By KERRY KRISEMAN
Public Relations Manager
It is said that travel has the power to connect us with others. It enlightens, educates, and inspires. Art is the same. Combine the two and you have an opportunity for creative expression through exploration of different cultures.
Creative Clay’s Art Around the World inclusive summer camp returns this summer after a hiatus last year due to Covid-19. This year’s camp for kids 6–12 will teach the art, culture and customs of Scotland, Zimbabwe, Laos, and New Zealand.
Camp begins June 21 and continues through July 30, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children will study different cultures through a variety of media. All campers will have one painting per week exhibited at the St. Petersburg Museum of History at the St. Pete Pier. Class size is limited to 12 students (six per studio) with a professional teaching artist and two teaching assistants.
“At the heart of our Art Around the World camp is Creative Clay’s vision of inclusion and arts access,” CEO Kim Dohrman said. “A healthy and diverse learning environment is not only about race and gender identity, but also about respecting physical and developmental differences as well. Conversations about honoring how humans are alike and different happen effortlessly because of our unique arts curriculum.”
Children of different abilities share a classroom and the experience of creating art together versus a traditional school setting where students are often separated due to neuro differences. Covid-19 protocols, as stated on Creative Clay’s website, will be followed. This includes mask wearing indoors, frequent surface sanitizing and hand washing, and ample availability of hand sanitizer. Campers will have the opportunity for masking breaks under our new outdoor classroom space. Lunches will also take place in the outdoor classroom space.
Popular with parents looking for a small, creative setting, Art Around the World provides varied experiences and creates a culture of acceptance. Parents are the best predictors, since it’s their child’s happiness that is at the forefront, and their reviews speak volumes.
The cost to attend Art Around the World is $200.00 per week, and scholarships are available for those who qualify. Creative Clay has partnered again this year with Creative Pinellas to help us to offer scholarships for children from low-income families. Here is the link for parents to apply for a scholarship with Creative Pinellas: https://creativepinellas.org/gotosummercamp/.
Learn more about scholarships and register for Art Around the World at https://www.creativeclay.org/summer-camp.
Creative Clay’s vision is to make the arts accessible to all. Our mission is to help people with disabilities achieve full and inclusive lives through access to the arts by providing expressive, educational, and vocational experiences.
