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Great Art Summer Camps in DC, Maryland, & Northern Virginia for Creative Kids

Budding fashion designers can sew their own creations at Creative Youth Summer Camp. Photo courtesy of the camp
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4/7/24 - By Jennifer Marino Walters

Washington, DC is a creative city that's full of culture, so it's no surprise that it is bursting with great art summer camps for your future Picasso. These summer art camps in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia allow preschoolers, kids, and teens to explore their creative side through painting, drawing, sculpting, photography, theater, and other types of art.

Here are our top picks for art summer camps in the DC metro area. For more summer camps near DC, including STEM summer camps and sports summer camps, check out our Washington, DC Summer Camp Guide.

Find a full listing of local summer camps in our Camp Directory, where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and neighborhood.

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Kids can create and paint pottery and other treasures at All Fired Up summer camp. Photo courtesy of the studio
Kids can create and paint pottery and other treasures at All Fired Up summer camp. Photo courtesy of the studio

Art Summer Camps in Washington, DC

All Fired Up Summer Camp

Cleveland Park
Kids create and paint several clay pieces, as well as paint canvases using watercolors and acrylic, at this Cleveland Park pottery studio's weekly summer camp. The camp, which runs from 9am-2pm, also includes a weekly trip to the Cleveland Park Library and the National Zoo (weather permitting). All camp weeks are for ages 6-12 except the week of July 1-3, which is for ages 12-16.  READ MORE

Anna Banana Arts and Crafts

Georgetown
Anna Banana offers art classes for kids ages 2-12, as well as summer art camps for ages 4-8. At both, kids learn about famous artists and different genres while creating art using pastels, watercolors, paints, and charcoal.  READ MORE

Alef Art Camp

Capitol Hill
This summer camp offers campers an array of fun activities including pottery, arts and crafts, music and movement, outdoor fun, cooking, and more in a Jewish environment. Campers also go on local field trips and enjoy guest entertainers and workshops.  READ MORE

Blue Giraffe Art Studio Summer Camps

Tenleytown
At Blue Giraffe's summer camps, campers ages 5-15 paint; produce cartoons; make jewelry and mosaics; create 3-D projects out of paper, cardboard, plastics, and clay, and much more. Camp takes place from 9am-12:45pm. READ MORE
Learning to sew is just part of the fun at Creative Youth Summer Camp. Photo courtesy of the camp
Learning to sew is just part of the fun at Creative Youth Summer Camp. Photo courtesy of the camp

Art Summer Camps in Maryland

Artworks

Bethesda & Potomac
Artworks offers drawing and painting classes for kids and teens ages 6-12 and 13-17 at its three locations in Bethesda, Potomac, and Falls Church. There are also full-day (9am-3pm) summer and school-break camps. Kids' camps for ages 6-12 are offered in all three locations, and teen camps for ages 12-17 are available in the Bethesda location. All staff members are fully trained in childhood education and/or fine arts.  READ MORE

Creative Youth Summer Camp

Bethesda
At Creative Youth Summer Camp, future fashion designers ages 7-9 or 10-12 (depending on the week) learn about sewing, including how to use a sewing machine, fabric layout, pinning, cutting, and more. Each week campers can choose from over 30 projects depending on their skill level, such as tote bags, pillows, and even clothing. Camp runs from 9am-3pm.  READ MORE

Art Works Now Summer Camp

Hyattsville
Art Works Now offers full-day summer art camp for kids ages 5-8 (eight one-week sessions) and 9-12 (four two-week sessions). Each week for ages 5-8 has a different theme and focuses on a different medium—such as painting, clay, and art engineering—and includes creative thinking games and outdoor play. Campers ages 9-12 create and paint clay pieces. The final week is for both age groups and involves turning recycled and found materials into 3D works of art and fashion design.  READ MORE

CREATE Arts Center

Silver Spring
CREATE Arts Center offers Summer and No School Day Art Camps. Experienced teaching artists inspire creativity by teaching various art-making techniques and help campers draw inspiration for their artwork. Summer camps are weeklong, and the no-school day camp schedule aligns with Montgomery County Public Schools, DC Public Schools, and several local private schools and charter schools. READ MORE

Arts Barn Summer Camps

Gaithersburg
Arts Barn offers a variety of summer camps for kids and teens ages 7-16. Camps focus on various arts such as theater, 2-D and 3-D artwork, painting, clay, and more.  READ MORE
Harmonia's two-week summer camp ends with a musical theater show. Photo by Ron Staley, harmoniaschool.org
Harmonia's two-week summer camp ends with a musical theater show. Photo by Ron Staley, harmoniaschool.org

Art Summer Camps in Northern Virginia

Kidcreate Studio

Alexandria, Ashburn, & Fairfax Station
Kidcreate Studio offers art classes for kids ages 18 months to 12 at its three Northern Virginia locations, as well as summer and school-break art camps, crafty birthday parties, and special themed workshops. Students and campers work on a variety of projects including painting, drawing, clay, and more.  READ MORE

Harmonia Musical Theater & Creative Arts Camp

Vienna
At this two-week camp, kids ages 5-7 and 8-14 try multiple musical instruments, create art projects, and perform in a musical theater show. There is a half-day option from 9am-12pm and a full-day option from 9am-3pm, with extended care available until 5:30. The Junior Music Camp for ages 4-6 includes beginner piano instruction, singing, and arts and crafts. READ MORE

Clay Cafe Studios Claymagination Art Camp

Falls Church
At Claymagination Art Camp, kids ages 6 and up participate in pottery painting, glass fusing, and other multimedia art projects. Camp runs from 11am-3pm, with projects changing weekly.  READ MORE

Art House 7

Arlington
This art studio offers classes for preschoolers through high schoolers in a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, ceramics, sewing and more. Art House 7 also offers weekly themed summer camps for kids ages 5-13.  READ MORE

Tysons Art and Learning Center

Tysons
Tysons Art and Learning offers fine-arts classes to kids ages 5-17 of all experience levels. Students learn to draw and paint using a variety of materials such as charcoal, watercolor, pencil, oil pastels, and paints. Kids ages 5-12 can also draw, paint, and craft at half-day or full-day summer camps.  READ MORE

Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington

Arlington
MOCA Arlington offers art classes for toddlers (with their caregivers) through teens. Toddlers and preschoolers can take general art classes, while school-age kids can take classes in drawing, painting, clay modeling, and more. Arlington Arts Center also offers full- and half-day summer camps for kids and teens ages 5-18, in which campers explore the visual arts through projects in 2D and 3D media while learning about various techniques and contemporary artists.  READ MORE

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About the Author

Jennifer Marino Walters
Jennifer Marino Walters is the DC and travel editor for Mommy Poppins and the author of over 20 beloved children's books. A proud mom of three—plus twins!—she lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and busy brood. When she’s not writing or editing, you’ll find Jennifer cheering from the sidelines of a baseball game, supporting her daughter’s cheerleading squad, diving into a good book, or exploring new destinations. Connect with her on Instagram @jmwalters718.
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