The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas has a long-lasting and continuing impact on community youth through its robust and diverse set of seasonal programming. This year, ASC is excited for campers and staff to use its new ARTSpace on Main facility.

Camp offerings include art, ceramics, cooking, dance, STEAM and theater. The first camps begin Monday, June 7. Income-based scholarships are available for family assistance. For more information, registration and scholarship applications, visit asc701.org/summer-camps.

Theater Camp—10 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday–Friday, June 7–18; ages 12–17

Theater Camp will focus on musical theater preparation, collaboration and exploration. Campers will develop the necessary skills needed in musical theatre, while being empowered to grow and advance their creativity in a fun, supportive environment. They will work with props and costumes, and perform numbers from various musicals. They will also learn to work in teams, solve problems, build self-confidence and explore creativity while making new friends. The camp will conclude with a showcase performance open to the public.

Theatre Jr. Camp—1–4 p.m. Monday–Friday, June 21–25; ages 7–11

Theater Camp Jr. will focus on basic beginner’s musical theater preparation, collaboration, and exploration. Campers will work with props and costumes, and perform numbers from various  musicals. They will learn to work in teams, solve problems, build self-confidence, how to stay focused and explore creativity while making new friends. The camp will conclude with a showcase performance open to the public.

Art I Camp—9 a.m.–noon Monday–Friday, June 21–25; ages 7–11

Art I focuses on beginner lessons in different media with an exploration of ASC’s art exhibitions. Students will develop an understanding of drawing, painting, and sculpting techniques to create beautiful artwork through step-by-step instruction.

Ceramics Camp—1–4 p.m. Monday–Friday, June 28–July 2, July 5; ages 12–17

This special ceramics camp will be led by multi-media artist and ceramicist Yelena Petroukhina. The camp coincides with her exhibition “Defining Home: Mixed Media and Ceramics of Yelena Petroukhina,” on view April 8–July 10, 2021, at ASC.

Students will learn fundamental clay hand-building techniques, surface and mono-printed image transfer techniques on clay, use commercial glazes and fire clay with ASC’s onsite kilns. The July 5 session is for students to pick up their final fired pieces and for a culminating group activity. The camp will be held in ASC’s new The ARTSpace on Main facility, at 623 S. Main St. 

Petroukhina teaches art at Horace Mann Middle School in Little Rock. She is an alumna of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Visit her website at yelenapetroukhina.net.

STEAM Camp—10 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday–Friday, July 12-16; ages 12–17

Students are introduced to the principles of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) with hands-on building and experimentation through computer programming and animation.

CrEATe Lab—1–4 p.m. Monday–Friday, July 19–23; ages 10-17

This hands-on cooking camp teaching basic skills such as properly washing, peeling, chopping, and slicing various food items and how to avoid illness from improper food preparation. Students will learn to turn their knowledge of dietary choices into nutritious meals with the guidance of Faith Anaya, owner of Kids Cook!. They will learn how to independently prepare a dish and create simple recipes. CrEATe Lab is made possible by grants from the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas and the Pine Bluff Area Community Foundation, an affiliate of Arkansas Community Foundation.

Dance Camp—9 a.m.–noon Monday–Friday, July 19–23; ages 7–17

This high-energy class teaches the fundamentals of dance, with techniques that encourage self-expression and will develop musicality, coordination, and rhythm.

For additional information about ASC’s summer camps, email Public Programs Coordinator Shakeelah Rahmaan at srahmaan@asc701.org or call 870-536-3375.

About ASC

The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, 701 S. Main St. in Pine Bluff, is open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gallery admission is free. Support for ASC is provided in part by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pine Bluff Advertising & Promotion Commission, & the City of Pine Bluff. ASC is a member of the Discovery Network, a statewide program of the Museum of Discovery. For more information and to sign up for upcoming event announcements, visit asc701.org.