The Museum of Fine Arts runs two-day studio workshops on weekends, and they’re one of the better-kept secrets on the Fenway’s Avenue of the Arts. Over a Saturday and Sunday you dig into a single discipline — drawing, painting, mixed media, and more — under the guidance of working artists and experienced museum educators. The setting is the draw: when you need inspiration, one of the world’s great encyclopedic collections is a staircase away.

Sessions are intensive, running several hours each day, and class sizes stay small so everyone gets real feedback. Complete beginners are welcome alongside practiced hands, which keeps the mood collegial rather than competitive. Workshops sell through in advance, so register early; MFA members get a discount. A solid pick for anyone who’s always meant to make art instead of just looking at it.