ArtsQuest Summer Art Camps
Art Camps for Ages 4-9
Pre-Teen and Teen Studio Art Intensives for Ages 10-18
ArtsQuest’s Summer Art Camp at the Banana Factory Arts Center offers eight weeks of fun and engaging art-making classes and activities for children ages 4-18. Our youngest artists (ages 4-9) will explore the artistic process through making, learning about, seeing, and discussing art in the classrooms, studios, and galleries at the Banana Factory. Over the course of the week, campers will experiment with a variety of materials and processes, including drawing, painting, fiber arts, sculpture, mixed media, and more. Projects are designed to teach campers fundamental skills in art, while encouraging each student to express themselves creatively and in their own style. At the end of each week, students will showcase their work to family and friends at the Art Party!
Studio Intensives are designed with teens and pre-teens in mind. These courses offer older campers (ages 10-18) the opportunity to explore mediums in greater depth. Choose from different topics each week including ceramics, painting, cartooning, fiber arts, and hot glass, all taught by our talented Teaching Artists.
All camps take place at the Banana Factory Arts Center, which is located at 25 W. Third St. in Bethlehem, PA, 18015.
Download Parent/Guardian Guide
Banana Factory Summer Art Camp Waitlist
Are you interested in a session that is currently sold out? Please submit this online form. If spaces become available, we will contact those waiting in the order we received your submission. Thank you for your patience!
Camps for ages 4-6
Camps for ages 7-9
Pre-Teen Studio Intensives
for Ages 10-12
Teen Studio Intensives for
Ages 13-18 years
Meet the Teaching Artists
Location
25 W. Third St. Bethlehem, PA 18015
All classes take place at the Banana Factory Arts Center, a dynamic community resource that advances contemporary visual art in Bethlehem by connecting artists and communities in unexpected ways. As an open forum for exploring the artist process, the arts center fosters creativity through making, learning about, seeing, and discussing art—all under one roof. Classes are offered year-round for children, teens, and adults. Visit the class page for more information.
Schedule
Summer Art Camp and Studio Intensives run Monday-Friday for eight one-week sessions beginning June 12, 2023. Weeks 4 and 8 are shortened due to the 4th of July holiday, and to account for Musikfest.
- Morning Camp: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (drop off begins at 8:45 a.m.)
- Afternoon Camp: 12:30-3:30 p.m. (drop off begins at 12:15 p.m.)
- Before-Camp Care: 8-9 a.m.
- After-Camp Care: 3:30-6 p.m
Rates:
Camps & Standard-Priced Studio Intensives for Teens and Pre-Teens*
Half-Day Camps: $170 | ArtsQuest Member price: $153
Full Day Camps: $300 | ArtsQuest Member price: $270
Hot Glass Intensives (Furnace Working)
Half-Day: $325.00
Full-Day Glass & Visual Arts Combo: $475.00
Ceramics (Hand-built Pottery, Wheel-throwing, etc.)
Half Day: $200.00
Full-Day Ceramics and Visual Arts Combo: $330.00
Full-Day Ceramics and Hot Glass Combo: $505.00
Extended Hours
Early Drop-Off (8:00-9:00 a.m.): $25.00
Extended Hours (3:30-6:00 p.m.): $60.00
*Additional registration and credit card processing fees apply on all camp purchases
**3 Day Week (July 5-7 Only):
Half Day: $105.00 | ArtsQuest Member Price: 94.50
Full Day: $180.00 | ArtsQuest Member Price: 162.00
**4 Day Week (August 15-18 Only):
Half Day: $135.00 | ArtsQuest Member Price: $121.50
Full Day: $240.00 | ArtsQuest Member Price: $216.00
Discounts
Discounts are automatically applied to your cart. To ensure you redeem your discounts, you must log in to our ticketing system, AudienceView, when making your purchase.
Full Day: $40 discount. In order to use this discount, you must add the Full Day Bundle to your cart—you cannot add the morning and afternoon session separately.
ArtsQuest Members: 10% discount on every camp registration. **
To become an ArtsQuest member, click here.
Sibling Discount: Enroll one sibling, get $15 off each sibling enrolled. **
Multi-Week Discount: Enroll in one week, get $15 off each additional week enrolled. **
**These discounts cannot be combined with any other discount except for the Full Day Bundle.
For assistance with registration, please call 610-332-1300.*
*If you are asked to leave a voicemail, please do and someone will follow up with you ASAP!
Camp registration closes at 7pm the Sunday before camp.
Scholarship & Financial Assistance
ArtsQuest welcomes everyone to participate in summer camp regardless of financial circumstances. Scholarship assistance is available for those who qualify based on financial need. Financial aid is awarded on a sliding scale based on need. Apply below to see if you qualify.
Application in English . Solicitud de beca en español
Lunch and Snack Breaks
For campers aged 4-9, there will be a 20-minute supervised snack break in the morning and afternoon between each art period, and a 30-minute lunch break. Please make sure your child brings snacks and bagged lunch if enrolled a full day. (We cannot offer refrigeration or microwaves.) We also recommend campers bring their own re-fillable water bottles to camp for use throughout the day.
ATTENTION: We are a tree nut and peanut-free camp. Please do not bring peanut butter, nuts or food made with these products to the Banana Factory Arts Center as a precaution for those with allergies. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Attire
Our camps are fun and artsy, and while aprons are available, we encourage campers to come to camp dressed to make a mess. The building is air conditioned, but temperatures may vary between classrooms, and campers may go outside during breaks (weather permitting.) We recommend wearing or bringing layers to ensure your child stays comfortable! For safety reasons, sneakers or supportive footwear is required—no flip flops please.
Glass Studio students must sign a waiver and follow the following clothing requirements to ensure everyone’s safety:
- No open-toe shoes, sandals, slippers or other inappropriate footwear. Students must wear closed-toe shoes with sturdy soles (sneakers, boots, etc.).
- Students should wear cotton clothing or other natural fibers (no synthetic fibers).
- Long pants are suggested; shorts are allowed but must be long enough to cover the knees.
- Eye protection is mandatory. You can bring your own safety glasses or the studio will provide a pair.
- Long hair must be tied back.
Age Groups
Classes are designed to provide age-appropriate projects, themes and techniques for ages 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, and 13-18. Please enroll your child in the proper age category to ensure creative success.
Friday Field Trip Flip!
On Friday afternoons, the field trip will come to us for a special experience to end the week! Visiting artists, community organizations, and more will join us at the Banana Factory Arts Center on Friday afternoons for demos and other fun activities before we celebrate the end of the week at the Art Party!
Health & Safety
At ArtsQuest, the health and safety of everyone who supports, attends, works, and volunteers at our events and programs is our top concern. As an organization, we have been closely monitoring all developments in regard to the coronavirus and its spread. We will continue to follow the latest CDC, state and local health guidelines. Up-to-date covid safety protocols will be shared at least 10 days before the start of your camp session.
Cancellations
ArtsQuest reserves the right to cancel classes due to insufficient enrollment. If you register for a course that is cancelled, you will be notified of the cancellation and issued a refund or a gift certificate to be used on any future class excluding glass. ArtsQuest is not responsible for non-refundable airline tickets or other travel expenses incurred due to a class cancellation.
Materials
Materials are included in the price of all classes unless otherwise indicated. All campers receive a camp t-shirt. Campers enrolled in digital and computer classes need to bring in an external or USB drive to class to take home files of their work.
Refunds & Exchanges
If a student requests a cancellation more than ten days before the camp begins, they will receive a full refund less a $25 administrative fee. No refund will be issued for student cancellations made fewer than 10 days before the start of class, under any circumstances. A $25 administration fee is charged for all cancellation and exchanges for art camp programs. ArtsQuest does not offer makeup dates for any students who are unable to attend a scheduled class or camp.
Artwork Pickup Policy
Student artwork remaining after camp completion will be held for 30 days, after which it will be discarded.
Personal Items
ArtsQuest is not responsible for lost or stolen personal items. Students are not permitted to use personal items during camp class time. This includes toys, phones, tablets, and other electronic devices. If your teen or pre-teen is enrolled in a Studio Intensive that makes use of iPads, they may bring their personal iPad from home with parent/guardian approval. All materials are provided unless otherwise specified in a class description.
Forgotten art and items left in the lost and found after camp completion will be held for 30 days, after which they will be discarded.
Photography Policy
ArtsQuest reserves the right to use photographs taken during classes and other programs for the marketing and promotion of the Banana Factory. Any parent or legal guardian who does not wish to have his or her child photographed is asked to notify ArtsQuest upon registration.
Accessibility Statement
ArtsQuest is committed to providing reasonable and appropriate accommodations. If your child requires and accommodation to participate meaningfully in our programs, please contact staff one month prior to the start of the camp session at eostock@artsquest.org or 610-332-1325.
Behavior Policy
ArtsQuest reserves the right to suspend or expel participants from the program for disruptive and/or aggressive behavior. Disruptive behavior is defined as a behavior that adversely affects the activities of a camp group. This can include, but is not limited to:
- Bullying: threatening words or actions that are intended to provoke fear
- Repeatedly wandering away from the group
- Repeated refusal to work cohesively with the group
- Destruction of property.
Disruptive behavior will result in the following actions:
- Discussion of the disruptive actions with the child, staff person involved, and Visual Arts Manager, followed by parental notification of disruptive behavior.
- Continued disruptions will result in a parent/ child conference with the Senior Director of Visual Arts & Education
- Parents will assist in problem-solving a positive solution that will be drafted into a behavior agreement signed by all parties.
- Dismissal from the program will result if the disruptive conduct continues after the behavior agreement is signed.
If a child’s behavior is aggressive or violent (hitting, kicking, biting or using any object as a weapon):
- Toward either staff or other campers, the child will be sent home immediately.
- No refund will be given when a child is sent home due to behavior issues.
- The child will not be allowed back for the rest of that week of camp, but may try to be successful at a future date.
Partners
