The Arts Center’s year-round youth and family program educates and entertains children and their families through professionally guided experiences in the arts. Annual programming includes performances, JumpSTART – Stories & Art, Saturday School, summer camp, Family Fundays, a high school art lab and Holiday Open House.
Performances: The Arts Center presents several youth and family performances throughout the year featuring popular children’s book characters, puppets, variety shows, educational presentations and more. Performances this year include Gustafer Yellowgold on July 3, Rapunzel on August 5, Charlotte’s Web on October 6 and To Kill a Mockingbird on October 13. The shows are typically suitable for children ages 3-10, with a few exceptions. Tickets start at $6.
Summer Camps: The Arts Center’s spring and summer camps offer unique, hands-on arts experiences for children ages 6-18. Each camp is a week-long, and campers experience a variety of arts from weaving, painting, sculpture, stone carving to theatre, costume design, music and more. There are three types of camps offered: Multi-Arts – focuses on visual and musical arts, Theatre – professional theatre groups lead these camps and campers perform in a play, and Teen Scene – for teens ages 13-17 with a focus on visual arts. Summer camps are June 15 – Aug. 14.
Saturday School: Students meet for six Saturdays from 2-4 p.m. and work with professional art instructors to learn about a variety artistic mediums. Classes are registration based and cost $75 for the six-week session. Suitable for children ages 6-14. Saturday School starts back up in the fall.
Family Funday: Free events held every quarter on Sundays from 2-4 p.m. Families are invited to browse the galleries and children participate in hands-on art projects that are themed to current exhibitions. Suitable for children ages 3-10. All supplies provided. The next Family Funday is Sunday, July 12 from 2-5 p.m., celebrating the arrival of the Ten Thousand Springs Pavilion.
JumpstART – Stories & Art: Free story time followed by a themed art project. This project is presented by the Irving Arts Center and Irving Public Library. Suitable for children ages 3-10. Program will start back up in the fall.
Afterschool Art Lab: Free after school program for high school and middle school students. Program will start back up in the fall.
Holiday Open House: Free family festival that celebrates different culture’s holiday traditions. In 2009 the Arts Center will celebrate a Harlem Renaissance with themed art projects, Santa photos, decorated trees in the gallery, strolling entertainers and a free performance from Tapestry Dance Company.
