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Best Art Summer Camps for Chicago Kids

Art summer camps are popular in Chicago. Photo courtesy of ChiArts
Art summer camps are popular in Chicago. Photo courtesy of ChiArts
3/12/23 - By Maureen Wilkey

Our list of art summer camps in Chicago will entertain your little artist this summer 2023.

Got a kid who doodles all day in school, even when they're supposed to be working on math equations? Give them a week or more of creative time this summer by signing up for one of our favorite art summer camps in Chicago and the surrounding area. While younger students may be best suited for a mixed-media art camp that introduces multiple art concepts, bigger kids can find specialties to help them prepare for high school or college art classes. From drawing and painting to digital arts and fashion design, we have a little something for everybody on our list of favorite art summer camps near Chicago.

Looking for summer camps that are free or affordable? We have a list of camps for that. Or you can check out our Chicago Summer Camp Guide to find lists of camps for the different interests of each of your little ones.

Art summer camps are available for big and little artists. Photo courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
Art summer camps are available for big and little artists. Photo courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

Top Art Summer Camps Near Chicago

Marwen

River North
Marwen is a no-cost program for young people in Chicago looking to explore their interest in the arts. Sixth through 12th graders can take courses in photography, animation, illustration, drawing, ceramics, sewing, video, and more at this River North studio. Summer camps include two sessions, each two weeks in length. READ MORE

Kidstreet Camps at Lillstreet Art Center

Ravenswood
Lillstreet Art Center provides Kidstreet Camps for kids ages 3-16 who are interested in developing their artistic skills, including drawing, clay, mixed media, and more. This summer's half-day camps feature themes like Acrylic Painting, Art like an Egyptian, Art of the Graphic Novel, and Cosmic Creations. READ MORE

ChiArts

Humboldt Park
ChiArts Summer Camp offers a high-quality artistic experience for your middle school student this summer. ChiArts is a pre-professional public arts high school located in the Humboldt Park area.  The middle school camp experiences simulate what it is like to be a student at the high school in the arts conservatory.  Student choose one camp program to participate in throughout the entire duration of the 3-week Summer Camp experience from 9:00AM-2:00PM, Monday through Friday.  Campers can select Band, Creative Writing, Dance, Theater, Voice, or Visual... READ MORE

Unicoi Art Studio Summer Camps

Roscoe Village
Providing art activities for kids in Chicago since 1999, Unicoi's mission is to draw the imagination out of every child. The studio's half-day camps give children a chance to experience art, outdoor time, and play time. The flexible schedule allows parents to sign kids up one day at a time or for entire weeks. Each day includes 1-2 art projects as well as trips to the park. READ MORE

Easel Art Studio Camps

Bucktown and Ravenswood
Paint, draw, sculpt, and create masterpieces at these expert led camps in Ravenswood and Bucktown. In addition to art time every day, kids will spend time outdoors, read, and have time for free play! Different themes each week include Big and Little, Glow in the Dark, Dollhouses, and Dioramas. READ MORE

Kids Clay Room

Lincoln Park
Kids can spend summers at Kids Clay Room learning how to make art through the pinch, coil, and slab techniques. When they're finished sculpting, kids will glaze their creations. The half-day camp has pre-determined projects each week. READ MORE

The Paintbrush Summer Camps

Lincoln Park
Kids can explore art through a variety of approaches at The Paintbrush art camps. Aside from drawing and painting, kids will also participate in weekly special days like tie-dye day and slime day. Lunch and some other activities will take place outside. READ MORE

SAIC Summer Camps

Downtown
Middle schoolers can dig deeper into special areas of artistic interest at one or two week summer camps at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Learn how to make art for graphic novels, world making, fashion, architecture, animation, video production, and more. Children ages 6-9 can attend multi-arts camps, while younger kids ages 4-10 can enjoy family summer camps at the Art Institute with at least one adult enrolled.  READ MORE

Creativity Camp at Hyde Park Arts Center

Hyde Park
Kids ages four to ten can enroll in these mixed media arts camps to focus their creativity on visual and performing arts. Select a one-week or two-week session of full-day camps. Each session is unique, so kids can sign up for more than one. Campers over age 10 can select a special topics camp, like Ceramics, Stop Motion Animation, or Sketchbook Drawing. READ MORE

One River School Art Camps

Evanston
One River School in Evanston hosts more than 90 summer camps featuring different art topics for kids in grades K-12. Half-day camps teach young artists to draw manga characters, use Photoshop, paint with watercolors, design cosplay costumes, create street art, and more.  READ MORE

North Shore Art League Summer Art Camps

Winnetka
Popular art instructors Lilian Johnston and Jude Bamshad lead 5-12-year-olds in artistic skill-building project at this North Shore camp. Register for one week, two weeks, or the whole summer-- there are no repeat projects! READ MORE

Magical Minds Studio Art Camps

Oak Park
Magical Minds Studio in Oak Park has art camps for summer, spring break, or just days off school. Kids can explore different themes each week during the summer like multimedia, clay and sculpture, and comics and characters. Kids as young as 3 can enjoy these fun camps and classes. READ MORE

The Art Center at Highland Park Summer Camps

Highland Park
Kids ages 6-15 can explore a variety of topics at The Arts Center of Highland Park's summer camps. Half-day camps have themes like Jewelry, Ceramics, Cartooning, and Mixed-Media, and provide an inclusive environment where students build their skills while discovering their artistic voices. READ MORE

DIT Workshops Maker and Mini Maker Summer Camps

Elmhurst
Kids ages 6-12 can use paint in a variety of ways to make fun projects at this west suburban summer camp. Register for half-day or full-day, with an outdoor lunch period. Siblings can be placed together regardless of age. READ MORE

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