AGA Art Classes and ArtBreak Camps are offered throughout the year and provide students the opportunity to engage with the art at the AGA through hands-on, brains-on art projects! Art Classes and Camps are led by professional artists and art educators. These classes provide an opportunity for students to experiment, take chances and participate in an open dialogue about art in a fun and low-pressure environment.
Session 3: May 4-June 23
Registered studio classes for kids aged 3-12
Saturday Art Classes
Family Studio: Setting the Scene
Saturday, 10:00–11:30am
Students age 3–5 years
$95/$85 AGA Members price includes one adult
Register online>
What stories do you know? How do artists tell stories? Find out in this exciting studio session that explores storytelling and more. Learn to set the scene from materials to mood to create a story of your own. Visit the exhibitions A Story of Canadian Art: As told by the Hart House Art Collection and Dutch Landscapes from Rembrandt to Van Gogh to gather ideas and experiment with hands-on techniques and art-making projects.
The Built Environment
Saturdays, 10:00-11:30am
Students age 6-8 years
$95/$85 AGA Members
Register online>
Discover the world around you in this exploratory studio session. Learn about the relationship between the natural and built environment. Visit the galleries for careful observations and sketching activities, and then head to the studio to play with a variety of materials and art forms including painting, sculpture, installation and more.
Sunday Art Classes
All Sunday Art Classes are full or unavailable. Please make another class selection.
AGA Birthday Parties!
The Art Gallery of Alberta offers birthday parties for children aged 4 years and up. Party bookings are available on weekends and include a gallery exploration, exciting studio project and time for birthday fun in the Singhmar Centre for Art Education!
Program Cost
$150 / $135 AGA Members (plus GST)
Program cost includes a group of up to 15 children and four supervising adults
$9/person thereafter
This two hour program includes:
- A Gallery Educator to lead your program
- A 20-30 Minutes Gallery tour of exhibitions connected to your studio project
- A studio art project to take home (see below for project options)
- Time for birthday festivities (Gifts, snacks, cake, etc…)
- Full use of a studio space for 2 hours
- Access to a fridge and limited storage space
The AGA does not provide catering services but parties are welcome to bring their own refreshments. Up to four supervising adults are free with your program cost (but expected to supervise!)
Is 2 hours just not enough time? The studio space can be rented for an additional $50/hour. Your Gallery Educator will remain with your group to assist you for this time.
Project Options
Choose from one of the options below for your Birthday Party program.
1. Play on Architecture
Ages 4+
Explore the architecture of the AGA from the inside out with storytelling, gallery activities and building exercises! In the studio, create a 3-D architectural sculpture from wood blocks and then paint your creation.
2. Painted Places
Ages 6+
Investigate spaces and place throughout the Gallery with searching and sketching activities. In the studio, work with oil pastels, coloured inks and watercolour paints to create a painted place of your own.
3. Colour Party!
Ongoing
Ages 4+
Play with painting and music in this project! Explore the Gallery to find out how artists use colour to create moods, then experiment with colour mixing to create your own abstract painting while listening to different moods in music. All the paintings together will create a colourful mural!
Program Booking
To book a birthday party, please fill out the online booking form. Any cancellations or changes to your booking(s) must be made within one week of your party booking. Failure to do so will result in a $35 cancellation fee.
Summer ArtBreak Camps & Classes
July 2-August 16, 2013
Spend your summer break at the AGA with ArtBreak Camps and Classes! Choose from full-week camps, one-day classes or drop-in workshops to explore art-making and the exhibitions at the AGA!
Full-Week ArtBreak Camps
Full-Week ArtBreak Camps are for students aged 6-8 and 9-12
Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-4:00 pm
July 8-August 16, 2013
Cost: $260/$234 AGA Members
July 8-12: Art Zoo (6-8 years and 9-12 years)
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Work both in the studio and on site at the Edmonton Valley Zoo to discover the art of animals. Work in 2-D and 3-D to learn drawing, painting and sculpting techniques while learning more about the animal world. This ArtBreak Camp includes two days of art making, explorations and games at the Edmonton Valley Zoo.
July 15–19: Horse Camp (9-12 years and 13–15 years)
Draw, paint and sculpt horses in the studio before heading to the stables to ride in this perennial favourite ArtBreak Camp! Learn about landscape painting, and develop drawing and illustration skills before heading outdoors to create en plein air surrounded by the great outdoors and horses, of course! This ArtBreak Camp includes two days at Pegasus Stables for horse riding and outdoor activities.
July 22–26: Watermarks (6-8 years)
Experiment with watercolour, mark making and more in the exciting new ArtBreak Camp. Be inspired by nature, water and your surroundings as you explore a diversity of media aimed at capturing everyday experiences. Play, create and experiment during this ArtBreak Camp that also includes a swimming excursion to the YMCA pool and outdoor explorations and activities at Rundle Park. Register now>
July 22–26: Art Laboratory (9-12 years)
Discover the science of art and the art of science in this investigative camp! Explore the AGA through in-Gallery visits and go behind the scenes to learn about the science of museums. The studio becomes the art lab for this camp where learners will experiment with paint, investigate art technologies and problem-solve through sculpture. Projects include colour experiments, bio-art explorations, robotic drawing and video documentations and creations. Learners will also spend time at the TELUS World of Science to learn how art and science connect! Register now>
July 29–August 2: Art Movements (6-8 years)
What is Art? If you replied visual art, dance, theatre and music, this camp is for you! In this energetic ArtBreak camp, explore the connections between the arts as you crisscross creative boundaries. Work collaboratively with AGA educators and guest artists to create new experimental artworks. Use a variety of materials and techniques including painting, drawing, dance interpretations, music-making projects and more! Tour some of Edmonton’s other art centres for additional inspiration. Register now>
July 29-August 2: Extreme Digital Photography (9-12 years)
Investigate dramatic lighting, interesting compositions and fun digital photography techniques with this extreme art camp! Examine how artists incorporate photographs and other art media to create unique works of art. Paint on photos, add text, explore collage and draw inspiration from current exhibitions. Students will design their own project and share their vision to the group. Push boundaries as you take your knowledge of photography to the next level! This ArtBreak Camp includes outdoor community walks and a visit to the Muttart Conservatory for photography assignments.
Please bring along a digital camera and a USB flash drive on which to record your work. Register now>
August 12–16: Animation (6–8 years and 9-12 years)
Learn the ins and outs of animation in this dynamic ArtBreak Camp. Meet with guest artists and professional illustrators to create a series of animated projects that explore art in motion. Start with animation basics including setting, character and story development. Explore the Gallery to gather ideas, and then work in 2-D and 3-D using a variety of techniques, both traditional and digital, to bring your animations to life!
One-Day ArtBreak Camps
Can’t stay the whole week? Drop in for a fun-filled day of art at the AGA! One-Day Camps focus on different themes daily and include a variety of fun art projects to explore in the Gallery, in the studio and outside!
Each camp features a number of in-gallery and outdoor explorations plus several art projects to take home. Each camp, planned by one of our educators, makes connections to the conceptual theme expressed here and current AGA exhibitions.
One-Day ArtBreak Camps are for students aged 6-10
Tuesdays and Fridays
July 2-August 16, 9 am-4 pm
Cost: $68/62 AGA Members
Tuesday, July 2: Photo Play
Students will experiment with various photographic techniques from the past and present. A camera is necessary to participate in this camp.
Wednesday, July 3: Art Jam
Students will work across artistic disciplines to create multi-media artworks both traditional (painting, drawing) and contemporary (performance, sound, etc).
Thursday, July 4: Immersive Installations
Students will conduct a series of sensory explorations to create a number of installation works both in the studio and in the Gallery.
Friday, July 5: Art-ifacts
Students will explore concepts of collecting and curating art including ideas around cabinets of curiosity.
Tuesday, July 9: Guerrilla Art Explorations
Students will look at examples of street art, before creating some of their own. This may include stickers, poster projects and stencilling.
Thursday, July 11: Animation Sketch
Students will experiment with various animation techniques from the past and present. This may include cell animation and video.
Tuesday, July 16: Art Symphony
Students will explore the link between music and art.
Thursday, July 18: The Art of Sport
Students will create a series of works using sport as inspiration. This may include kinetic sculpture, action painting, etc.
Tuesday, July 23: Art Inside/Outside
Students will create artworks that explore built and natural environments using a variety of materials.
Thursday, July 25: Art Lab
Students will observe, investigate and create art in this science-inspired camp.
Tuesday, July 30: Water into Art
Students will use a variety of watercolour techniques and water-based materials to create artworks.
Thursday, August 1: Sculptural Investigations
Students will play with a variety of materials to create 3-D works of art.
Tuesday, August 6: Colour Play
Students will explore the element of colour through paint and other media to express a variety of ideas and moods.
Wednesday, August 7: Built Environments
Students will build artworks inspired by urban planning and architecture.
Thursday, August 8: Art Movements
Students will move to create works of art that link art and dance. This may include performance art and action painting.
Friday, August 9: Creative Chronicles
Students will create works of art that explore the ties between art and storytelling including works on paper such as ‘zines or graphic novels.
Tuesday, August 13: New Ways in Art
Students will experiment with new and unusual techniques and materials before creating a series of artworks.
Thursday, August 15: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Students will create art with found objects and materials that are eco-friendly.
*Materials and projects may vary from the ones suggested here.
ArtBreak Camps are sponsored by Chomicki Baril Mah LLP; celebrating young artists in honour of the retirement of former partner, Raymond G. Baril, Q.C.
Studio Y One-Day ArtBreak Camps
Studio Y Workshops are for youth aged 13-17
Fridays, 9 am-4 pm
July 12-August 16
Cost: $64/58 AGA Members
Studio Y Workshops are fun art workshops that introduce new concepts and projects each week! Work with local artists to learn new art-making techniques before designing and completing your own projects. Studio Y Residencies aim to introduce youth to contemporary art-making practices while providing the opportunity for exploration of a personal art style.
July 5 Snap:
Digital Photography and Mixed-media
July 12 Sketch:
Animation
July 19
Rebel: Exploring Street Art
July 26
Build: Sculpture and Installation
August 2
Wash: Watercolour Painting
August 9
Document: Video Installation
August 16
Graphic Novel: Drawing and Mixed-media
