The Steel Yard

Fortunately, the sign said they were open, but nobody answered the door. Looks like a cool place and I'll probably try to get back sometime.

Very interesting art community, offering a lot of metal work and ceramic training and classes. Has a side line of building public projects such as fencing, gates and sculpture. And a public Iron Pour event .

Took a weekend course to learn mig welding.never did it before.but when i was done,i was very comfortable and understood the basics to get started on my own,thank you charlie and enid.

What a treasure. Cool facility, great people, amazing operation - educational and commercial. Thanks Steel Yard!

Great open air venue. It hosts the Bacon and Beer Fest RI which I highly recommend if you are a red blooded American.

Great place to explore your craft. The West Side Sewing Studio is a wonderful place to get your craft on.

We attended the "Hi-Neighbor!" Block Party two weeks ago, and I thought the space was really unique and funky. The cool industrial art installations really make the most of the spot's literal old steelyard roots. I think it could be used to better advantage, though. My complaints: 1.) No parking. The area is also surrounded by construction and one-way streets. During rush-hour, it took us 20 minutes just to drive back around the block when we missed our chance to grab street parking. 2.) No shade. I could see this being a great place for a concert on a summer night. As a location for an afternoon family party...not so much. We were roasting alive, with few places to sit except some patchy grass, and no shade in the open courtyard. It might benefit from a bit more landscaping or even just letting some trees and shrubs grow in to provide shade. Or maybe awnings?

I attended a wedding here at this wonderful occasion that was been hiding in Providence and I've never known about it. The gentleman that were the event coordinators were super friendly and answered all of our little questions. Definitely looking into some of the classes!! Very excited to find this!

The service requested here was great a Cultural Placemaking bringing all different cultures together. It was free of value for all different cultures to all enjoy festivities together in a peaceful atmosphere.

took a beginner welding class and was very happy. instructor was knowledgeable, friendly, and patient. she also took the time to do demonstrations of techniques which the class was able to practice right away. highly recommend the class here especially if Amber is your instructor.

Variety of learning and cultural options A positive community influence Carries the torch for its crafts I take an extra measure of pride in Providence because the city is able to boast a feature as culturally relevant, vibrant, inclusive, educational, past-respecting yet forward-thinking, and contributory as The Steel Yard. Imagine, if you will, a light saber. Now shrink it, focus it, and make it a precision handheld device. Congratulations - in your mind's eye, you're now wielding a plasma cutter, which is a real tool you can learn to use and put to effective metal-working use after a workshop here - I did just that during a Weekend Welding Workshop and it was tough to wipe the grin off my face for quite a long time. While that might make for some of the coolest visual imagery to describe, the fact that metal grinders, MiG welders, age-old anvils, fine-gauge jewelry-making tools, ceramic works, and myriad other tools of the trade are waiting to be discovered and shared here is a great impetus to get people excited about the art and science of metal-working. The Yard recognized that and has worked hard over the years to forge the foundation, expand the awareness base, and reach out to the community - all experience levels, age ranges, and walks of life. The events here are a super draw for my family and me. The Halloween Iron Pour. The Ultimate Chef competition. The Steel Yard Cruise Night Car Show. I hear there have also been weddings here...which goes to show you don't need to be actively working metal to enjoy the Yard. That said, seeing some of the custom-chopped and augmented vehicles done on-site doesn't hurt one's appetite to grab some leathers and a visor, and get working. I received a request for donation to the Yard's efforts at the end of 2012 that moved to me action in a way that words hadn't called me to in some time. That was refreshing and invigorating; it was merely (at its essence) a request for support. And support we should. The Steel Yard is an anchor helping to revitalize an area of the city that needs it with its facility location; revitalizing a city that can use those services with its good public works, as with its creation of beautiful and utilitarian benches, garbage cans, and bike racks seen around town; revitalizing people's skill sets by providing constructive classes in a variety of disciplines at fair tuition costs, for multiple age groups; and mostly, revitalizing metal-working as a discipline that is useful, positive, artistic, and tending away from defunct and back toward common. For all of that, The Steel Yard deserves our support in keeping alive The Spark. Get involved and be about it - highest recommendation.

We were there for the iron pour this year (2016). There seemed to be hype about it, so we wanted to give it a try. We honestly weren't impressed. (To be fair it was cold and had been raining earlier in the day.) We got there at 5, when doors were originally supposed to open, and had to wait in line for over an hour. Because of the rain they said there would be a 20-minute delay, but it was about double that before the line moved at all. Then once you're in, you can't leave. So we quickly moved to grab over-priced food. By that point the line to get a drink was far too long, so we moved to the area where the show would be to stand. Here's the biggest problem: once you're there, you can't move. For the number of tickets they sell there isn't a ton of space and if you're in the back of the crowd you can't see a thing. So we stood there for over two hours, not moving in the cold, waiting. There were some fire dancers and that was very cool, but repetitive. After a bit it became very clear to us that the people running this had very little idea of what was going on. We could hear them, and as they're moving big buckets of fire around they're asking each other where they're going and how to hold the stuff. One girl even said "I have never lit steel wool on fire, I really want to try it!!" Not comforting. The barrier was just a rope. Security for the fire area? A kid who looked like he was 13 walking back and forth asking a HUGE crowd of people to step back. We waited and waited, as the main event was supposed to start (7pm). The crowd was getting antsy (so was I) and I looked back because it felt like the space was getting tighter and we were being pushed against the rope (with a 13 year old saying "back up"). We were in front with a good 20 people directly behind us. It was a large crowd for the space and I can't imagine anyone halfway back could see unless they were super tall. Not that there was anything to see as the experts kept trying to figure out why their equipment wasn't working. It was now approaching 8 and I needed to use the bathroom, and was freezing from standing still. With no start in sight, we left. We basically paid $10 each to stand in the cold in one place or another among a group that was too large for the space. (They certainly made a lot of money on tickets!) I'm giving 3 stars because 1) the rain probably caused some of the delay, and 2) the fire dancing was cool -- though they did not have 2-hours worth of entertainment prepared. But seriously, I need to be able to leave briefly to go the bathroom and still be able to find a place to stand at the event if I'm going to buy a ticket. And if you're playing with fire, maybe have people who know what they're doing.

The Steel Yard is such an arts treasure in Providence. From the classes they offer in media like welding and ceramics to the unique space itself - created out of an old steel factory - it is a wonderful community resource and a really inspiring place to be. I am currently taking a 10-week long ceramics class with a friend of mine and loving it. My friend had already taken a slab/hand-building-based class at the Steel Yard over the summer and thought it was fantastic, so she ended up signing up for this wheel-based course, and I'm so glad I decided to join her for it. The facility itself is gorgeous - very industrial, with lots of character. It is well-supplied and nicely maintained. Our friendly instructor has been very effective and helpful, striking a nice balance between providing direct help/doing demonstrations and having us work independently. Each class is 3 hours long, which is a nice chunk of time to both watch some demonstrations and throw a handful of pieces on the wheel. In the last week we've also learned to glaze our pieces, so as we approach the end of the course, most of the students are devoting more time to that. It has been so fun seeing how all our classmates' pieces turn out. The course cost just over $400, and while that's a big investment, it's a great value because the class includes all materials and services (clay, glazes, tools, and frequent kiln firing done by the staff), as well as access to open studio hours on Thursdays and Sundays for 3 hours each. If you take advantage of the open hours, you can really end up taking a bunch of things home to keep or give as gifts! As we near the end of the class and my pile of pretty bowls and cups builds up at home, I'm already starting to get sad that the facility closes each winter and I will no longer be able to go to my beloved open studio hours. Seriously, throwing on the wheel is basically a form of therapy, since it is both meditative and creative. If you're looking for a new creative outlet that results in beautiful things to keep for yourself or give to family and friends, I highly recommend taking a ceramics class here. No prior experience needed!

Unique, inspring and way cool. We had some friends from out of town stop by in Providence and it just so happened that The Steel Yard's Cruise Night (http://www.thesteelyard.org/explore/upcoming_events) was going on. The event is technically free but we knew that it was a big fundraising event for The Steel Yard so we gave them a donation. I've always wanted to go to a class here but never got the chance too. After seeing the facilities this past weekend, it's hard not to get motivated. The location of this place is a tricky, it's right next to the ever-so-classy Club Fantasies. Throughout the place, you can find pieces of welded artwork and it really adds to the overall feel. Cruise was so much fun because of the really unique cars and bikes that people brought in. Great music, cars and even Haven Brothers was there to make sure people were fed. I'd definitely come back here to get my welding on.

The classes at the Steel Yard are great. I've taken a Wheel Throwing class (something i found out i wasn't great at, but still had fun doing) and a Glass Fusing class. Its just such a fun atmosphere to be in, especially in the Summer, there is so much going on there. Plus they have great events. The Steel Yard really adds a lot of life to Providence! Thanks guys!

Great classes. Fun for artists and artist-wannabes (like me). Amazing transformation that they have had - they care about the environment, people and craft. Go and check it out!

I've always wanted to learn to do metal work and came across The Steel Yard online. I signed up for the weekend blacksmith class and loved it. I learned the basics on how to forge, and was also able to make my own unique project - a rams head fire poker with a fork on the end. The class is 6.5 hours a day for 2 days in a row, but you won't be pounding steel the entire time. The instructor gives demonstrations and then gives you the opportunity to try it on your own. It was a great class and I recommend it for anyone who has ever had an interest in how handmade metal items are forged.

Always a favorite space. Any event you see here is worth checking out. We come here for the Iron Pour around Halloween every year year. Today we're here for the BBQ festival and hope to come back for a blacksmithing class. Great bit of character for Providence. Support it when you can.

Inspiring. I've never welded or cast anything here, but I saw a component of the Provflux exhibition here, visited the Loom Gallery (does it still exist?), and also an artists' craft fair, where I found some interesting gifts. About the site itself, several train tracks intersect over the grounds.. it must be an industrial crossroads from a mysterious time, long ago.

I moved to Providence from Chicago a couple months ago, and given the size of the city, I figured I could bike many of the places I wanted to go. (Chicago traffic was a little intimidating for me, although it did have more bike lanes.) However, I'm not an experienced cyclist, and I knew squat about the construction of my bike. Given that even a flat would completely stymie me, I signed up for the Bike Maintenance class at the Steel Yard, which is taught by a mechanic/teacher from the Recycle-A-Bike program. After only three classes, I feel much more like my bike is a complex amalgam of interconnected systems, rather than just a big lumpy hunk of metal. I'll never be a bike mechanic, but I know how to patch a tire and make basic adjustments to some important components of my bike (like the brakes, which are kind of a big deal). I also feel more confidence that, if I go to a bike shop for help, I can say more than: "Um, I think something's wrong? Can you give it a tune up or whatever?" I would love to take more classes here; they offer instruction in metalwork, jewelry, ceramics, and glass. One caveat for chilly weather: it's an old steel yard (for real) and the main building has no heat. Wear a sweater! And a hat! And gloves! And long underwear! I could feel my hands going numb through my mittens during my most recent 3 hour class, and the ride home on my bike was teeth-chatteringly cold. Time to break out the winter gear.

I went down to the Steel Yard to take a weekend intro to welding class. Why? Because I figured it was more worthwhile than the reason most of the other Boston guys go down to Providence. Now the Steel Yard is a pretty big complex which houses a bunch of artists and craftspeople and weird artsy stuff with facilities for blacksmithing, metal work, pottery, welding, and other stuff. Not being an artiste myself, I just wanted to pick up something new, and I couldn't be happier. Within 30 minutes we were hands on with the equipment. The small class of 6 was pretty much let loose on the materials, and by the end of the second day I had cut, ground, and welded a metal bookcase, which I could be proud of for my first effort. The instructor, DA was helpful and knowledgeable and let us have a great time. They're always looking for volunteers, and doing it gave me some ideas so I'll sign up for some open studio time and would definitely take another course there.

Probably one of the most creative environments to learn, build, make and collaborate in the city of Providence. Love this place and their classes. Took an awesome welding course there, attended many special events there (no better space in the city for a wedding or a party) and the staff couldn't be more helpful!

Great for classes in welding, pottery, jewelry, blacksmithing, etc. Instructors very knowledgeable too. I especially liked the atmosphere of the place. Met some nice folks through several of the classes that I've taken.

I've attended events here and I've also taken classes. I took the weekend welding class and the weekend blacksmithing class. I was already a welder so the class was just to keep my skills sharp but the instructor was great and it was an excellent introduction to the facility that I'd never previously been to. The blacksmithing course was a new skill for me and I learned a lot in just two days. I wanted to take one of the ceramics classes and one of the jewelry classes but hadn't gotten around to it yet. I've been to the iron pours and the car shows held there. They're called Cruise Nights. It's a really nice and unique environment kept running by amazing people.