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Art Programs for Youth
Expand your creativity in one of our innovative art programs for youth ages 5 – 18!
Registration is open for spring term. Register by April 1 to receive 10% off with our Early Bird Discount! Use promo code SPRING23 at checkout.
SLINDING SCALE: Kennedy Heights Arts Center strives to make arts accessible to everyone. Sliding scale fees available for those in financial need. Click here apply. Please contact sarah@kennedyarts.org once you have completed your sliding scale application.
CANCELLATION POLICY: Tuition is non-refundable, but can be transferred to another course if the student withdraws at least five days prior to the beginning of the program.
No events are currently available for registration, please check back later.
Registration begins March 1, 2023!
10 Weeks, 25 Camps
June 5 – August 11
9:00am to 3:00pm daily
Summer Camp Early Bird Special: Register & Pay by 11:59pm, April 1 for 10% off tuition with coupon code: SUMMER23 *Early Bird Discount cannot be used in combination with sliding scale rates.
Sliding Scale Tuition Rates: Kennedy Heights Arts Center strives to make the arts accessible to everyone. Sliding scale tuition rates are available for those in financial need, and range from 10%-65% of the full tuition based on household income. Click here to fill out a sliding scale application. Upon completing your application email sarah@kennedyarts.org to receive a discount code to enter at checkout.
High school students can earn community service hours, gain leadership experience, and have fun as volunteers in our Summer Art Camps. Application deadline is Friday, April 7, 2023 More Details
Circus Circus
- June 5, 2023 9:00 am - June 9, 2023 3:00 pm
Circus Circus Ages: 8-10 Instructor: Robin Hartmann Tuition: $215 or sliding scale In this camp students will learn about the art of American artist Alexander Calder. Calder is famous for his kinetic sculptures first introduced in his circus series. Students will create..
Musical Storytelling Around the World
- June 5, 2023 9:00 am - June 9, 2023 3:00 pm
Musical Storytelling Around the World Ages: 5-7 Instructor: Jennifer Melms Tuition: $215 or sliding scale Back by popular demand, it is Musical Storytelling Around the World, but with new stories from new places! Using fairytales and folktales from around the world, children..
Rap and Poetry Lab
- June 5, 2023 9:00 am - June 9, 2023 3:00 pm
Rap and Poetry Lab Instructor: Jamie-Lee Morris Ages: 10-13 Tuition: $215 or sliding scale Students will explore creative writing through poetry and rap. In each class, we will study a contemporary musician, examining the message behind their work, rhyme, and other literary..
I Spy
- June 12, 2023 9:00 am - June 16, 2023 3:00 pm
I Spy Ages: 5-7 Instructor: Robin Hartmann Tuition: $215 or sliding scale I spy with my little eye… In this fulfilled camp students will create their very owe I Spy books! Using a variety of found materials they will plan out thoughtful..
True Body Project for Girls
- June 12, 2023 9:00 am - June 16, 2023 3:00 pm
True Body Project for Girls Ages: 8-10 Instructor: Suzie Nagy Tuition: $215 or sliding scale This camp is for girls who love to write, draw, and dance or do all of the above. The True Body Project is dedicated to helping young..
Terrific Textiles
- June 12, 2023 9:00 am - June 16, 2023 3:00 pm
Terrific Textiles Ages: 11-13 Instructor: April Cooper Tuition: $215 or sliding scale In this class, students will weave, knit, sew, learn embroidery stitches, crochet, and so much more! Kids are never bored when fabric and threads are around! We will learn about..
Acrylic Masters
- June 20, 2023 9:00 am - June 23, 2023 3:00 pm
Acrylic Masters June 20-23(4-days), 9:00am -3:00pm Ages: 8-10 Instructor: Cedric Michael Cox Tuition: $172 or sliding scale Get creative with PAINT! In this hands-on art camp students will explore different artists and topics throughout art history. As they study an array of..
Dance, Dance, Dance!
- June 20, 2023 9:00 am - June 23, 2023 3:00 pm
Dance, Dance, Dance! June 20-23(4-days), 9:00am -3:00pm Ages: 5-7 Instructor: TBA Tuition: $172 or sliding scale Campers will learn how to bust a move in this five day camp. Working together they will use their imagination to come up with awesome-crazy dance..
3-D Snake Creations
- June 26, 2023 9:00 am - June 30, 2023 3:00 pm
3-D Snake Creations June 26-30, 9:00am -3:00pm Ages: 5-8 Instructor: Kimberly Wilfong Sigman Tuition: $215 or sliding scale Combining science and art students will learn about snakes from around the world! What do they look like? Where do they live? What roles..
Project Runway
- June 26, 2023 9:00 am - June 30, 2023 3:00 pm
Project Runway June 26-30, 9:00am -3:00pm Ages: 9-12 Instructor: Robin Hartmann Tuition: $215 or sliding scale Make it work! Explore the world of fashion by creating your own stylish designs. Using recycled clothing or starting from scratch, campers will create wearable items..
Daily Dose of ART
- July 3, 2023 9:00 am - July 7, 2023 3:00 pm
Daily Dose of ART July 3-7(4-days), 9:00am -3:00pm Ages: 5-7 Instructor: Terry Oestreicher Tuition: $172 or sliding scale This camp is for kids who love to explore new materials and techniques. Each day students will focus on a different type of art..
Dive into Digital Photography!
- July 3, 2023 9:00 am - July 7, 2023 3:00 pm
Dive into Digital Photography! July 3-7(4-days), 9:00am -3:00pm Ages: 11-13 Instructor: Shawndale Thompson Tuition: $172 or sliding scale Let others see through your lens in this photo based camp! Photography is all around us and impacts our lives daily. This camp offers..
Shadow Puppetry Around the World
- July 3, 2023 9:00 am - July 7, 2023 3:00 pm
Shadow Puppetry Around the World July 3-7(4-days), 9:00am -3:00pm Ages: 8-10 Instructor: Christina Langford Tuition: $172 or sliding scale Students will discover, practice and perform different types of shadow puppets from various world cultures. They will learn puppet manipulation and building, using..
Mad Hatter Tea Party
- July 10, 2023 9:00 am - July 14, 2023 3:00 pm
Mad Hatter Tea Party July 10-14, 9:00am -3:00pm Ages: 5-7 Instructor: Lynne Gibb Tuition: $215 or sliding scale A very merry unbirthday to you! In this whimsical camp students will learn to create a magical tea party set out of clay complete..
The Monster Factory
- July 10, 2023 9:00 am - July 14, 2023 3:00 pm
The Monster Factory July 10-14, 9:00am -3:00pm Ages: 8-10 Instructor: Kashia Ellis-Taylor Tuition: $215 or sliding scale Join this mashup of monsters! In this acting based camp students will develop skills that they can build on to create fun and creative performances...
Big Idea: Heroes and Justice!
- July 17, 2023 9:00 am - July 21, 2023 3:00 pm
Big Idea: Heroes and Justice! July 17-21, 9:00am -3:00pm Ages: 5-7 Instructor: Sage Hummel Tuition: $215 or sliding scale What is a hero? How can each one of us be a hero in our own lives? To answer these questions students in..
Puppets and Play
- July 17, 2023 9:00 am - July 21, 2023 3:00 pm
Puppets and Play July 17-21, 9:00am -3:00pm Ages: 8-10 Instructor: Russell White Tuition: $215 or sliding scale Make, create, and perform! In this camp students will explore the arts of puppetry, acting, and playwriting as they create, collaborate, and bring characters and..
Animation Antics
- July 17, 2023 9:00 am - July 21, 2023 3:00 pm
Animation Antics! July 17-21, 9:00am -3:00pm Ages: 11-13 Instructor: Frances Newberry Tuition: $215 or sliding scale Learn stop-motion animation 3 ways! Whether with clay or paper students will learn to manipulate materials to tell a story in motion. Register by April 1..
Puzzle Time
- July 24, 2023 9:00 am - July 28, 2023 3:00 pm
Puzzle Time! July 24-28, 9:00am -3:00pm Ages: 8-10 Instructor: Terry Osetreicher Tuition: $215 or sliding scale Crack the code on this camp as students will use their creativity and brainpower to design and solve a variety of puzzles and design a board..
Funky Town!
- July 24, 2023 9:00 am - July 28, 2023 3:00 pm
Funky Town! July 24-28, 9:00am -3:00pm Ages: 5-7 Instructor: Kim Watling Tuition: $215 or sliding scale In this architecture inspired camp students will learn about the work of Friedensreich Hundertwasser, a German architect who saw his art as an opportunity to be..
Make a Mural: Public Art
- July 31, 2023 9:00 am - August 4, 2023 3:00 pm
Make a Mural: Public Art July 31-Aug. 4, 9:00am -3:00pm Ages: 11-14 Instructor: Sage Hummel Tuition: $215 or sliding scale What can you do in your neighborhood to spark change? How can you use your art to convey a message? Students will..
The Animal Project
- July 31, 2023 9:00 am - August 4, 2023 3:00 pm
The Animal Project! July 31-Aug. 4, 9:00am -3:00pm Ages: 5-7 Instructor: Kashia Ellis Tuition: $215 or sliding scale Welcome to the jungle! In this camp students will learn the art of theater as they embrace characteristics and movements from their favorite animal...
Let’s Build!
- July 31, 2023 9:00 am - August 4, 2023 3:00 pm
Let’s Build! July 31-Aug. 4, 9:00am -3:00pm Ages: 8-10 Instructor: Terry Oestreicher Tuition: $215 or sliding scale Using legos, paper, and magnets campers will bring to life worlds of their own. This camp will embrace the use of alternative art material to..
West African Art: Masks, Painting & Dress
- August 7, 2023 9:00 am - August 11, 2023 3:00 pm
West African Art: Masks, Painting, and Dress! Aug. 7-11, 9:00am -3:00pm Ages: 5-7 Instructor: Elliott Jordan Tuition: $215 or sliding scale In this camp students will learn about West African culture through art! Art is important and different in every culture around..
Junkyard Jams
- August 7, 2023 9:00 am - August 11, 2023 3:00 pm
Junkyard Jams! Ages: 8-10 Instructor: Jennifer Melms Tuition: $215 or sliding scale In this music based camp students will learn the importance of upcycling, turning what would be considered trash into musical instruments! Throughout the week students will create various types of..
Adult and Teen Classes
Nurture your creativity, develop skills, reconnect with community, and learn from professional artists!
Registration is open for spring term. Register by April 1 to receive 10% off with our Early Bird Discount! Use promo code SPRING23 at checkout.
SLIDING SCALE: Kennedy Heights Arts Center strives to make arts accessible to everyone. Sliding scale fees available for those in financial need. Click here apply. Please contact sarah@kennedyarts.org once you have completed your sliding scale application.
CANCELLATION POLICY: Tuition is non-refundable, but can be transferred to another course if the student withdraws at least five days prior to the beginning of the program.
No events are currently available for registration, please check back later.
2023 Vibrancy Fellow: Jamie-Lee Elizabeth
Kennedy Heights Arts Center is excited to announce our first Vibrancy Fellow of 2023: Jamie-Lee Elizabeth.
The Vibrancy Fellowship is is a 5-month residency for early career BIPOC creatives in any discipline living in Cincinnati. The Fellowship aims to meet the needs of emerging artists in an environment that empowers them to take risks and explore new creative challenges while providing an array of opportunities for artists to share, showcase and deepen their community practice.
Jamie-Lee Elizabeth is a writer, poet and spoken word artist. Born and raised by Jamaican parents in Cincinnati, Jamie-Lee always loved reading and writing. She graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and a Minor in Education, and has a wealth of experience in youth development and engagement roles in nonprofit organizations. As the previous Manager of Education & Outreach at Elementz Hip Hop Youth Center, Jamie-Lee oversaw poetry programming for teens in the Greater Cincinnati area.
Jamie-Lee has performed her own original poetry at many locations such as the Cincinnati Art Museum, Woodward Theater and Union Hall. In her five month fellowship at Kennedy Heights Arts Center, Jamie-Lee hopes to grow in her confidence as an artist and hone in on what her personal brand and goals could look like moving forward. She would like to focus on expanding her workshopping skills and interaction with community members.
“Writing poetry has always been a way for me to express my inner feelings and emotions as well as personal experience,” says Jamie-Lee. “Topics I have covered the most have been love, family, social justice, black womanhood and mental health. I am currently trying to explore more nuanced topics like friendship loss and the isolation of being on a creative path. I hope that by sharing my personal story the content will resonate with my listeners.”
WRITING TO EXHALE
Meditations with Poetry Written by Black Women
Join 2023 Vibe Fellow Jamie-Lee Elizabeth in a series of workshops dedicated to exploring the writing of diverse female poets. Practice your own musing and writing inspired by mindful prompts and like-minded community.
Thursdays, 6:30 – 8pm
April 20, May 4, May 18, June 1
All workshops are free but registration is required. Attend all four workshops and earn a chance to win a book by one of the poets.
Participants will explore themes of love, friendship, loss, joy, and black womanhood. Each workshop will focus on a specific theme and we will read selected works from the following writers: Nikki Giovanni, Lucille Clifton, Sonia Sanchez, Jasmine Mans, and Alex Elle. Participants will have the opportunity to write independently and discuss collectively during the workshop. Feel free to bring your own journals and pens, there will also be some provided for anyone who may need it.
Writing to Exhale: Grief/Joy
- Thursday, June 1, 2023 6:30 pm
Join 2023 Vibe Fellow Jamie-Lee Elizabeth in a workshop dedicated to exploring the theme of Grief/Joy. We will read selected works from Black women poets Nikki Giovanni, Lucille Clifton, Sonia Sanchez, Jasmine Mans, and Alex Elle. Participants will have the opportunity to..
Outreach Programs
We believe that the arts are for everyone. Kennedy Heights Arts Center provides a range of outreach programs that bring the arts out into the community. The goal of these programs is to provide access to high-quality arts education for everyone regardless of economic circumstance.
Our experienced team of arts educators offer ongoing classes as well as one-time programs in schools, libraries, community centers, group homes and other community settings. Some locations have included:
- Pleasant Ridge Montessori
- Silverton Paideia Academy
- Woodford Academy
- Academy of World Languages
- Talbert House
- Cincinnati Public Libraries
For more information about bringing a Kennedy Heights Arts Center outreach program to your organization, please contact our Director of Education.
No events are currently available for registration, please check back later.
In 2018, the Kennedy Heights Arts Center partnered with Cincinnati Public Schools to create Youth Jazz Cincinnati, a free after-school program providing extraordinary music education opportunities for racially and economically diverse students in grades 4 through 12. Led by Dr. Isidore Rudnick, a nationally recognized music educator, jazz trombonist, conductor and composer, the program inspires underserved students to develop their creative abilities through learning and performing the dynamic music of jazz.
Youth Jazz Cincinnati functions with a partnership between CPS, Activities Beyond the Classroom, and Kennedy Heights Arts Center. CPS students in the jazz academy, which has grown to over 100 students, receive weekly high quality jazz instruction at no cost to the participants. The program is funded in part by a grant from Impact 100, the Mayerson Foundation Artistic Excellence Fund, Activities Beyond the Classroom, and private donors.
Due in part to the success of the program, the CPS International Jazz Festival was created and is held annually at the Aronoff Center.
“The CPS International Jazz Festival provides CPS students with the unique opportunity to perform with, listen to and learn from some of the best professional jazz artists here in Cincinnati and from around the world.”
– Dr. Isidore Rudnick, founder and director of Youth Jazz Cincinnati
Written by: Clare Miller, Youth Jazz Cincinnati Director of Operations
- Tuesday - Friday: 10:00 - 5:00
- Saturday: 11:00 - 4:00
- Closed Sunday - Monday