Who’s feeling creative?
Newport to host art and theater camps this summer
When it comes to finding fun things for their kids to do during the summer, savvy parents plan early. Registration is open for summer creative day camps at the Newport Visual Arts Center and Newport Performing Arts Center.
Camp age ranges are for students entering kindergarten through 12th grade in the fall of 2025.
Newport Performing Arts Center
Shakespeare Camp, led by Milo Graamans, will take place June 16 through 27. A deliciously dramatic offering for kids entering grades six through 12, this summer’s camp will culminate in a performance of the Bard’s masterpiece, “Hamlet.” The play is filled with love, death, revenge, a play-within-a-play, a choreographed duel and some of the most memorable lines in all of Shakespeare’s lexicon. This is a great opportunity for teens to try their hand at performing a classic.
Theatre Camp returns July 21 through August 1. Led by Jennifer Hamilton, kids entering grades three through 11 are invited to take part in this performing arts experience where they will mount full productions as they make new friends, find out about the Happy Box, enjoy camp dress-up days and earn prizes from the camp treasure chest. Students will be cast in one of three shows based on age. The youngest group will perform “Willy Wonka Kids,” the middle group will perform “Mythically Mythical Myths” and the older group will perform “Attention Detention.”
Newport Visual Arts Center
New for this year, Arts 101 Camp, led by Kirk Robert Paulson, will take place from June 23 through 27. Creative teens entering grades six through 12 are invited to participate in a week-long series of classes and take an in-depth look at the basic foundations of art and design. No art experience is necessary. Students will be encouraged to experiment with a variety of mediums as they develop their understanding of the elements of art, such as line, shape, color, space, value, movement, pattern, variety and unity in their work. Each class will include instruction, creation and reflection time.
The Creative Arts Camp for kids returns in July, led by Crystal Akins Meneses. Kids entering kindergarten through second grade can participate July 14 through 18, with a second camp for kids in grades three through five taking place July 21 through 25. Participants will explore a variety of creative arts including music, dance and visual art-making during this week-long camp. Activities will include drumming, marimbas, ukulele, singing, dancing, mosaic painting, drawing, sculpture, poetry and shadow puppets.
Tuition for these camps ranges from $200 to $490. If funds are a barrier, parents or guardians are encouraged to apply for financial assistance.
The Newport Performing Arts Center is located at 777 W Olive Street. The Newport Visual Arts Center is located at 777 NW Beach Drive. For more information, go to coastarts.org or call 541-265-2787.