In this new program for 10- to 12-year-olds, participants will be invited to explore a wide range of artistic mediums, including painting, illustration, printmaking, sculpture, model making, and textile art. In continuity with our flagship programs for 4- to 9-year-olds, preteens will also be introduced to an artist of the week, allowing them to engage with an artistic practice in a more mature and in-depth way.

Each day, they will create and experiment with a project inspired by the works of the week’s featured artist, while participating in playful cultural mediation activities that help them discover these iconic creators. A weekly drawing class will further strengthen their technical skills and sense of observation.

Every week, the group will take part in an outing to a Montreal museum related to the featured artist’s practice. Possible destinations include the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Architecture, or the Museum of Contemporary Art. A local artist represented in our boutique will also meet with the children to share their artistic approach and experience.

The week will be punctuated with free time at La Fontaine Park or atop Mount Royal, where participants can enjoy time together, sketch in their notebooks, or simply take in Montreal’s natural surroundings.

They will leave with multiple artworks, meaningful experiences, enriching artistic references, and new friends, ready to keep exploring their creativity long after the camp ends.

This week, preteens will explore the vibrant and colorful work of First Nations artist Jeffrey Gibson. The first Native American artist to represent the United States at the Venice Biennale in 2024, Gibson works across multiple mediums (patterns, beads, textiles, video, painting) creating a deeply multidisciplinary artistic universe.

Through his joyful and energetic practice, he weaves together modernity, cultural identity, and Indigenous heritage, while also addressing themes rooted in queer culture. Inspired by his work, participants will create colorful pieces that highlight materials, beads, and fabrics. Painting will also be explored, accompanied by a workshop on color theory. A cultural mediation session will introduce the artist’s practice, queer art, and the significance of the Venice Biennale, as well as its blind spots, including its colonial and Western history, which is currently undergoing reevaluation.

To enhance their experience, children will visit the Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art to discover works from the local contemporary art scene.

This week encourages participants to explore cultural intersections, history, and Indigenous art, while experimenting with a wide range of artistic techniques.