Huntingdon, Tenn.–The Dixie Performing Arts Center is announcing the opening of registration for their kids’ and adults’ summer camps on Monday, April 22, at 10 a.m. With a wide range of activities spanning from pottery to music to photography and more, there’s something for everyone regardless of age, interest, or skill level. This summer, participants can dive into a world of creativity and learning with expert instructors guiding them through various artistic endeavors. From beginners eager to explore new passions to experienced individuals honing their skills, you are sure to find a camp for your artistic journey.
Scholarships for students in Pre-K through 12th grade are available, made possible in part by a generous grant from the TN Arts Commission and the Solomon DeVille Memorial Art Scholarship. Additionally, the camps are sponsored by the TN Arts Commission and Mi Pueblito.
The exciting camp offerings for 2024 include:
- Music Camps with Sheila Hart of Birdsong School of Music, featuring classes in Ukulele, Guitar, Keyboard, Violin, Cello, and more.
- Pottery Camp led by Hannah Kyle at Mudslingers Pottery Studio, offering students an introduction to basic pottery skills.
- Wooden Door Hanger Camp with LeAnn Edwards of Hen Hill Designs, where participants can create whimsical hangers using acrylic paints.
- Art Camp instructed by Laura Smothers-DeVille, focusing on inspiring creativity through various artistic projects.
- Painting Camp led by Sarah Cagle, centered around painting the birds of West TN and creating unique artworks.
- Photography Camps taught by Jim and Carol Veneman, providing insights into creative photography techniques.
- Paint & Pen Camp led by Sheila Emerson with Street Market Arts, exploring watercolor principles and archival ink application.
These camps offer a blend of fun, learning, and artistic exploration that promises to make this summer memorable for all participants. Ages/grades are as of the student’s age/grade of Fall 2024. Spaces are limited, so early registration is encouraged to secure a spot in the desired camp.
For more information and class registration, visit DixiePac.net.
Additional details about each class offering:
MUSIC CAMPS – $100
Instructor: Sheila Hart of Birdsong School of Music
Location: Huntingdon Museum
1 week camp/ Class sizes vary
Monday-Friday, July 22-26, 2024
Beginning Ukulele (Limit 6 students per class)
8:00-8:45 am (7-9 yrs) / 9:00-9:45 am (10-12 yrs.)
Beginning Guitar (Limit 6 students per class)
10:00-10:45 am (8-10yrs.) / 11:00-11:45 am (11-13yrs.)
Beginning Keyboard (Limit 6 students per class.)
1:30-2:15 pm (7yrs-9yrs) / 2:30-3:15 pm (10yrs-10yrs)
Violin (Limit 6 students per class.)
9-9:45 am (8yrs-10yrs) / 10-10:45 am (11yrs-16yrs) / 11-11:45 am (17yrs-Adult)
Cello (Limit 6 students per class.)
9-9:45 am (8yrs-10yrs) / 10-10:45 am (11yrs-16yrs) / 11-11:45 am (17yrs-Adult)
Music Basic-Fun, Games, Xylophones (Limit 10 students per class)
12:30-1:15 pm (8yrs-12yrs)
Playing Hymns (Limit 6 students per class.)
3:30-4:15 pm (12yrs-Adult)
*Previous musical experience is required. Please state your experience on the application
Playing Contemporary Christian (Limit 6 students per class.)
4:30-5:15 pm (12 yrs-Adult)
Previous musical experience is required. Please state your experience on the application.
All Music Camps
- Cost $100 per student. This includes 5 class days. Parents are invited to observe the last 15 minutes of the Friday class.
- A limited number of guitars and ukuleles are available for loan. If you have your own instrument, please bring it by the Dixie during the week before the class and let us check out your instrument.
- We need at least 2 students in each class for it to be considered a “class”. If only 1 student signs up for a class, it will be considered a private session and the session will be a 30-minutes long.
POTTERY CAMP – $85
Instructor: Hannah Kyle, Assistant: Jessa Potts
Location: Mudslingers Pottery Studio
1 week camp / Limit 10 students per class
Monday-Friday, July 15-19, 2024
• 9-10 am (K-2nd grade)
• 10:15-11:15 am ( 3rd-4th grade)
• 12:30-1:30 pm ( 5th-8th grade)
• 2-4:00 pm (9th grade-Adults*)
*All 9th grade-Adults students will also meet on Friday, July 26, from 2-4p to glaze their work.
Classes will consist of an introduction to basic pottery skills of pinching, coil-building, slab construction, and wheel throwing. Students will also be introduced to various glazing & firing processes. An exhibit will be held on Thursday, August 1st at 4pm.
WOODEN DOOR HANGER CAMP – $50
Instructor: LeAnn Edwards of Hen Hill Designs
Location: The Dixie’s Academic Enrichment Center
Choose a 1-day workshop / Limit 12 students per class
1) Wednesday, June 12, 2024
• 9 am-12 pm (7th grade-Adults)
2) Friday, June 14, 2024
• 9 am-12:00 pm (7th grade-Adults)
The #1 class will create a whimsical watermelon hanger and the #2 class will create a stars and stripes hanger using acrylic paints. Clothing suitable for painting is suggested as acrylics could stain some fabrics.
Art Camp-$85
Instructor: Laura Smothers-DeVille
Location: The Dixie’s Academic Enrichment Center
1 week camp/Limit 10 students per class.
Monday-Friday, June 3-7, 2024
• 9-10:30 am (4th-6th grade)
• 10:45 am-12:15 pm (7th-12th grade)
Art camp is all about inspiring creativity! Students will be introduced to basic principles of design and elements of art while applying them to both 2-D & 3-D projects. We will use a variety of materials for drawing, painting, cutting, gluing, and printing unique works of art. Through demonstration, hands-on application, and examples of master artists’ work, the students will broaden their knowledge of technical skills and of artists & art movements.
PAINTING CAMP – $85
Instructor: Sarah Cagle, Assistant: Tara Jones
Location: The Dixie’s Academic Enrichment Center
1 week camp / Limit 15 students per class
Monday-Friday, July 8-12, 2024
• 9-11 am ( K-4th grade)
Join us for “Art is for the Birds!” A painting camp for elementary students focused on painting the birds of West TN. We will draw and paint from photos of real birds with watercolors, paint a birdhouse, and make a pine cone bird feeder among other things. This camp will train your students to draw from reference photos and paint realistically. Artwork will be shown at the Heritage Day Festival at the end of the summer.
PHOTOGRAPHY CAMPS for 4th-8th Grade – $85
Instructors: Jim and Carol Veneman
Location: The Dixie’s Academic Enrichment Center
1 week camp/ Limit 10 students per class
Students choose 1 week only: Monday – Friday, May 20 – 24, 2024 from 1:30 – 3:00 pm (4th – 8th grade) OR Monday – Friday, June 24 – 28, 2024 from 3:00 – 4:30 pm ( 4th – 8th grade)
When it comes to taking an excellent photograph, did you know that the camera is far less important than the one holding it? It’s true. Over these five days, you will experience how to SEE more creatively. You will use your imagination to go beyond selfies and capture truly fascinating photographs. The digital photography summer camp is a guaranteed great time, and it might just change the way you see the world around you. Digital Cameras will be provided for this camp.
Photography Camp for 9th Grade – Adults
Instructors: Jim and Carol Veneman
Location: The Dixie’s Academic Enrichment Center
3 DAY CAMP
No limit on class size
Thursday – Saturday, June 27 – 29, 2024
5:30 pm – 8:00 pm (Thursday and Friday)
9:00 am – 11:30 am (Saturday)
Amazing photographs happen when your heart, mind, and eye work together. Yes, the camera does play a role, but the primary ingredients are your own creativity and imagination. During these three sessions, you will be challenged to see your subjects in new ways and to make images from a fresh, new perspective. Current trends and the exciting challenges found in photography will be a part of each session. You will not just be sitting on the sidelines listening to presentations. You will be involved in projects that will help you see beyond the surface of the world around you. This camp is for photographers of any skill level. Whether you’ve just begun or have been using your digital camera for years, the camp will move you forward in your pursuit of finer photographs. Students are responsible for having their own digital photo-taking device (point-and-shoot, DSLR or cell phone camera).
Paint & Pen Camp “Oodles and Doodles of Art”-$85
Instructor: Sheila Emerson with Street Market Arts, Assistant Robin Cooper-Wilbanks
Location: The Dixie’s Academic Enrichment Center
1 week camp/ Limit 10 students per class
Monday – Friday, June 24 – 28, 2024
9:30 am – 11:00 am (4th – 6th grade)
12:00 am – 1:30 pm (7th grade – Adults)
Students will learn basic watercolor principles as well as archival ink application to make instructor-guided works of art and free-form pieces including watercolor paper flowers, doodle artwork, as well as a paper bag art book! Fun is the name of the game! Students will benefit from demonstrations and hands-on work, but will be provided with information on supplies, as well as social media accounts of artists who exemplify this style of art to further encourage continued development of skills.