Summer Art Camp

Summer Art Camp includes art making with a variety of supplies where participants paint, draw, and build sculptures. Campers craft flowers, plants, garden creatures, colorful critters, and create animals, plants, and outdoor scenes. The program also includes projects such as creating stellar masterpieces inspired by planets, stars, and galaxies, experimenting with color-changing creations, creating playful moving artworks, and making imaginative designs that blend art with simple science and technology. Additional activities include combining traditional drawing techniques with experimental materials using ink, graphite, and collage, as well as painting, sculpting, and creating colorful dinosaur art, making fossils, dino eggs, and volcano art.

• Ages: 5–17 years old
• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 9 AM–2 PM, with one-of-a-kind week-long project-based sessions and optional aftercare from 2–3 PM

Summer Art Camp is designed to promote mental health and inspire creativity, and young artists explore art making with a variety of supplies while expanding on their art making techniques. Teaching artists encourage students to look closely, question, and share their perspectives, using an approach rooted in Visual Thinking Strategies, an inquiry-based method that encourages individual interpretation of the exhibition. Participants develop critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities under the guidance of a teaching artist, and each week concludes with a weekly student art exhibition at the end of the week. Need-based scholarships for Summer Art Camp and the summer teen portfolio intensive are available, and ICA Family Memberships and above save 10% with code ICAFAMILYMEMBER, while purchasing 2 or more camps saves an additional 5% each with code MULTICAMP, and these discounts can be combined. ICA North camp is available for registration beginning December 5, and ICA Central camp is available for registration beginning March 1, and admission to exhibitions and events at Central and North are always complimentary.

The Institute of Contemporary Art, San Diego describes itself as a living laboratory for the transformational power of art to build vibrant communities. Summer Art Camps at ICA San Diego / Central in Balboa Park include access to partner museums and time outdoors in the park, and outreach programs guide students through exhibitions and bring art directly to students and seniors. School group tours and the Valise Program bring art into classrooms across San Diego County, and ICA brings together LUX Art Institute and San Diego Art Institute through shared vision and resources.

The organization’s leadership and staff include Andrew Utt, Executive Director; Sarah Trujillo-Porter, Director of Operations; Katrina Land, Visitor Experience Manager; Martin Revilla, Visitor Experience; Pastelle Bonito, Visitor Experience; Dianna Elizardo, Visitor Experience; Atlas Pante, Visitor Experience; Hector Suchilt, Visitor Experience; Jordan Karney Chaim, Curator; Roxana Lopez, Exhibitions Manager; Shannon Permenter, Advancement Manager; Eva Moncluth, Marketing Manager; Victor Sanchez, Special Events Manager; Derin Young, Event Production; Rebecca Crosbie, Membership & Data Coordinator; Jared Padilla-Elliott, Executive Assistant; Katerina Vo, Director of Learning & Engagement; Amanda Santomero, Education Manager; Amber Hamblin-Pederson, Ceramics Program Manager; Max Anderson, Ceramics Lab Technician; Helena Westra, Ceramics Lab Technician; Bill Henke, Ceramics Lab Technician; Karen Gilbert, Chair; Kristin Hatfield, Secretary; Lany Zikakis, Treasurer; Jay Bell, Board of Directors; Yuliana Casanova, Board of Directors; Margaret Jackson, Board of Directors; Ian Maxwell, Board of Directors; Phu Nguyen, Board of Directors; C’Anne Vaughn, Board of Directors; Dede Watson, Board of Directors; David Welborn, Board of Directors; and Linda Brandes, Chair Emerita.

Last updated March 24, 2026.