fertilizing, spraying, watering, deadheading, and winterizing roses. Participants will leave with their own bouquet of roses from the Rose Study Garden. Vases will not be provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own if desired – we recommend a vase with a three inch in diameter opening.
Not Yet Members: $45
Members: $36
2 Hours
Bulbs For Spring!
Location: Frist Learning Center Courtyard Classroom
It’s not too early to start planning your spring garden display! In fact, here at Cheekwood, our Gardens team starts planting bulbs as early as November 1st to allow our tulips, hyacinth, daffodils, and others to take root before cooler temperatures roll in. Join Susan Lyell of Restoration Rose for a rundown of bulbs of all kinds and how to set your spring blooms up for success!
Not Yet Members: $40
Members: $32
2 Hours
When Do I Plant This? Cold-Hardy Plants for Overwintering
Location: Frist Learning Center Courtyard Classroom
Have you ever been eager to plant something new, only to realize you’re a bit too late? Join the Master Gardeners of Williamson County for a crash course on what can go in your garden this fall and what seeds you should start indoors. This seasonal series will be back again in the Spring for a new planting season and fresh gardening tips!
Not Yet Members: $40
Members: $32
2 Hours
Hands-On Workshops
The Art of Storytelling
Location: Frist Learning Center Painting Studios
Join The Moth GrandSlam champion and CEO of The Ganon Group, Bill Ganon, to get a crash course in storytelling. Ganon will walk participants through the basics of a successful story and share insights on the best way to deliver a story to an audience with maximum impact. Attendees should come with a story in mind and will have an opportunity at the end of the workshop to share what they’ve learned in the Beer Garden.
Not Yet Members: $55
Members: $44
2 Hours
Ikebana
Location: Frist Learning Center Painting Studios
Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arranging that emphasizes respect and gratitude for nature. Learn the basic principles of Ikebana from cultural significance to creating a unique floral piece. Participants will also create their own arrangement using a traditional-style container and a floral component.
Not Yet Members: $80
Members: $64
2 Hours
Temari Balls
Location: Frist Learning Center Painting Studios
Popularized in Japan in the 7th century, Temari balls are ornate spheres with intricate thread decoration, used for games, décor, and as a symbol of the new year. Join local textile artist Heidi Ulery to explore the origins of these Japanese folk art creations and learn the basics of creating your own.
Not Yet Members: $70
Members: $56
3 Hours
Extreme Pumpkin Sculpting
Location: Frist Learning Center Painting Studios
Join renowned sculptor Liza Slaughter-Barker for a morning of pumpkin carving fun! Liza will walk participants through her tips and techniques for creating a detailed, three-dimensional, spooky pumpkin sculpture.
Not Yet Members: $80
Members: $64
2 Hours
Illustration: Pumpkin Houses
Location: Frist Learning Center Painting Studios
Pumpkins, gourds and hay bales, oh my! Spend an afternoon sketching all things fall in Cheekwood’s Pumpkin Village with local artist and fine arts educator, Jammie Williams.
Not Yet Members: $70
Members: $56
2 Hours
Stained Glass Suncatchers: Pumpkins!
Location: Frist Learning Center Painting Studios
Learn the basics of stained-glass art with Sam Simms, owner of Stained Glass Accessories. Participants will use the copper foil and soldering method created by Louis B. Tiffany to foil and solder together precut shapes, and assemble to create a pumpkin suncatcher for your home. All equipment and materials are included.
Not Yet Members: $80
Members: $64
2 Hours
Ceramic Woven Basket
Location: Frist Learning Center Clay Studio
Participants in this workshop will use basic clay, hand-building and weaving skills to create a fully-functional woven basket/serving tray.
Please Note:
All baskets will need to fully dry before glazing. We will be offering drop-in studio time to glaze your piece on Saturday, October 14 between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.*
Following glazing, all work will be kiln-fired so that it is food-safe and dishwasher safe. This can take up to two weeks. You will receive an email when your piece is ready for pickup, along with pickup instructions.
Not Yet Members: $80
Members: $64
3 Hours
*Drop-in Glaze Day: Saturday, October 14 between 12 – 4 PM
Fall Floral Arrangements
Location: Frist Learning Center Painting Studios
Design and assemble a colorful fall container arrangement with Cheekwood Horticulturist Shannon Pruitt. Participants will use a mixture of mums, pansies and other ornamental plants to create a cohesive and aesthetic product.
Not Yet Members: $80
Members: $64
2 Hours
Mixed-Media Nicho Boxes
Location: Frist Learning Center Painting Studios
Nicho Boxes, or simply, ‘nicho’ are small, decorative display boxes, often used as part of an ofrenda, or altar, to honor the late loved ones during El Día de los Muertos. Join local mixed-media artist Hannah Vaughn and learn about this Mexican Folk Art tradition! Participants in this workshop will learn about the history and significance of nicho and use a wide variety of materials to create their own.
Not Yet Members: $70
Members: $56
2 Hours
Artist-in-Residence Workshop
Location: Frist Learning Center Painting Studios
Each year, Cheekwood’s Martin Shallenberger Artist in Residence program brings national and international artists to Nashville to create and exhibit site-specific works at Cheekwood. Join our 2024 Artist in Residence, Sarah Nguyen, as she shares insight on her creative process, and explores the relationship between cut paper art and the impacts of light and shadow on the overall piece. Participants will then use what they’ve learned to produce their own cut paper creation.
Not Yet Members: $70
Members: $56
2 Hours
Cancellation Policy for All Series
Refund requests must be submitted to [email protected] 72 hours prior to the program’s start date and time. The registration fee will be refunded less a ten percent processing charge.
Fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable on and after the program’s start date. Cheekwood cannot refund fees requested on or after the start date of a program or for sessions missed due to illness or other personal situations.