Looking for a creative outlet for your children this summer? The University of Miami’s Lowe Art Museum might hold the answer.

The Beaux Arts 1999 Summer Art Camp will be at the Lowe Art Museum’s Children’s Pavilion and is open to children ages five-12. The sessions will feature projects involving a variety of subjects, including drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, print making, collage, papier mache, and art history.

"The camp is for kids that enjoy art. Each day they will be doing different art-related projects," said Julie Newman, Children’s Pavilion chairperson.

The classes are taught by very experienced local artists and art teachers hired by the Beaux Arts Foundation, a volunteer organization that raises funds for the Lowe. They also are responsible for the annual Beaux Arts Festival at the University of Miami.

The teacher position isn’t necessarily one in the traditional sense, Newman said.

"The instructor at the camp is more a facilitator than anything else. The kids are encouraged to be enthusiastic about the work they’re doing — sometimes it gets a little messy."

It should be no surprise then that students are encouraged to wear the camp T-shirt, or else older, worn-out clothing, to the sessions.

"The camp is not just for kids who are exceptionally talented artists," Newman emphasized. "It more importantly gets children into the museum at a young age and exposes them to the wonder of that environment."

The Beaux Arts Foundation has a long history of commitment to the community as well as to the Lowe. The Children’s Pavilion was itself built in 1954 and has since served as a means of introducing young people to the fine arts.

The camp also is an excellent alternative for parents looking for a creative camp setting indoors during the summer.

"It gets so hot in Miami during the summer. The camp is a great way for kids to use their creative energy and stay out of the sun at the same time," Newman said.

There are two different summer session packages available. Campers can attend for a full (9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.) day if they so choose, or a half (9:30 a.m.-noon) day if they prefer the freedom of the whole afternoon off. The full day sessions cost $315 for non-members and $300 for members, while the half day sessions cost $280 for non-members and $270 for members.

The sessions run all summer long (Session 1, June 21-July 2; Session 2, July 6-16; Session 3, July 19-30; Session 4, Aug. 2-13; Session 5, Aug. 16-27), and enrollment will be confirmed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Newman stressed that sessions during summer camp have a tendency to fill early, so early registration is the best way to secure a spot during a desirable session.

For more information or to receive registration materials, call the Lowe at 305-284-3603. If you want to pick up the materials yourself, the Lowe is located at 1301 Stanford Dr. on the University of Miami’s campus in Coral Gables.

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