Imagine stepping into a laboratory of pure creativity where the possibilities are endless. Get ready to be amazed as you explore art stations brimming with excitement and wonder. Invent something new using diverse materials and basic engineering and explore the Art and Natural History museums to make new discoveries through close observation and art investigation.
The last day to register for this camp is June 7, 2023
Learn more about ArtLab.
An artist’s job doesn’t end with the aesthetic of an object. When an artwork fills an entire space or is in a public place, an artist must ensure that the structure is engineered properly so that it is safe and viewable to its audiences. Create a conceptual artwork or an ideal environment for an existing artwork using practical mediums and 3D modeling software. Tour Carnegie Mellon University’s campus and the surrounding neighborhoods to seek out artworks in public spaces and explore the museum’s galleries for ideas on how to construct sculptures, murals, or installations that engage, excite and create wonder. This workshop meets at Carnegie Mellon University in the School of Architecture studios and will utilize computers and digital tools on campus. Students will make regular trips to Carnegie Museum of Art.
The last day to register for this camp is June 7, 2023
Learn more about Installation & Public Art.
Unravel the stories that artworks in our galleries present to the viewer. Use artworks by Joan Brown or Lyndon Barrois Jr. as inspiration for the creation of your own narrative painting, sculptures, or installation. Discover new and interesting themes in books through frequent trips to the library and transform yourself into illustrator and author by inventing a storybook that pops off of the page.
The last day to register for this camp is June 14, 2023
Learn more about Art Stories.
Push, pull, and squish clay into anything you can imagine—from functional vessels like bowls and cups you can actually use to sculpted figures of your pet or an imaginative creature of your own design. Try out the potter's wheel and learn hand-building techniques inspired by artists in the museum collection. Use colorful underglazes to give your work a personal touch. Projects will be fired and available for pick-up at the museum 3-4 weeks after camp.
The last day to register for this camp is June 14, 2023
Learn more about Ceramics Studio.
Let your creativity expand beyond the canvas as you and your classmates design a secret hideaway through your imaginations. Work as a team to combine elements such as architecture, painting, sculpture, sound, and light to create a one-of-a-kind experience for all that enter. Explore the medium of installation art and learn how contemporary artists conceptualize, construct, and engineer artworks that take over entire rooms in the museum. Sneak into private spaces within our building and invent experiences inspired by the hidden and out-of-the-way artworks that you find.
The last day to register for this camp is June 14, 2023
Learn more about Forts & Secret Hideaways.
Explore the fascinating world of portraiture and learn how to capture the essence of our subjects. We'll start with the basics and draw the human face and figure. Then we'll delve into the unique personalities of animals and other subjects. With a splash of color, a touch of texture, and our own personal style, we'll bring these characters to life. Visit the galleries to discover the world of portraiture: from figurative works by Joan Brown to abstract masterpieces, we'll soak up all the inspiration we can to create a portrait.
The last day to register for this camp is June 14, 2023
Learn more about Portraits.
Journey into the wonder of the natural world as an artist and explorer. Spend time in nature, sketch, draw, and travel through the museum galleries to discover how artists are inspired and fascinated by the world. Venture out to see sculptures installed around the museum, and visit Phipps Conservatory to collect textures, shapes, and colors in your sketchbook inspired by nature. Use your senses to paint, sketch, design, and transform your ideas into your own outdoor artwork.
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023
Learn more about Art Outside.
Imagine stepping into a laboratory of pure creativity where the possibilities are endless. Get ready to be amazed as you explore art stations brimming with excitement and wonder. Invent something new using diverse materials and basic engineering and explore the Art and Natural History museums to make new discoveries through close observation and art investigation.
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023
Learn more about ArtLab.
Become a playwright, actor, and designer as you discover the ingredients of great performance. Work with your class to create a unique play concept, sets, costumes, and props all inspired by the art housed in our galleries. Immerse yourself in comedy and drama as you work towards the grand finale, a performance open to friends and family.
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023
Learn more about Center Stage.
Discover the similarities between fine and applied arts in this interdisciplinary camp. Dabble in graphic design as you learn how to combine color, pattern, and textures to create textiles and wall paper. Explore the decorative objects in the museum’s collection as inspiration for your own, and collaborate with fellow artists to execute floor plans and stage an interior.
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023
Learn more about Interior Design.
You’re invited to attend the most prestigious school for wizards in all of Pennsylvania! Transform yourself into a wand-wielding wizard and travel to a magical realm where dragons and other mythical creatures roam. Fly about the museum to discover hidden creatures, fellow magical beings, and archetypal bad guys. Conduct experiments to create colorful potions and conjure rhythmic spells and incantations. Complete your magical persona by constructing a magical wand, sculpting a companion animal, and designing enchanting costumes.
The last day to register for this camp is June 21, 2023
Learn more about Wizard School.
Explore a wide range of tools to try out marks, smudges, and textures that can become expressive works of art. Conduct art experiments and play collaborative games to leave room for unexpected results and discover how nontraditional materials and processes can fuel your creative imagination. Use our galleries as a source for inspiration as you look for artists who think beyond realism and traditional techniques and create art in innovative ways.
The last day to register for this camp is July 5, 2023
Learn more about Art Laboratory.
Develop your own Minecraft inspired worlds, block by block. Bring digital creations to life by constructing pixelated structures in three dimensions as models and as playable spaces. Explore biomes and suitable environments that would attract animals and keep mobs at bay, scavenge for materials that emulate the ideal ores, and create mods that will bring your ideas to the next level. Explore spaces around Oakland and work with your team to recreate their materials and silhouettes in Minecraft.
The last day to register for this camp is July 5, 2023
Learn more about Building with Blocks.
Push, pull, and squish clay into anything you can imagine—from functional vessels like bowls and cups you can actually use to sculpted figures of your own design. Try out the potter's wheel and learn hand-building techniques inspired by artists in the museum collection. Use colorful underglazes to give your work a personal touch. Projects will be fired and available for pick-up at the museum 3-4 weeks after camp.
The last day to register for this camp is July 5, 2023
Learn more about Ceramics Studio.
Let’s use the movement of our bodies, wearable artwork, and our creativity to produce a show like no other! We'll take inspiration from the galleries and emulate the postures of sculptures, construct costumes inspired by paintings, and sway like mobiles. We'll learn moves from different dance and meditation practices, and even create our own beats using percussion instruments. Then, we’ll put on a show for visitors, popping into the galleries to give them a performance they'll never forget. Invite your family and friends to come see the original production we design together as a group.
The last day to register for this camp is July 12, 2023
Learn more about Art in Motion.
Let’s use the movement of our bodies, wearable artwork, and our creativity to produce a show like no other! We'll take inspiration from the galleries and emulate the postures of sculptures, construct costumes inspired by paintings, and sway like mobiles. We'll learn moves from different dance and meditation practices, and even create our own beats using percussion instruments. Then, we’ll put on a show for visitors, popping into the galleries to give them a performance they'll never forget. Invite your family and friends to come see the original production we designed together as a group.
The last day to register for this camp is July 12, 2023
Learn more about Art in Motion.
Push, pull, and squish clay into anything you can imagine—from functional vessels like bowls and cups you can actually use to sculpted figures of your pet or an imaginative creature of your own design. Try out the potter's wheel and learn hand-building techniques inspired by artists in the museum collection. Use colorful underglazes to give your work a personal touch. Projects will be fired and available for pick-up at the museum 3-4 weeks after camp.
The last day to register for this camp is July 12, 2023
Learn more about Ceramics Studio.
Work alongside your fellow artists to determine what buildings and public spaces are vital to the health of a community. Take a tour of places around Oakland to view structures of different styles, genres, and purposes and learn how art and technology are used to create sustainable buildings. Complete challenges and collaborative with your class to design and execute a model of your own neighborhood from the ground up.
The last day to register for this camp is July 12, 2023
Learn more about My Neighborhood.
Take off on an art safari through the museums and track wild animals in artworks and in dioramas that provide lifelike environments. Inspired by artworks in our Joan Brown exhibition, examine your own relationship with animals and use your pet or favorite critter as the main star in a painting or wearable mask. Make binoculars and field journals and then transform memories and drawings of notable mammals, reptiles, or amphibians into artworks that roar with color, pattern, and texture.
The last day to register for this camp is July 19, 2023
Learn more about Animal Art.
Grab your clay, scavenge for materials, and let's get creative. We'll sculpt hanging, standing, and sitting masterpieces. Take a look at the buildings in our community and explore the museum and courtyards to observe what kind of architectural wonders we can find. Work together with your fellow artists to build an installation that transforms our studio classroom into a playground of art and imagination.
The last day to register for this camp is July 19, 2023
Learn more about Build It.