The first week in June will kick off the 2014 Summer Fine Arts Camps with about 35 students in each camp from all ten elementary schools in Colquitt County. The camps will run for eight weeks with a variety of themed activities planned for each week.  This art camp is made possible through an amazing grant from United Way of Colquitt County.  By working with the United Way and the administration of our elementary schools, we are able to offer ten dollar scholarships to one hundred and fifty well-deserving and talented students that may not otherwise be able to participate in this wonderful arts program.

This is one of my favorite programs here at the Arts Center because it reaches so many young people in our community from all across the county.  I am very pleased that the talented Kathy Nelson will once again conduct the camps.  Kathy has a gift of inspiring young artists to reach artistic levels that surprise even themselves.  The camps will run the weeks of June 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, July 7th, 14th. 21st and the week of July 28th will be the end of the program.  Activities will include a variety of art projects such as clay, drawing, painting, sculpture, dance, drama, music, games and swimming field trips down the street to the community pool.      

The camps are open to children who have completed the second grade through 5th grade graduates for a fee of $80 for the first child and $70 for each additional child in the family or additional weeks.   This includes all art supplies, breakfast, lunch and a snack thanks to the summer feeding program made available by the Colquitt County School System (with an exception of the last two weeks when students will have to provide their lunches).

The camps run Monday through Friday from 9am to 5 pm.  Early drop-off with breakfast provided starts at 7:45 am and late pick-up is until 5:30 pm each day.  Each week will end with an art exhibit of the children’s art projects and a theatre production that parents and family members can attend on Friday afternoon.

These art activities are incredible opportunities for kids to develop their artistic talents and sometimes even discover new skills.  I know that some kids dread the theater portion of the weekly activities and it turns out to be their favorite part of the program. Kathy has a way of inspiring young artist to fill the page with color and interesting shapes.  I have seen incredible paintings by children that had no idea that they could produce such beautiful art, and their parents were equally impressed.     

I am very proud of the children that have participated in past summer camps and I appreciate the parents and grandparents that take the time to bring the kids to the Arts Center each and every day.  Without their support guidance these kids would miss out on this great opportunity.      

The summer will also include other art camps for younger children.  For details about Leah Lane Gaines young kids camp, Lorianna Weathers art camp or Ms. Lovedy’s princess dance camp, please go to www.colquittcountyarts.com to learn more about these programs.  These are all fun summer activities for younger kids and I have just about run out of “article space” to go into great detail.        

I have just one last note.  I want to congratulate Jimmy Norris and his music students for their amazing recital last Sunday.  Having an arts center in our community is an expensive and labor intensive endeavor.  The performances on the stage that afternoon made it perfectly clear that it is all worth it.  It was an outstanding display of talent and hard work by these young musicians and singers.  Jimmy’s leadership and musical inspiration were evident during each performance.  Bravo!