MFA Summer Weekly Journeys Through Art for Children

Looking for alternatives to camp? The MFA offers weekly summer art classes for kids. Each morning and afternoon course focuses on a specific theme. Groups of up to 12 children (grouped by age) discover new places and cultures; visit our galleries; draw, paint, sculpt, collage, and print in studio art classrooms. Students may register for a single week or any combination of multiple weeks. Sign your child up for just the morning, just the afternoon session or have them come for both!

VIEW ALL SUMMER ART CLASS OFFERINGS HERE 

Supervised Lunches
Need something for your child to do from 12pm and 1pm between classes? If your child is enrolled in an art class, register for our supervised lunches. Studio Art Faculty will eat with and entertain your child during lunch. Children must bring their own lunches.

Supervised Late Pickup
Want your child to stay a little later at the end of the day? Extend your child's day until 4:45 with our supervised late pickup.

Search by Age Group:
5 to 6
7 to 8
9 to 11

Search by Date:

Week 1 (June 17-21)                         Week 6 (July 22-26)
Week 2 (June 24-28)   Week 7 (July 29-August 2)
Week 3 (July 1-5, No class July 4)   Week 8 (August 5-9)
Week 4 (July 8-12)   Week 9 (August 12-16)
Week 5 (July 15-18)   Week 10 (August 19-23)

 

Summer 2013 Weekly Themes:

Secrets of the Ancient World

bookmarkClimb aboard and travel back in time to explore Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt and many distant lands. During your discovery, find temples of Athena, examine hieroglyphs and uncover ancient coins. Record your travels in a sketch journal and then in the studio create your own treasure trove of artifacts, mosaics, coins and more.

Week 1 (June 17-21) Morning Session

Warriors, Heroes, Heroines, Gods and Goddesses

bookmarkSee art from India, Europe, America, and the Ancient World and hear stories of the powerful figures pictured in the artwork. Create your own powerful human and animal images with paint, clay, fabric, beads, and mixed materials in the studio.

Week 2 (June 24-28) Afternoon Session
Week 7 (July 29-August 2) Morning Session

Expanding Ideas: Contemporary Art

bookmarkQuestion, Explore, Imagine and Make. In the galleries, discover Lynda Bengilis' monumental, cascading sculpture called the Wing. Look carefully at the dazzling tapestry by Nigerian based artist, El Anatsui. Marvel at neon words and vibrant colors of Ellsworth Kelly. In the studio, invent, experiment with materials and create your own modern master piece.

Week 6 (July 22-26) Morning Session
Week 8 (August 5-9) Afternoon Session

Creatures of the MFA/Museum Menagerie

bookmarkExplore the galleries to find creatures that are representative of specific cultures, such as the Sphinx in Egypt and the Elephant-headed God in India. Back in the classroom, we will apply the ideas and techniques we observed in the museum to create our own creatures of the MFA.

Week 3 (July 1-5) Afternoon Session
Week 7 (July 29-August 2) Afternoon Session

The Art of Europe

bookmarkExplore Europe through works in the galleries: visit a Catalonian Chapel, join a family feast in Holland, and discover the art and culture of Paris.

Week 3 (July 1-5) Morning Session

Drawing, Painting and Printing in 2D

bookmarkDiscover drawings, paintings, and prints in the galleries, then in the studio, sketch, draw, paint and create your first edition of prints.

Week 5 (July 15-19) Afternoon Session
Week 9 (August 12-16) Morning Session

Art of Asia--Legends and Lore

bookmarkExplore the art of China, Korea, Southeast Asia, and Japan through stories, folklore, and new traditions. Ride a Samarkan horse, discover lions, and watch out for dragns. In the studio, projects include: sumi-e paintings, printmaking, clay making, and more.

Week 2 (June 24-28) Morning Session
Week 9 (August 12-16) Afternoon Session

Toy Making

bookmarkExplore the galleries to discover toys from around the world, from ancient Egyptian model boats, Roman coins, miniature paintings, and musical instruments. In the studio, create mobile toys, soft toys, noisemakers, game boards, and more.

Week 1 (June 17-21) Afternoon Session
Week 8 (August 5-9) Morning Session

Stories, Folklore and Myths

bookmarkDiscover stories that reveal mysterious legends and folk and fairy tales. Learn about Ganesha and his consorts, the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet, and Javanese dancers. Then in the studio, create your own storyboards, figurines, costumes, shadow puppets, and more.

Week 4 (July 8-12) Afternoon Session

Art of the Americas

bookmarkJoin us in the new wing as we travel through America’s past. Discover the seascapes of Winslow Homer, learn trades from Colonial America like silversmithing and stitchery, and be inspired from the American Modern Art galleries. In the studio, make sketching journals, paintings, costumes, and more.

Week 5 (July 15-19) Morning Session
Week 10 (August 19-22) Afternoon Session

Wonders of the Natural World

bookmarkIn the galleries, sail in the seascapes by Winslow Homer, climb mountains in the Alps and in the Asian Galleries, run through grass fields by the impressionists and discover different cultural lands and nature from around the world. In the studio, paint, build, carve, draw and collage.

Week 4 (July 8-12) Morning Session

Building, Forming and Inventing in 3D

bookmarkLearn about sculpture in the galleries, then in the studio, explore clay techniques, collect found materials for additive sculptures and work in wire to create your own inventions.

Week 6 (July 22-26) Afternoon Session
Week 10 (August 19-23) Morning Session

Questions?
Call 617-369-3295 or e-mail artclasses@mfa.org.

Summer 2013 Teen Classes

Looking for a class for your teen this summer? Check out our Summer Teen Intensives

Sample Schedule

9:00-10:00am
Art of Asia-Legends and Lore
Visit Art of Asia galleries. Introduction, background and brief discussion of Eastern Dragons vs. Western Dragons and Myths. Spend some time sketching in the galleries in preparation for painting.

10:00am-12:00pm
Art of Asia-Legends and Lore
Head up to the classroom, grab a quick snack and work on your own sumi-e dragon painting on rice paper.

12:00-1:00pm
Supervised Lunch

1:00-2:00pm
Secrets of the Ancient World
Visit the Ancient Egypt galleries to look at and learn about different types of amulets.

2:00-4:00pm
Secrets of the Ancient World
Back in the classroom, have a snack and make your own collection of amulets out of clay and other materials, inspired by what you’ve seen and learned.

4:00-4:45pm
Extended Pickup