Classes

Classes are open to anyone with an interest, offered on a quarterly basis. Most evening classes are geared towards adult learners, with summertime camps offered for youth. Find current class details and register for upcoming sessions by clicking on the program areas below. Scholarships are available to assist with class fees.

CAFAC is committed to meeting each student’s needs to make each class as successful and enjoyable an experience as possible. For students needing additional assistance during class, please contact Education & Access Coordinator Becca at becca.cerra@cafac.org to discuss potential accommodations and support. We've also compiled a sensory rubric with more information about what to expect in a particular type of class.  

Gift certificates in any amount are available too!
Registering with a gift card? Find out how.

Check the daily class calendar.

Classes start on a quarterly basis (January, April, July, October) and registration opens about five weeks in advance of each quarter. Members of our Fuelership supporters program get early registration, one week before classes open for general registration!

CAFAC is committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all community members regardless of age, ability, background, identity, and more. For more information, see our Community Standards.

How to Register

Online: You’re already here! It’s fast and easy to register and pay online. Find the class you’d like and register right now.

By phone: Give us a call at 612-294-0400. Please note that we don’t have always someone answering the phone. Leave us a message and we’ll gladly get back to you.

Using a gift certificate?
Our online registration system doesn’t accept gift cards, so we handle this process manually.

If you have an eGift Card, forward the email you received to info@cafac.org along with the name/date of the class you'd like to take, your full name, address, and the email and phone number where you can be reached. If you have a paper gift certificate (or you don’t have the eGift Card email), please email us with the same information and the gift certificate number.

Then, we'll register you and send you an online invoice reduced by your gift card amount.

Transfers, Cancellations & Refunds

We hate to do it, but sometimes we have to cancel a class. When we do, we’ll refund 100% of your tuition and materials fees ASAP, or offer to transfer you to another class.

We realize that sometimes things change and you might need to cancel a class. If possible, we’d love to have you transfer to another class. We make commitments to our instructors as well as other students who’ve signed up, and sometimes losing one student means not having enough enrollment to run a class.

Our refund policy is:

• CAFAC charges a $15 processing fee for every cancellation.

• Subject to space availability, you may transfer to another class offered in the same quarter by notifying us at least seven days (one week) prior to the start of your original class. We can also hold a credit on account if you’d like to take a class in a future quarter.

• 100% refunds of tuition and materials fees are granted when you cancel your registration at least seven days (one week) prior to the start of your class.

• 50% refunds of tuition only are granted if you cancel your registration at least two business days before the start of your class.

• If you cancel fewer than two business days prior to the start of class, no portion of your tuition will be refunded. Exceptions may be granted in cases of documented medical emergencies.

• The $15 processing fee is not charged if CAFAC must cancel a class.

Joining a waitlist for a class that’s full? 

Before you add yourself to a waitlist, it helps us if you're pretty certain you'll be available for the class. If a spot becomes available and you're next in line, you'll be automatically registered, sent an email notification, and given about 24 hours to confirm your registration by paying. After that, we move on to the next person in line. If we have a long list of folks who are no longer interested, it can be time-consuming to fill that spot. Thanks for your consideration!

age requirements

Please see class descriptions for age requirements. They vary based on class structure and content, as well as instructor preference. Some adult classes are open to ages 16 and up with a parent/guardian in attendance. Others are open to ages 16 and up without a parent/guardian in attendance. These classes are geared and paced for adult learners, so we ask that parents/guardians of students under 18 be sure they’re ready before signing up, and that a parent/guardian can be reached during class if necessary.

We also offer youth camps in the summer, for students as young as 9. See camp descriptions for those age requirements.

What to bring and wear to class

You can find specific details within the class listings but in general, dress for a shop environment in clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty: long pants and sleeves, natural (nonflammable) fibers, work boots or closed-toe shoes.

We provide basic personal protective equipment (PPE): safety glasses, ear protection, gloves, welding jackets. These items are shared by many so they can get worn out before they're replaced. You are welcome to bring your own PPE.

Hydration is important! It can get hot in the shop so a water bottle is always a good idea, especially for day-long classes.

Attendance and Make-up Classes

For 8-week fundamentals classes (including blacksmithing, jewelry, and welding), attendance at the first class session is mandatory because important shop safety information is presented. In general, we highly recommend that you attend the first session of any class you might take, because it's challenging to catch you up later. Once classes are underway, your attendance is up to you, though we hope you'll be able to make all sessions. Because many of our classes fill, we can't guarantee make-up opportunities if you have a schedule conflict, though we will try. Thanks for your understanding!

Tuition Assistance Scholarships

CAFAC is committed to making our classes accessible to anyone with an interest and we continuously seek sources to build a scholarship fund that can provide income-based assistance to students. Proceeds from sales in our gallery go to support our scholarship fund.

You can find a scholarship application here. Return completed applications and supporting documentation to info@cafac.org or mail to/drop off at 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407.

reheater option

Once you’ve completed a class at CAFAC, Reheater is your option to take it again, continuing to develop your skills or work on a project with an instructor’s guidance as needed. Includes storage on the student work storage shelf. Reheater spots are offered at a discount and are limited.

How to Find Us

We’re located at 3749 Chicago Avenue in South Minneapolis. We have a small parking lot on the north side of our building and there is also street parking on Chicago Avenue and nearby. Please enter the building through the side (parking lot) door.

Waiver of liability

There are inherent risks to participation in our classes. When you register, you are agreeing that you understand these risks. At class, you’ll sign in and agree to the following:

I understand that there may be serious risks inherent in participating in this activity. I will not hold CAFAC, its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, representatives, or agents (collectively, the “Indemnitees”) responsible for any claim or liability arising out of or relating to my participation in this activity. I will indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Indemnitees from and against any liability, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs (“Claims”), arising from or relating to my participation in this activity, including, but not limited to, any Claims arising from or relating to the negligence of the Indemnitees or equipment used in the course of the activity.

I give CAFAC the right to use, reproduce, and to permit the use to others of all photographs and video taken of me for educational, publication or marketing purposes without further compensation, and to alter and composite the same without restriction and without my inspection or approval. I acknowledge and agree that all this material shall be sole property of CAFAC.