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.
Registered studio classes for kids aged 3-12 and youth aged 13+
Session 2: March 10-April 14
Session 3: April 28-June 9 (No class May 19)
This season discover northern places, make connections between art and music and explore photography and video in Saturday Art Classes for Kids and Youth!
Session 2: March 10-April 14, 2012
Family Studio: Art ISMS!
Saturdays, 10-11:30 am
Students aged 3-5 years
$90 (includes one grown-up family member)/$81 AGA Members
Registration is full.
Dadism, Surrealism, Cubism and more! This class explores a new ‘ISM’ each week through stories, gallery visits, games and a variety of fun art projects. Build abstract cubist sculptures, create surreal ink paintings, and construct dada-inspired collages in this hands-on, brains-on class for little ones and their grown-ups!
A Day in the Life…
Saturdays, 10-11:30 am
Students aged 6-8 years
Register online >
Explore the worlds of Picasso, Dali, Duchamp and more in this exciting art class! Each week features a new artist and a new art project. Learn about the life and art of several artists through stories, gallery sketching and a variety of hands-on projects. Create portraits in the style of Picasso, assemble found objects like Duchamp, and collage surreal compositions like Dali!
Techno-Folly!
Saturdays, 10-11:30 am
Students aged 9-12 years
Register online >
What is the role of technology in art? How has this role changed throughout time? Explore the art of technology and the technology of art in this interdisciplinary class. Explore gallery exhibitions to get inspired and work in a variety of media including drawing, painting, photography and video to create your own art inspired by changing technologies. This class features a special visits from several guest instructors to explore different types of technologies.
Session 3: April 28-June 9
Family Studio: Art School!
Saturdays, 10-11:30 am
Students aged 3-5 years
$90 (includes one grown-up family member)/$81 AGA Members
Class is full!
It’s time for school! Art school that is. Get inspired by art from the past and present in order to learn the A, B, C’s of art! Investigate the exhibitions Art School: Banff 1947 and Icons of Modernism to learn about shapes, colours and patterns. In the studio, projects will focus on connecting art, music, math, language and science. Hypothesize about colour mixing, count and create using patterns, respond rhythmically to music and create paintings based on your favourite stories. Each week features new explorations and new discoveries!
Memory Making: Print-making & Painting
Saturdays, 10-11:30 am
Students aged 6-8 years
$90/$81 AGA Members
Register online >
Flashbacks, memories and souvenirs are the inspiration for this hands-on, brains-on studio! Investigate art from the past in the gallery to make connections to the present in the studio. Projects include memory mapping with collagraph printing, silk-screen souvenirs and storytelling though watercolour and acrylic paint explorations. This class features a variety of print-making and painting projects that connect memories, places and spaces!
Time Warp: Art Then & Now
Saturdays, 10-11:30 am
Students aged 9-11 years
$90/$81 AGA Members
Register online >
How does art from the past influence art today? Take a trip back in time to discover how historical artists connect to the present. Each class features a new exploration of Gallery exhibitions and studio projects. Look at abstraction from the past in order to connect to abstract street art today and discover historical landscapes in order to connect to contemporary land art installations. Projects include experiments with drawing, photography, installation, painting and sculpture!
Summer ArtBreak Camps & Class
July 2-August 17,2012
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!
Have questions about our ArtBreak Camps & Classes? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions!
Full Week ArtBreak Camps
Monday-Friday, 9-4 pm
July 2- August 17, 2012
Full Week ArtBreaks are offered for students aged 6-8 and 9-12
Cost: $260/$234 AGA Members
Each week, the AGA features new camp themes and explorations. Camps include studio projects, Gallery visits and community excursions where young artists can make connections between art inside and outside the Gallery walls. Click on the links below to find out more about the exciting themes offered this summer!
July 2-6 | Abstract Adventures >
July 9-13 | Art Zoo (6-8 years event >
July 16-20 | The Art Laboratory >
July 23-27 | Horse Camp >
July 30-August 3 | Green Camp >
August 6-10 | Art of Sport >
August 6-10 | Art Revoltz >
August 13-17 | Paint, Play, Dance >
August 13-17 | Extreme Digital Photography >
July 2-6: Abstract Adventures
6-8 years | Register online >
9-12 years | Register online >
Ready, set, abstract! Adventure into the world of abstraction with Gallery visits, sculpture projects, painting investigations and mixed-media assemblages in this experimental art camp. Get inspired by AGA exhibitions including Alex Janvier and The Automatiste Revolution before working in the studio with paint, print-making and sculpture projects to explore the art of abstraction. This camp includes community excursions and the creation of large scale abstract paintings in the TD
Education Gallery.
July 9-13: Art Zoo
6-8 years | Register online >
9-12 years | Register online >
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 16-20: The Art Laboratory
6-8 years | Register online >
9-12 years | Register online >
Discover the science of art and the art of science in this investigative art camp! Explore the AGA through in-gallery visits and go behind the scenes to discover the science of museums. The stu-dio 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 investigations, 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!
July 23-27: Horse Camp
9-12 years | Register online >
13-15 years | Register online >
Draw, paint and sculpt horses in the studio before heading to the stables to ride in this AGA popular kids 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.
Please note that this camp includes additional charges in the price ($300) for two days of horse riding.
July 30-August 3: Green Camp
6-8 years | Register online >
9-12 years | Register online >
Explore the FOUR R’s- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and aRRRRRt! Investigate the environment around us through gallery explorations of art inspired by the natural world, nature walks, recycled-material art projects and a visit to the Devonian Botanic Gardens for sketching and painting activities.This ArtBreak Camp includes a visit to the Devonian Botanic Gardens as well as to the Alberta Legislative Grounds for sketching, painting and outdoor explorations.
August 6-10: Art of Sport Camp
6-8 years | Register online >
Flex your muscles and your mind in this active camp! Learn about the art of sport through Gallery explorations, studio programs and outdoor sports activities! Explore how contemporary artists are inspired by the world of sport and how movement and activity connects to studio art-making. Work with experimental drawing, action painting, and sculptural installations in the studio before heading outside to part-take in walks, games and activities. This ArtBreak Camp includes com-munity walks, visits to Kinsmen Sports Centre and to the River Valley for outdoor art and play.
August 6-10: Art Revoltz
9-12 years | Register online >
Get inspired by the exhibition The Automatiste Revolution to explore avant-garde art-making! How do artists work to break away from the past and explore new futures? This ArtBreak camp explores art on the edge from the past and present. Through a variety of projects, learners will investigate how artists use new ideas and technologies to push against the past and project into the future. Projects include explorations in street art, getting the message out with silk-screen and poster design and large scale automatic paintings!
August 13-17: Paint, Play, Dance
6-8 years | Register online >
This exciting new camp explores the connections between visual art, dance and music! Young artists will work with art educators and guest artists to experiment with a variety of art projects, dance routines and music making projects. This interdisciplinary camp includes studio art-making, Gallery visits and community excursions to other Edmonton art institutions. Throughout the week, students will work towards creating a collaborative, performative piece to be performed on the last day of camps!
August 13-17: Extreme Digital Photography Camp
9-12 years | Register online >
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 art in the Gallery. Students will be encouraged to design their own project and articulate their vision to the group. Push boundaries and challenge concepts 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.
One Day ArtBreak Camps
Tuesdays and Thursday from July 10-August 16, 9am-4pm
One-Day ArtBreaks are offered for students aged 6-10
Cost: $64/58 AGA Members
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!
Tuesday, July 10: Sculpted Spaces | Register online >
Thursday, July 12: Painting 2D to 3D | Register online >
Tuesday, July 17: Art Sounds | Register online >
Thursday, July 19: Abstract Adventures | Register online >
Tuesday, July 24: Diorama-rama! | Register online >
Thursday, July 26: Art Revolution | Register online >
Tuesday, July 31: Photo Play | Register online >
Thursday, August 2: Guerilla Art Explorations | Register online >
Tuesday, August 7: Art Inside Outside | Register online >
Thursday, August 9: Colour Play | Register online >
Tuesday, August 14: Art Lab | Register online >
Thursday: August 16: Print Factory | Register online >
Summer Group Programs
Looking for a fun way to connect to art and ideas with your summer group! Explore the art and architecture of the AGA in the Gallery or in the Studios with fun-filled Summer Group Programs. Summer Group Programs run from July 3-August 31, 2012. More information >
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.
