In this Creative Writing class, students will harness the power of words and images to craft their own story or script and design a beautifully bound book. They’ll explore the fundamentals of storytelling, including plot, setting, characters, conflict, resolution, and building tension. Throughout the week, students will use a blend of writing and illustration to draft, refine, and publish their stories.

Students can also choose to further develop their skills by taking either a Bookbinding or Screenwriting class. In Bookbinding, they’ll dive into the art of creating unique covers and binding their books or journals using collage, painting, and sewing techniques. In Screenwriting, they’ll learn how to format and structure their stories for the screen, making this a great choice for those planning to attend Film Camp the following week and adapt their scripts into short films.

The class concludes with a special book reading and art showcase, where students share their creations with family and friends. This course is ideal for budding writers and storytellers ready to bring their ideas to life!

Weekly aftercare is $15/day per camper ($75/week). 

To register your child for summer camp aftercare, add this item to your cart. When you're ready to checkout, you will have an option to select the summer camp weeks that you'd like to register your child for aftercare. Each week you select will add the cost of $75/week.

Aftercare is offered until 5:30pm. During aftercare, students work on independent projects and have free play. 

DROP-IN AFTERCARE:

You do not need to register in advance for drop-in aftercare.

The cost for drop-in aftercare is $20/day per camper, paid at pick-up through cash, Venmo @artcamp504, Zelle or PayPal.

In this TWO WEEK session, students will develop their filmmaking and storytelling skills as they conceptualize and produce their own narrative short films. Working in small groups, students will collaborate to write scripts, build sets, create props and costumes, rehearse, film, and edit their projects.

The first few days focus on film theory, cinematography, production design, directing, and performance. Afterward, campers will spend most of the workshop bringing their vision to life. Along the way, they’ll gain digital media skills, including animation and designing movie posters and graphics using Canva.

This workshop is open to students of all experience levels, and participants will choose their roles based on their interests. Emphasizing the idea that anyone can be a filmmaker, students will independently shoot and edit their films using gear specifically designed for iPhones and iPads. By the end of the workshop, they’ll have the skills and confidence to create their own movies at home.

Students will also get a glimpse into the New Orleans film industry, renting props from our partners at Creative Film Connections and visiting Cote Blanche Productions to film on a professional green screen. For those interested in screenwriting, we recommend enrolling in our Creative Writing Camp (June 5–9) as a complement to this course.

The workshop concludes with a Film Premiere at the Broad Theater, where students will share their films with family and friends on the big screen!

JUNETEENTH: Thursday, June 19th, is an optional day for students. We'll celebrate the contributions of historical and contemporary African American filmmakers through film screenings and a talk from a local guest speaker. This day is also set aside for editing, so students who choose not to attend won’t miss any filming.

Join us for the 3rd Annual Bywater Midsummer Mardi Gras, featuring the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band—hosted by our Art Camp 504 students! This year, the Stardust 24-25 Space Krewe is blasting off with cosmic costumes, dazzling throws, giant puppets, spaceship floats and more.

Students will learn how to design and sew their own costumes using patterns on a sewing machine, and will transform recycled materials, old costume pieces, and unexpected objects into extraordinary creations. Those with a flair for movement can join our Parade Dance Troupe, creating exciting performance elements for the parade, while our builders will collaborate to design and decorate an intergalactic bicycle spaceship float. Meanwhile, our young chefs will whip up tasty treats for Friday’s Space Cantina.

The camp culminates with the Bywater Midsummer Mardi Gras Parade on Friday, June 27, at 6:30 PM, followed by a neighborhood porch concert with Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Come celebrate, catch some throws, and dance the night away!

Unleash your imagination in Fantasy Camp! Dive into distant realms as we dream up and create fantastical characters through two engaging workshops: Dungeons & Dragons and World Building.

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is one of our most popular classes, teaching teamwork, problem-solving, character development, and even math. Students will be grouped by experience level, ensuring everyone has a fun and exciting adventure tailored to their skills.

In the World Building workshop, students will bring their characters to life through drawing, writing, and roleplay. They’ll craft their own armor and accessories using kid-friendly cardboard-cutting power tools and sculpt and paint miniatures of their D&D characters.

We’ll also introduce LARPing (Live Action Role Play), where students will act out thrilling scenarios from their D&D adventures. Camp culminates in a live-action performance for family and friends, showcasing the incredible characters and worlds created throughout the week. The sky’s the limit—let the adventure begin!

The only thing more exciting than playing with toys is designing them! In this creative and hands-on session, students will challenge themselves to craft fun, durable, and one-of-a-kind toys using a variety of art supplies and unique found objects.

The adventure begins with students forming their own toy companies—either individually or in groups. They’ll develop a brand, write a mission statement, and design business cards, logos, and marketing posters to showcase their creations.

Toy-making options include puppets, stuffed animals and clothes, trading cards, dollhouses, action figures, board games, and more. Students will also design packaging and tags and price their toys for sale.

Every afternoon, we’ll “test” the toys through organized play sessions, providing opportunities for collaborative feedback and improvement. On the final day of camp, students will set up booths to present and pitch their innovative creations at the Toy Design Expo for family and friends!

This beloved camp session is now THREE weeks long! Register for one, two, or all three weeks.

Calling all young chefs, set designers, and performers for the most out-of-this-world session of the summer! Over three exciting weeks, we’ll transform the Tigermen Den into the extraterrestrial landscape of Planet Zanzibrax. Students will rotate between cooking, set design, and performance classes as they prepare for our unforgettable galactic adventure.

In culinary class, students will begin with kitchen safety and food prep fundamentals, mastering a variety of dishes that span global cuisines—with a special focus on New Orleans flavors. As the camp progresses, we’ll dive into creating space travel sustenance and imaginative extraterrestrial delicacies. Imagine the possibilities!

When not in the kitchen, students will help build a living set, constructing our spaceship, a planetary research basecamp, and habitats for alien life forms. They’ll also design and craft costumes to bring their characters to life—astronauts, aliens, chefs from the stars, cosmic creatures, and more!

This all leads up to the grand event: The Kings of Karnage Reunion Show to Free Planet Zanzibrax! On Friday, August 8, enrolled families are invited aboard the Stardust 24-25 Spaceship to explore Planet Zanzibrax. Guests will enjoy intergalactic bites prepared and served by our students while immersing themselves in the world we’ve created.

But the journey doesn’t end there! After a brief hiatus, students are invited to return in mid-September for the public opening of this otherworldly theatrical and culinary adventure. Together, we’ll continue our mission to free Planet Zanzibrax from the clutches of IGRAC, the galaxy’s most fearsome realtors. Join us for this epic journey of creativity, cuisine, and cosmic exploration!

This beloved camp session is now THREE weeks long! Register for one, two, or all three weeks.

Calling all young chefs, set designers, and performers for the most out-of-this-world session of the summer! Over three exciting weeks, we’ll transform the Tigermen Den into the extraterrestrial landscape of Planet Zanzibrax. Students will rotate between cooking, set design, and performance classes as they prepare for our unforgettable galactic adventure.

In culinary class, students will begin with kitchen safety and food prep fundamentals, mastering a variety of dishes that span global cuisines—with a special focus on New Orleans flavors. As the camp progresses, we’ll dive into creating space travel sustenance and imaginative extraterrestrial delicacies. Imagine the possibilities!

When not in the kitchen, students will help build a living set, constructing our spaceship, a planetary research basecamp, and habitats for alien life forms. They’ll also design and craft costumes to bring their characters to life—astronauts, aliens, chefs from the stars, cosmic creatures, and more!

This all leads up to the grand event: The Kings of Karnage Reunion Show to Free Planet Zanzibrax! On Friday, August 8, enrolled families are invited aboard the Stardust 24-25 Spaceship to explore Planet Zanzibrax. Guests will enjoy intergalactic bites prepared and served by our students while immersing themselves in the world we’ve created.

But the journey doesn’t end there! After a brief hiatus, students are invited to return in mid-September for the public opening of this otherworldly theatrical and culinary adventure. Together, we’ll continue our mission to free Planet Zanzibrax from the clutches of IGRAC, the galaxy’s most fearsome realtors. Join us for this epic journey of creativity, cuisine, and cosmic exploration!