Art camps: The best summer camps for kids in New York City

Your brood can delve into ceramics, 3-D printing and manga at these summer art camps for kids in New York City.

By Lindsey Garland, Lizzie Plaugic and Mary Squillace Thu Feb 7 2013

Photograph: Randi L. Klein

Art camps: The best summer camps for kids in New York City

Bird River Studios Art and Theater Camp
Photograph: Gordon Eriksen

Art camps: The best summer camps for kids in New York City

Brooklyn Arts for Kids
Photograph: Courtesy Brooklyn Design Lab

Art camps: The best summer camps for kids in New York City

Brooklyn Design Lab
Photograph: Elaine Carl

Art camps: The best summer camps for kids in New York City

City Sculpting Summer Arts Program
Photograph: Courtesy CMA

Art camps: The best summer camps for kids in New York City

CMA Summer Art Colony
Photograph: Courtesy of Craft Studio

Art camps: The best summer camps for kids in New York City

The Craft Studio Camp
Art camps: The best summer camps for kids in New York City

Creative Arts Program (CAP)
Photograph: HiArt! Kids

Art camps: The best summer camps for kids in New York City

Culture Bugs Mini-Camp
Art camps: The best summer camps for kids in New York City

Kids at Art Summer Workshops
Art camps: The best summer camps for kids in New York City

The Painted Pot Camps
Art camps: The best summer camps for kids in New York City

Play On! Studios Camps
Art camps: The best summer camps for kids in New York City

The QMA Big Time Summer Art Thing for Kids
Photograph:Tanya Ahmed (c) Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Art camps: The best summer camps for kids in New York City

Summerscapes Art Camp
Photograph: Samara Kupferberg

Art camps: The best summer camps for kids in New York City

Summer Camp at the Painted Cloud
Art camps: The best summer camps for kids in New York City

Taro's Origami Summer Camp
Photograph: Courtesy Textile Arts Center

Art camps: The best summer camps for kids in New York City

Textile Arts Summer Day Camp

Photograph: Randi L. Klein

Art camps: The best summer camps for kids in New York City

Bird River Studios Art and Theater Camp

At museum programs througout the year little New Yorkers are exposed to artistic genius, from Van Gogh and Picasso to the relics of modern-day blockbusters. Once school's out, aspiring artists can take steps towards developing their own artistic temperament in hands-on art camps around the city. Some art camps, like the CMA Summer Art Colony and the Creative Arts Program (CAP) at the Berkeley Carroll School, offer a whopping number of classes to choose from, including dollhouse creation, claymation and TV production. At other artsy summer camps for kids, participants focus on honing a particular skill, whether it's manga drawing at HiArt or ceramics at the Painted Pot.

RECOMMENDED: Summer camps for kids

Art camps

Barking Cat Studio Art in the City Summer Day Camp

Price band: 2/4

Each camper gets an Observation Book and Traveling Art Kit to take on morning adventures to local landmarks, parks and museums. On the trips, kids will look for inspiration to use later in themed studio art projects like Mosaics & Mixed Media and Clay Arts & Sculpture. When they’re not harnessing creativity, they’ll break a sweat with yoga and movement games. Camp runs July 1–Aug 23, Mon–Fri 9am–5pm.One-week session $465, week of July 1 $372 (no camp on July 4). Ages 4 to 9.

219 Greenwood Ave , (between E 2nd and E 3rd Sts), 11218

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Bird River Studios Art and Theater Camp

Price band: 3/4

Tots work in small studio classes on creative projects that range from papíer maché and fabric arts to playwriting and acting. They’ll also direct, write, and act in an original performance. On hot days, kids can lounge on the backyard patio or run through sprinklers. Camp runs July 15–19, July 22–26, July 29–Aug 2, Aug 5–9, Mon–Fri, 9am–3pm. Five-day session $500. Ages 5 to 11.

343 Grand St, (between Havemeyer St and Marcy Ave), 11211

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Brooklyn Arts for Kids Camp

Price band: 1/4

With the help of working artists, kids explore a variety of visual arts—including painting, sculpting and drawing—then venture outside to Prospect Park for lessons in performing arts. On the Saturday following the final week of camp the young artists showcase their skills with a final performance and exhibition of their work. Camp runs July 1–20, Mon–Fri (except for July 4) 9am–3:30pm. Two-week session $830. Ages 7 to 12.

13th St, (at Third Ave), 11215

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Brooklyn Design Lab

Price band: 2/4

These innovative classes school kids entering kindergarten, first or second grade in clay work, bookmaking, 3-D creation and more, depending on the week. Kids entering third through sixth grades can choose from labs on t-shirt design and Lego architecture. All campers present their work in gallery shows in the Brooklyn Design Lab windows, and get to leave the program with a portfolio of their work. Camp runs July 15–Aug 30, Mon–Fri 9–11am or 1–3pm. One-week session $220 (ages 4 to 6); July 8-Aug 9, Mon-Fri 9am-noon. One-week session $275 (ages 7 to 12). Ages 4 to 12.

413A Seventh Ave, (between 13th and 14th Sts), 11215

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City Sculpting Summer Arts Program

Price band: 2/4

Children tackle a new lesson in the elements of design daily, learning project-based sculpting, life casting, mosaics, and paper mache. Younger children work on simpler creations, while older kids are encouraged to take on more detailed pieces. After lunch in a nearby park, kids enjoy an hour of outdoor play. •Sixth Street Community Center, 638 E 6th St between Ave B and C. Camp runs July 8–Aug 16, Mon–Fri 9am–3pm. Extended hours available for an additional price. One-week session $450 before May 1, thereafter $525. •Dobbin Mews, 50-52 Dobbin St between Nassau and Norman Aves. Camp runs July 8–Aug 2, Mon–Fri 9am–3pm. Extended hours available for an additional price. One-week session $450 before May 1, thereafter $525. Ages 5 to 14.

Various locations,

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CMA Summer Art Colony

Price band: 3/4

Between this program’s two locations, kids have a choice of 49 classes. Each week presents a new theme for children to explore, spanning visual art (ceramics, bookmaking and collage) and film (claymation and music video) topics. A new class in TV production allows campers to create a late-night variety show, while a special effects session has them making movie trailers. Campers at the Soho location draw inspiration from trips to local museums and galleries, while those  on Governors Island have ample time to discover the isle’s landscapes and historic  sites. •Children’s Museum of the Arts, 103 Charlton St between Greenwich and Hudson Sts. •Governors Island, meet the staff at the Battery Maritime Building between 8:30am and 8:50 am. Camp runs June 10–Aug 30, Mon–Fri 9am–5pm. Soho: one-week session $595, three-day session (week of July 1) $400 (ages 6 to 11). Governors Island: two-week session $1,700 ($1,530 week of July 1), one-week session $850, three-day session (week of July 1) $510 (ages 8 to 15). Ages 6 to 15.

Various locations,

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The Craft Studio Camp

Price band: 1/4

This Upper East Side arts-and-crafts emporium invites creative kids to its studio for a minicamp, which teaches painting, sculpting, design and other crafting skills, followed by an included lunch. Camp runs June 10-20 and Aug 19-30, Mon-Thu 10am–noon. Four-day session $250, $62.50 per day. Ages 4 to 10.

1657 Third Ave, (between 92nd and 93rd Sts), 10128

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Creative Arts Program (CAP)

Price band: 3/4

Young art enthusiasts create their own schedule by choosing from over 80 courses like Costume Design, Jazz Band, Dollhouse Creation, Physical Comedy and Hip Hop Dance, plus a wide variety of sports. This year, campers can delve into a 3D printing course, or learn to make music using only an iPad. Every day, students take part in a Noontime Performance in which they share their talents and passions with their peers. The camp culminates in Festival Day, in which families are invited to explore the students’ work in a day of performances, concerts and gallery shows. Camp runs July 1–Aug 1 Mon–Fri 9am–4pm. Five-week session $2,500. Extended day options available. Ages 8 to 14.

Berkeley Carroll School, 181 Lincoln Pl, (between 7th and 8th Aves), 11217

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Culture Bugs Mini-Camp

Price band: 2/4

Participants choose from mini-camps that vary in their artistic focus. Magical Mega Manga Camp teaches anime fans to draw their own manga; Making New York Our Art Oyster combines hands-on art projects and gallery hops with a study of opera; and Wowza Arts Intensive Mini-Camp and Culture Bugs Mini-Camps both offer a mix of disciplines along with frequent museum visits and gallery hops. Magical Mega Manga Camp (ages 6 to 16) runs June 17–28 and July 8–Aug 2, Mon–Fri 9:30am–3:30pm. One-week session $1,250, two-week session $2,250. Wowza Arts Intensive Mini-Camp runs June 17–28 and Aug 5–16, Mon–Fri 9:30am–noon (ages 3 to 5 with adult companion) or 9:30am–3:30pm (ages 5 to 13). Two-week session $1,150  (half day), $2,250 (full day). Culture Bugs Mini-Camp runs June 18–27, Tue–Thu 9:30am–noon (ages 3 to 5 with adult companion) or 9:30am–3:30pm (ages 5 to 13). Two-week session $775 (half day), $1,550 (full day). Ages 3 to 15. Making New York Our Art Oyster runs July 9–Aug 1, Tue–Thu 9:30am–noon (ages 3 to 5 with adult companion) or 9:30am–3:30pm (ages 5 to 15). Four-week session $1,400 (half day), $2,850 (full day).  Ages 3 to 16.

HiArt, 227 W 29th St, (Between 7th and 8th Aves), 10001

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Kids at Art Summer Workshops

Price band: 1/4

Creative tykes will get their hands dirty working on special art projects like mask and puppet-making, mosaics, clay sculpting and papíer maché. Camp runs June 10–Aug 23, Mon–Fri 9am–noon. One-week session $425, one-day session $95. Ages 4.5 to 18.

1412 Second Ave, (between 73rd and 74th Sts), 10021

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The Painted Pot Camps

Price band: 2/4

Has your little one graduated from Play-Doh? If so, send her to this workshop, where she will paint pottery, learn how to make mosaics and pick up clay-sculpting basics. Tweens (ages 8 to 15) can challenge themselves with a Potterywheel/Handbuilding workshop (available in Carroll Gardens only), where they will create pottery using slab, coil and pinching techniques, and also cover the basics in trimming and glazing their work. • 8009 Third Ave at 80th St, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn (718-491-6411). *339 Smith St between Carroll and President Sts, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn (718-222-0334). • 72 Seventh Ave at Berkeley Pl, Park Slope, Brooklyn (718-768-8379). Camp runs July 8–Aug 22, Mon–Thu 11am–3pm (Clay and Art Mini Camp), 1–4pm (Pottery Wheel/Handbuilding Mini Camp). Clay and Art Mini Camp: One-week session $440, one-day session $110. Pottery Wheel/Handbuilding Mini Camp: One-week session $450. Ages 6 to 15.

Various locations

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Play On! Studios Camps

Price band: 3/4

At this Upper West Side studio, tots can hone their performance art skills at Creative Drama Camp (ages 5 to 10) or Musical Theater Camp (ages 9 to 13) where they’ll rehearse and perform in a full production, play drama games, and work with professional actors and teaching artists. Creative Drama Camp runs June 24–28, Aug 5–9, Aug 12–16, Aug 19–23 Mon–Fri, 9am–3pm. Five-day session $425. Musical Theater Camp runs July 1–Aug 2 Mon–Fri 9am–3pm. Five-week session $2,400. Ages 5 to 13.

2067 Broadway, (between 71st and 72nd Sts), 10023

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Queens Museum of Art Big Time Summer Art Thing

The QMA Big Time Summer Art Thing for Kids

Price band: 1/4

Young artists use the Queens Museum of  Art as their muse while they craft their own masterpieces. In one session, campers make 2-D and 3-D art inspired by the institution’s iconic “Panorama of the City of New York.” In another, they explore the “World’s Fair Exhibition” exhibit, then create stop-motion animation projects based on the futuristic designs presented at the 1939 World’s Fair. Camp runs July 8–Aug 16, Mon–Fri 9am–4pm. Two-week session $550. Ages 7 to 11.

Queens Museum of Art, (near 11th St and 49th Ave), 11368

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Summerscapes Art Camp

Price band: 2/4

Educators at the Guggenheim introduce campers to the institution’s permanent collection and iconic architecture. Once familiar with different art forms, youngsters create their own work using paint, printmaking, sculpture and collage. Campers show off their work to family and friends at an end-of-the-program mini-exhibit. Camp  runs July 15–Aug 2, Mon–Fri 9:30am–4pm. Two-week session $900, one-week session $500. Ages 8 to 11.

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Ave, (at 89th St), 10128

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Summer Camp at the Painted Cloud

Price band: 2/4

Young creative types build sculptures from recycled materials, dye fabric, try their hand at Surrealism, and take on other artistic ventures. Each day includes a drawing session, playtime and outdoor activities. Camp runs July 1–Aug 23, Mon–Fri 9am–3pm. One-week session $600. E-mail thepaintedcloud@yahoo.com to register. Ages 4 to 10.

168 Marcy Ave, (between Broadway and S 5th St), 11211

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Taro's Origami Summer Camp

Price band: 1/4

Don’t worry if your child doesn’t even know the meaning of the word origami—after five days at this camp she’ll be well-versed in it, thanks to the step-by-step lessons provided by Taro’s instructors. Participants start the week by learning the history of origami and fold a few simple paper sculptures. In the next two days they build on these skills and create their own models to decorate and take home. On the fourth day, the class works together to craft a complex piece of art. Camp runs July 9–Aug 23, Tue–Fri 2–4pm. One-week session $200. Ages 5 and up.

95 Seventh Ave, (at Union St), 11215

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Textile Arts Summer Day Camp

Price band: 1/4

Students choose between two concentrations: weaving, in which kids learn to use a loom and read patterns; and surface design, which allows them to experiment with a variety of fiber and textile arts like printing, dyeing, sewing, drawing, and felting. Most days are spent at the studio working on projects; Wednesdays are devoted to a textile-related field trip, and Friday afternoons feature an Open House where campers can display their projects for family and friends. Completed projects may include bags, toys, fabrics, and more. •505 Carroll St between Third and Fourth Aves, Park Slope, Brooklyn. Camp runs July 1–Aug 9, Mon–Fri 9am–5pm. Supervised playtime 8–9am and 5–6pm available for $15 per day. One-week session $475. Ages 5 to 12. •26 W 8th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves. Camp runs July 1–Aug 9, Mon–Fri 9am–5pm. Supervised playtime 8–9am and 5–6pm available for $15 per day. One-week session $475. Ages 5 to 11.