Q: Will my child have to bring his or her own materials?

A: All materials needed for each lesson will be provided! If your child decides to do his/her personal project in class, we will also provide all materials necessary including an A4 canvas board for studio use. What we do not provide is craft materials such as glitter, craft paper, ice-cream sticks etc.

Q: Can my child keep his or her artwork in the studio? Or will I have to bring it home every week?

A: You can keep their artworks here in the studio until you are ready to bring them home. We provide an A3 folder for each of our long term students so that they can store them carefully. :)

Q: Are aprons provided?

A: Yes they are! We have several sizes as well.

Q: How are the lessons structured ? Can my child paint and draw anything he or she wants?

A: Our childrens’ class follows a flexible structured lesson plan that focuses on drawing, painting and design. We usually alternate between painting, drawing and design projects to keep the child’s interest fresh and also to help them learn the similarities and differences between the art forms, which would aid them in a more all rounded learning experience.

For the regular lessons, each project follows a main technical art theme, e.g. shading. Each student will then discuss with their teacher on creating their original art pieces at a good skill level. They will be provided demonstrations from the teacher and examples as well as exercises if needed before they start their main artwork with close guidance from the instructor. Therefore no student will be creating the same artwork and each artwork will be original to the student.

Q: When can my child sign up? Do we have to wait for a new window?

A: Your child can sign up anytime! Although we have a lesson outline, we will always make sure each child is progressing at a comfortable level.

If your child is new, we will make sure that we assess the skill level of your child and ensure that he or she is participating in the project comfortably. We may at times give your child necessary art exercises to prepare them for the basics of that project.

During your child’s trial lesson, we will try to ensure that they are able to create a simple or small artwork so that they still can bring something home at the end of the day, in the event that they are unsure if they would like to continue classes.

Q: My child likes to take his or her time to complete her work. Will he or she fall behind?

A: We understand that each child works at different speeds however, if you feel that your child needs to work faster, we can help to train them in their confidence and speed. If you feel that you would rather they work on quality instead of quantity, we usually do not rush a child to finish their artwork because the lesson is about to end. We encourage them to properly finish their work with quality and good finishing and to never give up halfway. At times when the child has to stretch into the timing of the next project, we would advise him or her to do a smaller simpler artwork to catch up or skip the next project entirely or push forward the project if it is important to their learning.

We however do not extend the class timings for them to complete their artwork as we usually have back-to-back classes.

Q: My child is not very strong in art, how will he or she fare with the older or more experienced students? I am afraid he or she will not be able to catch up.

A: Despite working on the same themed project, we do not advocate students to all create the same copy of an artwork example. Each student is expected to give their own input into the type of artwork they would want to create with the theme given. Therefore, within the same project, each child will have an individual original artwork that differs from the rest. This will help them to take greater ownership of their work as well. As our teachers will guide them in the choosing of their artwork, they can advise them on the skill level needed for each artwork, ensuring that the difficulty is comfortable for your child.

Q: My child is intending to create a portfolio for future school applications. Can he or she join this class?

A: Yes! Our curriculum has been adjusted such that majority of the projects are relevant to the requirements needed for portfolios such as SOTA talent academy and AEP school admissions.

As we promote each student to create their own individual artwork in class, their final artworks will not clash with other students submitting for the same interview. If your child needs a specific type of artwork to meet the requirements of the portfolio, he or she may opt to do their personal artwork in class time as well with the teacher’s guidance. Please notify us a few days in advance so that we can prepare the necessary materials. However, do note that the main lesson plan will take priority.

If you are interested to help your child create a substantial portfolio, we suggest signing your child up at least a minimum of 6 months before the interview.

The submission and compilation of artworks will have to be done by you, but we will be happy to advise on the portfolio format.

Q: Can I wait for my child in the art studio while he or she is having class?

A: Yes you may! However, this is only encouraged if your child is anxious if you are not around. Due to Covid-19, we would like to minimise the amount of people in the studio whn neccessary.

We have a designated waiting area overlooking the classroom for parents and relatives to wait for their child. Please do not wait inside the classroom as it may affect the dynamics of the class and attitudes of the children.

Q: Can I drop off my child early when the studio is open or can I leave my child there for the day after his or her lesson is finished?

A: Unfortunately no. Please make sure that your child is no more than 15 mins early for class or stays longer than 15 mins after class as we open by appointment only. There may not be anyone in the studio if you arrive much too early before class and we may have back to back classes or we may move to another destination immediately after the class for external workshops or meetings. We also do not have a designated full time receptionist to keep an eye on children after their class ends.

We may charge a fee to the parents if they repeatedly do not adhere to this ruling or has left their child there for a long period of time after the class has ended. Usually in the form of 1 class fee or more if the added number of hours reaches near to that of an extra class.

Q: I am an adult. Can I join my child and learn art while she is having class?

A: Unfortunately no. Sorry but we would suggest that a private group class would be more suitable for you and your child, or if possible having a single private class at the same time while your child is having their group class.

Having an adult in the children’s class can affect the dynamics of the classroom as well as make certain students more self conscious, affecting their learning.

Q: Will my child be awarded a certificate for this lesson?

A: Sorry but we are not authorized to award certificates as we offer flexible classes instead of a fixed structured course with an end date and specific learning objectives. However, we are happy to provide a written letter of proof that your child has attended classes for that specific duration or a letter of recommendation for your child’s school entry requirements.

(Please note that we reserve the right to decline issuing a letter of recommendation for any reason.)

Q: What is the difference between a trial lesson and a regular lesson?

A: Nothing! We understand that it is daunting to commit to a set of lessons (for some) without trying it out first. We are confident and take pride in the classes we provide and in our instructors as well, but its best to let the children experience it first. For the trial lessons, student can choose an image that is related to the theme of the current ongoing project, one that could be completed by the lesson. They can choose a medium of their choice and start on their artwork with close guidance from the teacher. Meanwhile for the regular lessons, each project follows a main technical art theme, e.g. shading. Each student will then discuss with their teacher on creating their original art pieces at a good skill level. They will be provided demonstrations from the teacher and examples as well as exercises if needed before they start their main artwork with close guidance from the instructor. Therefore no student will be creating the same artwork and each artwork will be original to the student. Each project usually takes 2 to 3 lessons to complete depending on the amount of exercises needed prior to the main project or the complexity and details of the artwork chosen.

Q: My child has a disability, can he or she join?

A: Everyone is welcomed to The Fort Studios. However, only some of out instructors have experience in teaching students with disabilities. Therefore we suggest that if they are high functioning, they can sign up for a private class with the appropriate instructor. the student's guardian must also be present during the class in case of emergencies and to make the new environment a comfortable one for them.

Safety and Photograhy

Safety is our utmost priority.

The Fort Studios is monitored by CCTVs 24/7 for everyone's safety.

The Fort Studios will take every effort in ensuring the safety of everyone. At the same time, you will not hold The Fort Studios responsible for any accident resulting in injury or loss of personal items.

You also grant The Fort Studios the permission to take photos within our studio for the use of sharing and publishing on our social media pages, website and media coverage.

If you object to us taking and publishing images that contain you or your children, please let us know before booking the class.

Q: Can my child bring back art materials from the studio if he or she has not finished the artwork?

A: Unfortunately no, as the materials in the studio is only for studio use. However, we do sell small containers to fill in their choice of acrylic paint colors and other painting tools.

Q: My child wishes to attend more than 1 lesson per week. Is it advisable ? Will there be repetition of lessons?

A: Yes he or she can! Each lesson should be working on the same projects at the same time therefore your child can have extra time to finish their work with greater quality. If your child has finished their work early, they can always opt to work on a personal project until the next class project is introduced to them.

Q: How long is my child's set of lessons valid for ?

A: The validity period for a set of 4 lessons is 6 consecutive weeks from the first lesson, and for a set of 8 lessons it is 10 consecutive weeks from the first lesson. Unfortunately, any lessons that have passed the 6 or 10 week mark will be forfeited.

My child is unable to come for lessons every week / finish the set of lessons within the validity period, can he or she share the set of lessons with his or her siblings?

A: Unfortunately each package is meant for one student and it is non-refundable and non-transferable. Once you sign up for a set of lessons, your child's spot in that class will be reserved every week. If your child is unable to attend a class, please let Denise know 1 hour before the start of the class and you can reschedule to another timeslot as long as there is space available. Late notice or no shows will result in the lesson being forfeited. Your child is able to attend more than one class in a week, however this is subjected to seating availability within each class. If your child are unable to commit to a package, you may also consider our one off ala carte lessons at $50 per lesson!

Q: What if my child did not finish his or her artwork in the trial lesson. Do i have to pay for an extra lesson for he or she to continue working on it?

A: Sorry that he or she did not manage to finish the artwork in one lesson, but we have finished the class! He or she is welcome to bring the artwork home to continue it on their own or you opt for more lessons to complete it. You can consider our set of lessons or ala carte @ $50 / lesson!

Q: Does the studio accept walk-ins?

A: We strongly encourage you not to do so as we may turn you away if there is no availability in that particular class.

Q: Can i have a discount?

A: The pricing for all classes are fixed! However, we offer a one time 10% off when your child takes on any Steady Learner Set starting the week after your trial lesson! We also have the Good Attendance Award which is an award when your child has completed all his or her lessons without missing a week (4 lesson set in 4 consecutive weeks or 8 lesson set in 8 consecutive weeks). Your child will be entitled a one time 10% off the next Steady Learner Set if you start the new set in the immediate following week.

Q: Is this class Skills Future claimable ?

A: Unfortunately we are not. However, we are working on it!