Summer Program Weekly Themes

Week 1: The ABCs of Creativity - The Building Blocks of Art
Kick off the summer with a fun introduction to the building blocks of art: line, shape, color, texture, and composition. Focus on the fundamentals of line, shape and color through painting, pattern making, and creative challenges that turn simple forms into complex creations.

Week 2: Wild About Art - A Safari of Creativity
Pack your imagination—we’re going on an art safari! This week, kids will travel across jungles, deserts, and rainforests to explore the natural world through art. From roaring lions, to patterned zebras and colorful birds, each day brings new creatures to discover and create. Children will use painting, collage, sculpture and mixed media to explore wild animals, habitats, and patterns in nature, all while learning fun facts about the wild world around us. It’s a hands-on, art-filled adventure full of creativity, color, and wild imagination!

Week 3: Texture Town - Touch, Feel, Create!
Welcome to Texture Town—a place where art isn’t just seen, it’s felt! This week, kids will explore the many ways texture can be used in art to create depth, interest, and expression in art. Each day introduces fun, hands-on activities that encourage young artists to create work that stimulates the senses through painting, stamping, and collaging. From layered landscapes to squishy sculptures and printed patterns, Texture Town is a messy, magical place full of discovery and imagination.

Week 4: Cosmic Creators - Space Themed Art Adventures
Blast off into a galaxy of creativity! This week, kids will explore planets, stars, rockets, aliens, and far-off galaxies through painting, drawing, sculpture, and mixed media. Each day brings new cosmic creations as young artists imagine life among the stars, design their own spacecraft, and build dazzling space scenes. It’s the perfect mix of art, imagination, and interstellar fun!

Week 5: Mini Masterpieces - Exploring Art History Through Creativity
Dive into the world of art history! This week children will learn about and and explore the work of artists like Van Gogh, Matisse, and Frida Kahlo. Children will create pieces inspired by these masters, reimagined in their own unique way.

Week 6: Under the Sea - Ocean Inspired Creations
Create ocean-inspired art full of waves, fish, treasure, and mystery! Kids will explore sea life through vibrant paintings, collages, and imaginative underwater scenes.

Week 7: Art & The Natural World - Taking Inspiration from Nature
Use nature as inspiration and even as a material! From leaf prints to nature mandalas and painted landscapes, children will connect with the natural world around them through art making.

Week 8: Drawn to Life – The Art of Drawing

This week is all about drawing! This week children will learn about the building blocks of drawing. They’ll practice observation skills, experiment with different tools like pencils, charcoal, pastels, and ink, and try their hand at everything from still life to portraiture. Whether sketching from real life or inventing from their imaginations, young artists will gain confidence and discover that drawing is a skill they can use anywhere.

Week 9: Paint Like a Pro – Splash, Stroke, and Swirl!

Get ready to dive deep into the wonderful world of painting! This week, kids will explore different painting styles and techniques—from bold brushwork to delicate detail, and from classic to abstract. Using tempera, watercolor, and mixed media, they’ll experiment with tools like sponges, palette knives, and even fingers to express themselves in new ways. Each day brings a fun new painting challenge, whether it’s landscapes, portraits, patterns, or playful experiments. By the end of the week, kids will feel like real painters—confident, creative, and totally inspired.

Week 10: Nature’s Studio: Art in the Wild

Step outside the lines and into the wild! Nature’s Studio: Art in the Wild is a week-long art class for children that turns the natural world into a boundless source of inspiration. From leafy forests and blooming gardens to starry skies and hidden critters, each day invites young artists to explore a different wonder of the outdoors—then bring it to life through creative art-making. With the guidance of museum educators and artists, children will experiment with drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture using both traditional and natural materials. Perfect for curious minds and creative spirits—no prior art experience needed!

Week 11: From Ship to Shore - A Nautical Art Journey

Set sail on a creative voyage with From Ship to Shore! Inspired by New Bedford’s proud fishing and maritime history, this week invites young artists to explore the stories, sights, and sounds of the sea through art. From ships and sails to sea creatures and coastal landscapes, children will dive deep into nautical-themed projects that celebrate life by the water.

Guided by museum educators and local artists, children will experiment with drawing, painting, collage, and sculpture to create harbor scenes, whimsical ocean maps, sailor portraits, and even their own folk-inspired maritime flags. They’ll learn about New Bedford’s role in the whaling and fishing industries, discover marine life, and create art that reflects the rich culture of coastal living.