Camp Tannery Arts

Camp Tannery Arts offers small classes where students work with experienced artists in hands-on art disciplines such as painting, mixed media art, abstract painting, mural art, faux finishes, printmaking, linoprint, pottery, portrait art, caricatures, recycle/upcycle fabric art, and upcycle sewing. Campers also take part in umbrella painting workshops, tinikling workshops, Senegalese and West African dance, Moroccan music, community drumming and dancing, spoken word, and a studio tour. The camp session ends with a special art exhibit for the families of campers.

• Ages: 7–15 years old
• Schedule: One full-day session from 10am to 4pm, June 15–19, 2026
• Price: The price is $500 per student.

Camp Tannery Arts began in 2009 when the Tannery Lofts opened, and 2026 is the 15th year of the camp. The camp is described as a small camp and they like it that way, with an excellent student-teacher ratio to support individual attention and feedback, and much of the camp is held outside to take advantage of the Santa Cruz summer weather. Camp Tannery Arts connects students and artists as small classes of students work together with experienced artists to explore a wide variety of hands-on art disciplines, and students meet and work with a variety of different artists and mediums.

Camp Tannery Arts was voted the Good Times best kids art program in Santa Cruz County, and Good Times is described as Santa Cruz County’s most comprehensive guide to events as well as a trusted source for news, food, and culture. The camp is located at the Tannery Arts Center, described as the creative hub for the Santa Cruz area, where artists open their studios and homes to young artists.

Founder and teacher Linda Cover has worked with students throughout Santa Cruz County as a SPECTRA artist for over 10 years. Co-director Eva Johnstone has over 12 years of teaching experience and has worked with students across the US, China, and Thailand. Co-director Daniel Johnstone is a longtime educator and web designer who works full-time for a chain of tutoring centers designing curriculum to teach students how to code. Instructor Ibou Ngom is a SPECTRA artist who has worked with and performed for elementary through university schools and was born into a Griot family of traditional musicians in Senegal, West Africa, carrying on his family’s musical lineage since childhood.

Camp is held outside as much as possible but may move indoors for a studio tour or because of inclement weather. Children are asked to have plenty of sunscreen and weather- and art-appropriate clothing, since some projects are messy and it can be chilly in the mornings. The camp usually provides a light, nut-free snack, but students are encouraged to bring their own snacks and water, and sharing food is not allowed due to dietary restrictions of some campers. If a child is staying for both sessions, they should bring a lunch. If a child has a food allergy, it should be noted on the camp registration form, and a camp counselor should be notified of any medical equipment the child may need in an emergency situation, such as an epi pen. The camp is not responsible for any lost or damaged property, and it has a lost and found but does not keep items longer than one week after the end of camp.

Last updated June 10, 2026.