Wonderful Workshops in Moscow

Painting a Matryoshka

At the All-Russian Museum of Decorative Arts, you can paint your very own matryoshka (nesting doll). During the Russian Wooden Toy workshop, participants not only decorate their own  toy, but also learn about how far back this tradition goes, which cities produced them, and what imagery the craftsmen favoured. During the session, you'll see toys from Sergiev Posad and Bogorodskoe and then try to replicate those styles yourself. The workshop lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes.

To book, call:
+7 (499) 973-32-14;
+7 (495) 609-01-03;
Or email: mpc-vmdpni@yandex.ru.

Address: Delegatskaya Street, 3с1

Creating a Mosaic

At the creative space Sloboda, you can craft your very own mosaic. During the workshop, you'll choose a design and a mosaic technique: Roman or modern. If you choose Roman, you'll learn how smalt (colored glass) differs from stone and how direct setting differs from reverse setting. You'll be given the chance to chip stone into tesserae and assemble your first mosaic panel. If you opt for a modern mosaic, you can create a panel from stained glass, smalt, stone, or coloured cement. Buy your ticket on the RUSSPASS website.

Address: Nagatinskaya Street, 16с9

Creating a Perfume

The House of Arts studio on Narodnaya Street, invites you to a perfume-making workshop. Here you can create your own fragrance, while also learning the finer points of perfumery and understanding the components of a perfume. All fragrances are made from natural essential oils. You'll get to explore a collection of around 40 samples and pick nine that appeal to you. From those nine, you'll select 3–5 to blend to make your signature perfume. They'll help you mix the essential oils in the right proportions with a perfumery base. In just one hour, you'll create your perfume and take it home with you (15 ml, but you can opt for a larger bottle if you like). The final scent won't fully develop until after two weeks — that's how long it takes for all the components to fully merge and the composition to settle.

To book, follow the link.

Address: Narodnaya Street, 8

Painting Class

At the House of Arts painting studio on Myasnitskaya Street, you can paint a picture guided by a professional artist, even if you've never held a brush before. Together with the instructor, you'll choose a reference and canvas size, study the specifics of working with oil paints, and over the course of 2.5–3 hours, you’ll create your own masterpiece. You can take your painting home straight after the class, or leave it at the studio for a couple of days to dry and collect it later. Booking is available via the link.

Address: Myasnitskaya Street, 22с1

Film Poster Workshop

At Moscow's oldest film studio — Gorky Film Studio — you'll learn how a single image can tell the story of an entire film. First, guests are given a tour and introduced to the history of Soviet film-making. Then participants examine posters that reveal not just the films themselves, but the eras in which they were shot. During the workshop, guests learn about the rules of composition, colour theory, and various typefaces. Using collage and other artistic techniques, participants create their own film posters.

Bookings must be made at least 3 days in advance via the studio's tour office: call +7 (499) 181-03-59 or email excursions@gorky-film.ru.

Address: Sergeya Eyzenshteyna Street, 8с1