2009 Program Details

The Summer Arts Camp is an introductory arts program. Previous art experience is not required. The projects are created to be easy enough for beginners but challenging enough for more experienced artists. All activities culminate in an end-of-session gallery show, film screening and stage performance for friends and family. 

You must be entering grades 3 through 8 in fall 2009 to participate in the Summer Arts Camp. Campers are divided into four groups based on age. The groups consist of approximately 20 campers and 2 counselors. Counselors lead their groups throughout the days' classes. Our counselors and teachers are select students from the Columbia College community and leaders in their field.

Dates and Times
The Summer Arts Camp takes place Monday through Friday from
June 15-July 24th (closed on Friday, July 3rd). Our days begin at 9 am with drop off as early as 8.30 am. The day ends at 3.30 pm with optional After Camp care until 5.30 pm.The Camp takes place at Columbia's Theater building at 72 East 11th Street in Chicago's South Loop neighborhood. Lunch takes place outside in Grant Park. Campers are required to bring a lunch. We provide juice and refrigerated storage. Campers are not allowed to leave the campus to purchase food.


Activities
With Columbia College Chicago as our campground, campers use its theaters, screening rooms, galleries, classrooms and equipment while learning from Columbia's top students. Campers are assigned to small groups of children their own age and rotate through four daily classes:

Visual Arts Class introduces campers to a variety of mediums including painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture. At the end of the session, campers host a gallery exhibit for friends and family.

Performing Arts Class combines singing, dancing, acting and improv to introduce campers to the world of performance. Learning through exercises and games, campers work with teachers to develop a play to perform on stage at the end of the session.

Media Arts Class explores the creation and criticism of media art forms. Using digital video, campers learn about the technical and creative aspects of movie making. Campers work as a group to develop a concept for a short film and experience all stages of development and production, in front of and behind the camera.

Guest Artist Workshops Lead by a new artist each week, workshops will explore a different areas in the arts. Possible workshops include: poetry, percussion, improv, american sign language and dance.

A weekly field trip enhances the curriculum and introduces campers to the various cultural institutions of the city of Chicago. Past field trips include: The Museum of Contemporary Art, The Art Institute of Chicago, The Steppenwolf Theater, The Smart Museum, walking tours of the gallery districts, drawing at the Botanical Gardens, and architecture tours.

Costs
2009 six week session: $1675
After Camp Care: $400 for the session. ( After Camp is available on a per day basis, for $14 a day)

For families with more than 1 child attending, there is a 15% discount off the total tuition.