ACB

News release

The Art Center of the Bluegrass has announced its summer programming lineup for children, unveiling more than two dozen camps, classes, and activities. Parents can choose online or in-person art opportunities for children ages three to 8th grade.

New this summer is a weekly preschool art class for children ages three to six. Class meets for one hour each week – four weeks in June, five weeks in July. Parents can choose Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday classes. Executive Director Niki Kinkade says that young children were a key demographic in the Art Center’s summer plans. “We have always heard from parents that there are limited opportunities for preschoolers in the summer,” she explains. “And this year, with many of those kids having missed out on a year of formal preschool due to the pandemic, we wanted to give families a lot of options.” The preschool art class will combine art and play, with an emphasis on creative exploration. Students will explore a range of art materials and techniques designed to stimulate creativity and enhance fine motor skills for kindergarten readiness.

For older children (ages 5 to eighth grade), the Art Center has scheduled a variety of art camps that meet several times in a single week. Each camp has a theme – such as puppies, pet rocks, or intergalactic adventure – with projects designed to support the theme. Camps are divided by age, with “mini camps” for five to seven-year-olds, themed camps for 2nd grade to 6th graders, and skills-based camps for 4th to 8th graders.

In addition to the in-person camps and classes, the Art Center is also offering several online programs and take-home art kits. “We recognize that some families may not be ready to return to in-person programming this summer,” says Kinkade. “And we also wanted to continue connecting with families from outside of Boyle County.” Kinkade says that families from Lexington, Berea, and even South Carolina have participated in virtual programming this year. “We didn’t want them to miss out on the fun this summer!”

The Art Center will offer two online drawing classes this summer as well as a “Creative Kitchen” class modeled after the popular Netflix show “Nailed It.” Families will receive weekly creative cooking prompts – and a few supplies to get started – then join a group Zoom to show off their creations. Art kits are also available for families looking to “unplug” this summer.

Kinkade explains that, when designing summer programs, student and staff safety was a top concern. “We know that families are eager for in-person programming, so we were determined to find a way to do that safely,” she explains. The Art Center will be following CDC guidelines for mask-wearing and social distancing – keeping an eye on how those guidelines are evolving. Kinkade says that the enrollment caps for summer programs are lower this year than in the past and that some of the camps are shorter, too. “Fewer students means less income for the Art Center, but we didn’t want to pass that cost on to our families,” she says. “The low price tag on the camps and classes is being made possible by emergency funding that the organization received this year, as well as the generous support of community sponsors, including Webster Orthodontics, Danville Pediatric Dentistry, Farmers National Bank, and Trim Masters Charitable Foundation.”

Families can browse the summer programming lineup and register their children online at www.artcenterky.org/summer.

SUMMER 2021:

PRESCHOOL ART CLASS:

Wednesdays, June 2 to 23 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | $40 per student

Thursdays, June 3 to 24 | 10:30 -11:30 a.m. | $40 per student

Fridays, June 4 to 25 | 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. | $40 per student

Wednesdays, June 30 to July 28 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | $50 per student

Thursdays, July 1 to 29 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | $50 per student

Fridays, July 2 to 30 | 9:30 -10:30 a.m. | $50 per student

IN-PERSON ART CAMPS

• Puppy Mini Camp (ages 5-7)

Wednesday, June 2 and Thursday, June 3 | 10 – 11:30 a.m. | $40 per student

• Intergalactic Adventure Art Camp (rising 2nd to 6th)

Wednesday to Friday, June 2 to 4 | 1 – 3 p.m. | $50 per student

• Magnificent Masks Camp (rising 2nd to 6th)

Monday through Thursday, June 7 to 10 | 1 – 3 p.m. | $60 per student

• Pet Rock Mini Camp (ages 5-7)

Tuesday, June 8 and Thursday, June 10 | 10 – 11:30 a.m. | $40 per student

• Cardboard Kingdom Camp (rising 2nd to 6th)

Monday to Wednesday, June 14 to 16 | 1 – 3 p.m. | $50 per student

• Messy Art Mini Camp (ages 5-7)

Tuesday, June 15 and Thursday, June 17 | 10 – 11:30a.m. | $40 per student

• Youth Drawing Sampler (rising 4th to 8th)

Monday, June 21 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. | $45

• Enchanted Forest World (rising 2nd to 6th)

Tuesday to Thursday, June 22 to 24 | 1 – 3 p.m. | $50 per student

• Dollhouse Camp (riding 2nd to 6th)

Tuesday through Friday, July 6 to 9 | 1 – 3 p.m. | $100 per student

• Found: Art from Recycled Materials (rising 2nd to 6th)

Monday through Thursday, July 12 to 15 | 1 – 3 p.m. | $60 per student

• Art Explorers Mini Camp (ages 5 to 7)

Tuesday & Thursday, July 13 and 15 | 10 – 11:30 a.m. | $40 per student

• Pet Rock Party (rising 2nd to 6th)

Tuesday through Thursday, July 20 to 22 | 1 – 3 p.m. | $50 per student

• Messy Art Mini Camp II (ages 5 to 7)

Tuesday & Thursday, July 27 and 29 | 10 – 11:30 a.m. | $40 per student

• Creepy Creatures Art Camp (rising 2nd to 6th)

Tuesday through Friday, July 27 to 30 | 1 – 3 p.m. | $60 per student

• Cross-Training for Artists (rising 3rd to 7th)

Monday through Thursday, August 2 to 5 | 1 – 3 p.m. | $60 per student

• Puppy Mini Camp II (ages 5-7)

Tuesday August 3 and Thursday, August 5  | 10 – 11:30 a.m. | $40 per student

• Global Art Adventure (rising 2nd to 6th)

Tuesday through Thursday, August 10 to 12 | 1 – 3 p.m. | $50 per student

ONLINE PROGRAMS

• Pet Drawing Class (rising 4th-8th)

Tuesdays, June 1 to 22 | 4 – 5 p.m. | $40 per student

• Creative Kitchen (all ages)

Mondays, June 7 to 28 | Weekly check-ins at 4 p.m. | $50 per supply set

• Creative Character Design (4th to 8th) – Brandon

Tuesdays, July 13 to August 3 | 4 – 5 p.m. | $40 per student