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Ada Kysar learns to throw pots at the YMCA Camp Warren in Eveleth

What are your kids doing this summer? How do you balance letting them enjoy their time off from school with keeping their minds actively engaged? For some, the answer lies in summer camps and classes that are really really fun.

Here's a list of artsy summer programs that come with recommendations from folks in the know. Click on the links to learn more.

1. The College of Visual Arts offers summer classes for youth age 

, including portraiture, photography, illustrating children's books, digital video, and monotype printmaking.

offers a full range of classes in the performing arts for kids age 3 to 18.

also offers an extensive theater arts program for kids 3 and up.

 offers classes in writing plays, myths and fairy tales. 

(located in the same building in Minneapolis) offers classes in printing, bookmaking and even creating your own comics.

 offers free first Saturdays and Tuesday playdates with programming designed to encourage your kids' creativity.

9. Your kid can help beautify the community by helping create a mural in Minneapolis with the 

offers summer classes in everything from ballet to hip hop.

 offers a five week Art Adventures camp, featuring a new art activity every Tuesday.

 offers a wide array of summer classes, including show choir, weaving, photography and plein air watercolor.

14. Last but not least, several different institutions have banned together this summer to create the 

this August, which will introduce kids to theatre, printmaking, dance, book arts, and puppetry. Depending on their age, kids will focus on themes of "Monster Jam," "Wild Safari," and "Myths and Legends."

So that's a pretty good start for someone looking to keep their kid creatively occupied this summer. Have something you'd like to add? Share it in the comments section.

Arts and Culture

State of the Arts Blog

Marianne Combs

Author

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