Summer is almost here, but that doesn’t mean your kids have to stop making art! If you have a budding artist like I do (see image below), summertime does not have to mean the end of art-making.
Matthew Buchanan
House Out of Ritz Cracker Box
inspired by African artist Bodys Isek Kingelez
Summer is almost here, but that doesn’t mean your kids have to stop making art! If you have a budding artist like I do (see image below), summertime does not have to mean the end of art-making. In fact, many organizations find summer the perfect time to gear up for bigger, multi-displinary art camps – more than their usual after school class programs. Here are some of the best art camps around the state:
AUSTIN
Austin Parks and Recreation Department: The city of Austin has a beautiful, ongoing relationship built between artists and their various community centers, including their centerpiece, the Dougherty Arts School. This summer they are offering art camps at the Dougherty for kids 3 years old and up that include painting, drawing, photography, pottery, metals, dance, jewelry, fiber, computer graphics, animation, drama and much more! For teens in 7th through 12th grade, they have “Totally Art, Totally Cool” which is a special arts program geared for teens at several community centers. Both programs are generally low-cost or free; for more information, call 512.397.1481.
ClayWays Pottery Studio and Gallery: Kids have a great time using their creative talents at ClayWays’ Monday through Friday, 1/2-day summer camps. Older kids (ages 11 and up) learn to use a potter’s wheel, and they create unique hand built pieces with clay as well. Younger kids (ages 6 -10) have fun making hand built pieces such as animal rattles, masks, and bowls. They also spend time doing other art projects such as bookmaking, drawing, and kite making. Camps are $140/week; for more information, call 512.459.6445.
DALLAS
Dallas Museum of Art: The DMA has art camps for kids ages 3-18 from June 6 through August 12. One week sessions start at $140, days and times vary with classes. Fore more information, call 214.922.1822.
HOUSTON
Enjoying Summer Camp!
Art Studio on the Boulevard: This charming arts school in Houston’s Heights offers multi-disciplinary arts camps in which children will explore Galileo, DaVinci and Shakespeare (Session 1) and Picasso, Dali, and Edison (Session 2). In both two-week sessions, children will participate in music, arts, science, drama, storytelling and creative play. Each session is $350 and fills up quickly! For more information, call 713.863.8988.
Claire School of Dance: This year-round dance and art school offers several dance and music programs this summer, but in the visual arts realm, kids will love their “Camp Anime”. This is a three-day program of anime-related activities for the young anime fan, aged 10-13 and each day features a screening of a Japanese anime film such as Spirited Away, a Japanese class, an Iaido class (the art of drawing the Japanese sword) as well as supervised role-playing games and instruction in drawing manga, Japanese comic characters and stories. This three-day camp is $150 and if offered July 6-8. For more information, call 713.880.5565.
City ArtWorks: City ArtWorks is offering eight weeks of summer camps for kids five years old and up. New classes being offered this summer are “Art You Can Wear” (June 13- June 17); “Make Your own Mosaic Bird House” (June 20-June 24); and “Zoo Camp” (July 6,7, and 8). Class times, ages and dates vary and prices start at $65/camp. For more information, call 713.681.1331.
MECA: MECA's Summer Arts Program offers an incredible variety of multicultural, classical and contemporary arts education, and support services. MECA students will participate in daily classes that include several different art forms, a multicultural studies class and academic enhancement. Students will take approximately thirty field trips to museums, parks and cultural performances, and will perform for family and community members at the Summer Recital. The registration fee is $20 and camp fee is based on family income. For more information, call 713.802.9370.
SAN ANTONIO
Say Sí: San Antonio’s premiere, year-round, multi-displinary art program is for middle and high school students – who will learn several different art forms alongside learning marketing and entrepreneurial skills. Class times and prices vary. For more information, call 210.212.8666.
