The Sumter County Gallery of Art is hosting summer camp for all ages this year with a variety of classes to choose from.
The Sumter County Gallery of Art is hosting its first summer art camp for children since the pandemic, and it has been successful in offering art-filled fun thus far during its first week.
"We are getting socialization back into their lives again. They are real chatty because they miss it, so the biggest thing is socialization and being able to work on their fine motor skills and working with their hands so they are all doing well... They are doing really good," said Laura Cardello, a ceramics teacher at the gallery.
The camp lasts for five weeks, and Sumter locals have been eager to enroll their children.
"Our classes filled faster this summer because it's been so long since everything has been closed down. The Iris Festival was canceled again this year, and even Art in the Park," said Karen Watson, executive director of the gallery. "So, all these things were canceled in 2020, so when we posted our camp, the outpouring was amazing. The classes filled very quickly. Some of the classes were full by May."
Classes are $115 for those paying with PayPal. For gallery members paying via another method, such as check or credit card, classes are $105. Additionally, there is a scholarship that parents or guardians can submit an application for.
"The PayPal option online has really been helpful," Watson said. "Some of the children are on scholarship. We have an art camp scholarship program."
Even though most Sumter organizations underwent a significant change in day-to-day operations last year because of COVID-19 safety protocols, the art camp is mostly able to operate under normal conditions.
"Not that much really looks different this summer because policies have been changing very rapidly even over the last few weeks as things have opened up and more places are dropping their mask requirements," Watson said. "I had some parents call asking about the mask requirement, and they said they would pull their kids out if we required masks. So, especially in the younger classes, 4 to 7, some 4-year-olds may have difficulty using masks, so we sort of relented and said, 'Well, masks will be optional for the 4- to 7-year-olds.'"
For the older children and teachers, however, COVID-19 protocol is stricter.
"We do ask the older kids to wear masks, and for the younger kids, that is up to their parents' discretion. The teachers are all vaccinated," said Zoe Monnier, the gallery's education director.
The classes designated for children ages 4 to 7 are scheduled for mornings, while children ages 8 and older have designated classes in the afternoons. Such classes include Fun in the Mud, Creative Painting, Youth Pottery, Masked Celebrations and FX Makeup as well as multiple other art classes offered throughout the next four weeks.
"This is my first time doing the Summer Art Camp, and I am really having fun," Monnier said. "I am really excited about all of the classes we have happening this summer. We did not get to do summer art camp last year because of COVID-19, so we are really excited to be able to have the kids come back, and we have a lot planned."
The children are enjoying the art camp and are excited to bring their art home with them at the end of the week.
"We just built the house for frogs to live in, and we are taking it home on Friday," 7-year-old Anna said during a class on Wednesday. "And now we are making beads, and tomorrow I think we're painting all of our creations, and that's really it."
https://www.theitem.com/stories/sumter-county-gallery-of-art-holds-1st-summer-art-camp-since-pandemic-canceled-it,365878?
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