The
KIDS issue
Creating
OUTSIDE the Lines Exploration and self-expression took center stage during the Orange County Arts Commission’s vibrant arts camps By Je ssic a Str in g er
Photography by J ohn Mi chael Si m pson
Campers work to paint their clay tile creations.
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chapelhillmagazine.com
January/February 2025
resh off their return from a nature hike to Gold Park where they drew flowers in their sketchbooks, the 16 campers sat in a circle for a snack break outside the Eno Arts Mill in Hillsborough. The rising first through third graders chattered to one another on a morning in mid-August, the last day of their weeklong arts immersion camp hosted by the Orange County Arts Commission. Inside the classroom, tiny paper birds and fish danced from mobiles suspended from the painted beam ceilings. Palettes of paint and brushes waited on tables so campers can embellish their clay tiles. All summer, instructors led a range of activities with the goals of centering the creative process and self-expression while making programs accessible and welcoming. “Our young artists have opportunities to make new connections and develop friendships while trying new ways to create,” says Courtney Powers, program coordinator at the OCAC. “These elements of our summer program naturally bolster confidence and hold space for positive risk-taking. Our teaching artists value the benefits the arts