Summer Youth Art Academy

The Summer Youth Art Academy believes in the power of art education to inspire and empower youth to become their best selves. Art Academy Workshops will run from June 5 to August 10, Monday through Thursday with full day options from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM and half day options from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM or 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM, unless otherwise noted. For participants enrolled in both morning and afternoon half day activities, Community Art Center will provide a supervised lunch break between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM. Lunch will not be provided.

Registration for the Summer Youth Art Academy programs can be found here Version OptionsSummer Youth Art AcademyHeadline. The Garfield County Libraries in Glenwood Springs, New Castle, and Rifle partner with us to offer registration assistance in both English and Spanish. 

2023 Theme: Do What You Love!

Join other artists and creative thinkers like yourself this summer for no other reason than to experiment, collaborate, and to become the best artist you can be. Choose from your favorite media or try something new! By doing what you love this summer, you can bring joy to yourself, your community, and inspire others to make art too.

Full Day Options Descriptions

June 5 – 6: Clay All Day! – 2 Full Days                                       

Working on the wheel for an extended period of time gives students the opportunity to get into a deeper flow and enjoy the benefits of working on the wheel. The focus will be process over product. Students will find inspiration by looking at professional potters’ works, experimenting making different size forms, and exploring the decorative process. Please pack a snack, water, and lunch.

June 5 – 9: Roaring Fork Fencing Club Camp with Greg Domashovetz     

Register Here: https://www.roaringforkfc.com/ 
*will be held at the Community Art Center                                 

June 12 – 15: Clay Really Wheely Workshop – Full Day                      

Your clay adventure awaits! This week students will have opportunities to create pottery on the wheel. We’ll create and play in a way that helps potters become for familiar with the clay studio, tools, and how to bring ideas to life. Participants will build one-of-a-kind pieces with a combo of wheel throwing and hand-building while learning about potters from around the world. Come try out the wheel and feel its mesmerizing and soothing qualities. Please pack a snack, water, and lunch.

July 10 - 13: ACES Patterns in Our Landscape: An art and science workshop presented in partnership with the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES)

Register Here: ACES: Patterns in Our Landscape
*will be held at the Community Art Center

Did you know that the patterns we see around us in nature, from tree rings to the way snakes move to how rivers form, are related to galaxies and stars? You will observe the environments found in and around Glenwood Springs to discover and rediscover its patterns and express your own in the artworks you create each day. A special field trip to Rock Bottom Ranch will give us an opportunity to explore more patterns in nature. Transportation to Rock Bottom Ranch provided by City of Glenwood Springs.

July 17 - 21: MD Academy for Kids with the Aspen Science Center 

Register Here: https://aspensciencecenter.org/
*will be held at the Community Art Center

Do you have a future doctor on your hands? Your camper will earn their MD certificate after exploring topics of the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves); circulatory system (blood, lungs, heart and more); digestive system; the skeletal and muscular systems. Campers will be creating, crafting, and modeling the systems of the human body. Perfect for 8–12-year-olds. Each day of camp will also include outdoor play, lunch & snack times, and learning circles. It will be a great week celebrating STEAM curiosity with hands-on learning.

Half Day Options

June 12 – 15: A World of Your Own – Half Day AM

What if you were making a world of your own? What would it look like? Inspired by the children’s book, A World of Your Own, by Laura Carlin, participants will design their own 3-dimensional world from imagination to completion using recycled objects and materials.

June 12 – 15: Clay Really Wheely Workshop – Half Day AM or PM

Your clay adventure awaits! This week students will have opportunities to create pottery on the wheel. We’ll create and play in a way that helps potters become for familiar with the clay studio, tools, and how to bring ideas to life. Participants will build one-of-a-kind pieces with a combo of wheel throwing and hand-building while learning about potters from around the world. Come try out the wheel and feel its mesmerizing and soothing qualities.

June 19 – 22: Monster Make Up for Middle Schoolers – Half Day PM

Learn how to craft creepy creatures through the art of monster make up and special effects with a professional artist and graduate of Universal Studios program, specializing in icky insights and terrifying tips! Participants must supply their own live model to work on at the workshop, an adult 18+ is recommended. Contact Brian Weller at brian.weller@cogs.us to schedule a skin patch test appointment after you register for both the artist and the model.  

June 26 – 29: Fiber Frenzy – Half Day PM

Join the fiber revolution and weave, wrap, knit, and punch needle your way to soft new handmade forms that stun your audience! Learn how contemporary artists use fibers to communicate their ideas with traditional techniques. No prior experience working with fiber required.

June 26 – 29: Clay Really Wheely Workshop – Half Day AM

Your clay adventure awaits! This week students will have opportunities to create pottery on the wheel. We’ll create and play in a way that helps potters become for familiar with the clay studio, tools, and how to bring ideas to life. Participants will build one-of-a-kind pieces with a combo of wheel throwing and hand-building while learning about potters from around the world. Come try out the wheel and feel its mesmerizing and soothing qualities.

July 5 – 7: Artists on the Lookout – Half Day AM

Artists will spend their days exploring Glenwood Springs, honing their observations skills, and expressing their findings in drawings, watercolors, and works on canvas. Be sure to bring a sun hat, sunscreen, and shoes for walking.

July 11 and 13: Teen Open Clay Studio – 2 Evenings

This open studio is designed for teens that have some experience with clay. Instructor will give demos and guidance at the wheel and with hand-building techniques. 

July 24 – 27: Clay Connections – Half Day AM

Get more connected to yourself through clay! Participants will be encouraged to look closely at their work and slow down while still having loads of fun on the wheel and hand-building. Surface techniques will be explored including splattering, carving, and applying different materials to manipulate the surface, as well as stamping techniques. Clay is an incredibly therapeutic way to foster creativity and the act of mindfulness.

July 24 - 28: Early STEM Camp with the Aspen Science Center

Register Here: https://aspensciencecenter.org/
*will be held at the Community Art Center

This camp is designed to introduce 3- to 5-year-old children to science and scientific thinking through playful investigations. Each day children will enjoy stories, songs, movement, and games which introduce them to scientific concepts. They will participate in hands-on investigations that will ignite excitement and love for science. Most of all, intentional play and exploration are our guiding principles for these little STEAMers.

July 24 – August 3: Street Theatre - Half Day PM

Come and build your creativity skills! Participants will take part in a variety of performance-oriented activities including building instruments, costume-making, and storytelling. This two-week camp will culminate in a public open-air "Street Theater" performance in downtown Glenwood Springs.

July 31 – August 3: Let's Get Printing -  Half Day AM

Calling all creators, let’s get printing! Participants will learn a variety of printmaking techniques and will experiment with everyday items to create eye-catching artwork. Come find inspiration from other artists as we explore patterns and designs to create unique prints.

July 31 – August 3: Adventures in Cartooning and Comics - Half Day PM

Let’s Draw! Turn your doodles into cartoons and comics with master cartoonist, Brian Weller. Learn how to bring your characters and stories to life while learning new drawing techniques and having a blast along the way. 

August 7 – 10: Adventures in Cartooning and Comics - Half Day AM

Let’s Draw! Turn your doodles into cartoons and comics with master cartoonist, Brian Weller. Learn how to bring your characters and stories to life while learning new drawing techniques and having a blast along the way. 

August 7 – 10: Clay Daze for Teens - Half Day PM

Do you have an idea of something you’d like to create using clay?  How about a planter, dishes, mugs, earrings, beads, or bowls? Teens can get muddy learning the basics of working on the wheel and hand-building too. Guided by a professional potter, you’ll get comfortable with the studio, familiarize yourself with the tools, and enjoy the community aspect of clay while making a couple of really sweet pieces.