With the encouragement of our art educators and studio artists, students in grades 1 through 12 can explore new avenues of art and design.
Herron's weeklong summer youth art camps are designed to inspire, pique curiosity, and channel enthusiasm, transforming the wonder of each child's imagination into objects of invention and creativity.
Community Learning Programs – update: Saturday School is currently on pause as we welcome new staff members to our team. We appreciate your patience during this transition and look forward to offering exciting opportunities for artists of all ages — from first grade through adulthood — in 2026.
Learn more about Community Learning Programs' summer offerings using the accordion dropdowns, and scroll down to view the session descriptions and learn more.
Summer 2025 will feature the following weeklong sessions, with three sessions per week:
All sessions will be held Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Eskenazi Hall (735 W. New York St.). Herron's summer arts camps are day camps and do not include before- or aftercare options. All participants should arrive no earlier than 8:50 a.m. and depart no later than 4:10 p.m. A late pick-up fee may be applied if a camper departs after 4:10 p.m.
To be enrolled, you must have registered by the following deadlines:
The cost of all sessions is $350 per person, and each session has a maximum of 20 participants. The second registrant in a household receives a 10% discount.
Registration for Herron 2026 summer camp is open.
To be enrolled, you must have registered by the following deadlines:
Scholarships: Scholarships are available for students in grades 1 through 12. To apply, please email sschool@iu.edu for details.
Discounted rates: Indiana University affiliates and Indiana educators receive a 10% discount on all summer programming enrollments. Please email sschool@iu.edu for the discount code.
Students in grades 4 or 8 who wish to "test out" of their current grade level and into a higher group should submit a portfolio of work to sschool@iu.edu for consideration.
Fridays, 3:30–4:10 p.m. in Eskenazi Hall rooms HR 259 and HR 269 featuring student work created that week. Stop by and show your support.
Eskenazi Hall is located at 735 W. New York St. on the IU Indianapolis campus. Check-in takes place in the Grand Hallway near the central staircase of the building, which is closest to the doors by the North entrance off W. New York St.
Parking is available in the Sports Complex Garage (875 W. New York St.), adjacent to Eskenazi Hall, or on levels 5 and 6 of the Riverwalk Garage (245 University Blvd.), southwest of the building.
Elementary Drawing & Illustration
During this week of Elementary Art Camp, students in grades 1 through 4 will engage in open-ended art-making using Reggio-inspired strategies that support their creative learning. Participants will work with charcoal, ink, graphite, and colored pencils as they dig into place-based topics surrounding the history of Indianapolis and Indiana.
Dates: June 8-12, 2026
Grades: 1 through 4
Location: Eskenazi Hall
Times: Daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $350 per weeklong session
Junior High Drawing & Illustration
During this week of Herron's Junior High Art Camp, students in grades 5 through 8 will experiment with and develop skills in drawing and illustration with graphite, charcoal, ink, and pastels. Participants will be encouraged to experiment and take risks to pursue ideas, forms, and meanings that emerge during the studio process while exploring narrative themes. Projects will focus on graphic story-telling, incorporating illustrative and sequential art strategies such as original character creation, storyboards, and stop-motion animation.
Dates: June 8-12, 2026
Grades: 5 through 8
Location: Eskenazi Hall
Times: Daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $350 per weeklong session
High School Drawing & Illustration
Students in grades 9 through 12 will focus on observational drawing and creative illustration during this week-long intensive. Participants will study anatomy and character development by analyzing comics and graphic novels and creating visual narratives. Traditional drawing tools such as graphite and ink will be combined with popular digital design apps.
Dates: June 8-12, 2026
Grades: 9 through 12
Location: Eskenazi Hall
Times: Daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $350 per weeklong session
Junior High Makers Camp
Students in grades 6 through 9 will be introduced to a variety of makerspace equipment and making techniques, such as 3D printing, laser engraving, and vinyl cutting. Using both digital and physical tools, students will create unique objects with the guidance of our expert Think it Make it Lab technician.
Dates: June 15-18, 2026
Grades: 1 through 4
Location: Eskenazi Hall
Times: Daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday
Cost: $350 per weeklong session
Elementary Painting
During this week of Elementary Art Camp, students in grades 1 through 4 will engage in open-ended art-making using Reggio-inspired strategies that support their creative learning. Participants will work with watercolor paint, colorful paper, and canvas as they delve into identity-based topics like self, family, and culture.
Dates: June 22-26, 2026
Grades: 1 through 4
Location: Eskenazi Hall
Times: Daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $350 per weeklong session
Students in grades 5 through 8 will learn to paint with acrylic, gouache, and watercolor. Participants will study an array of contemporary artists, then experiment with media to push beyond traditional uses and create a body of work that exemplifies their learning throughout the week.
Dates: June 22-26, 2026
Grades: 5 through 8
Location: Eskenazi Hall
Times: Daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $350 per weeklong session
High School Painting
Students in grades 9 through 12 will learn to paint with acrylic, gouache, and watercolor. Color theory, as well as contemporary artists and practices, will be used to guide participants through each medium. They will walk away with self-portraits, object studies, and contemporary explorations in abstraction and mixed media to add to their portfolio.
Dates: June 22-26, 2026
Grades: 9 through 12
Location: Eskenazi Hall
Times: Daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $350 per weeklong session
High School Makers Camp
Students in grades 10 through 12, and recent high school graduates will be introduced to a variety of makerspace equipment and making techniques, such as 3D printing, laser engraving, and vinyl cutting. Using both digital and physical tools, students will create unique objects with the guidance of our expert Think it Make it Lab technician.
Dates: June 22-26, 2026
Grades: 1 through 4
Location: Eskenazi Hall
Times: Daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday
Cost: $350 per weeklong session
Elementary Books and Building
During this week of Elementary Art Camp, students in grades 1 through 4 will engage in open-ended artmaking using choice-based and instructor-supported strategies. Participants will work with materials like construction paper, found objects, and clay. Instructors will support campers through the process of bookmaking, structural engineering, and projects that are unique to each artist.
Dates: July 13-17, 2026
Grades: 1 through 4
Location: Eskenazi Hall
Times: Daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $350 per weeklong session
Junior High Books and Building
Students in grades 5 through 8 will concentrate on three-dimensional art techniques and processes. Participants will experiment with additive and subtractive sculpture techniques and traditional media such as polymer clay, 3D printing, and found objects. Book and papermaking as a sculptural art form will also be explored. Process-based learning and product development through design thinking will be prioritized.
Dates: July 13-17, 2026
Grades: 5 through 8
Location: Eskenazi Hall
Times: Daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $350 per weeklong session
High School Books and Building
During this week-long intensive, students in grades 9 through 12 will focus on three-dimensional techniques and processes. Participants will try additive and subtractive sculpture techniques and traditional media such as cardboard, 3D printing, and found objects. Book and papermaking as a sculptural art form will also be explored. Individuals and classmates will be encouraged to connect social issues to their creations, with an emphasis on process-based learning and product development through design thinking.
Dates: July 13-17, 2026
Grades: 9 through 12
Location: Eskenazi Hall
Times: Daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $350 per weeklong session
Dates: July 14-18, 2025
Grades: 9 through 12
Location: Eskenazi Hall
Times: Daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $325 per weeklong session
Registration for this camp session is now closed.
Art School Sampler
Art School Sampler is a comprehensive camp in which students in grades 5 through 9 will get a taste of what art schools offer. Art School Sampler, like the Herron Pre-College program, allows participants to explore a variety of two- and three-dimensional media and contemporary art topics and position themselves as future art students, professional artists, and other college and career-ready positions. The outcomes will include completed works of drawing and illustration, painting, printmaking, building, and documentation for their college admissions portfolio.
Dates: July 20-24, 2026
Grades: 5 through 9
Location: Eskenazi Hall
Times: Daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $350 per weeklong session
Art School Sampler
Art School Sampler is a comprehensive camp in which students in grades 5 through 9 will get a taste of what art schools offer. Art School Sampler, like the Herron Pre-College program, allows participants to explore a variety of two- and three-dimensional media and contemporary art topics and position themselves as future art students, professional artists, and other college and career-ready positions. The outcomes will include completed works of drawing and illustration, painting, printmaking, building, and documentation for their college admissions portfolio.
Dates: July 20-24, 2026
Grades: 5 through 9
Location: Eskenazi Hall
Times: Daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $350 per weeklong session
Herron Pre-College
Herron Pre-College is a week-long advanced intensive designed to prepare students in grades 10 and 12, as well as recent high school graduates, for the challenges and opportunities of a college-level studio art curriculum. Participants are immersed in sustained investigations as they explore cultural and social concepts alongside contemporary art practices. Throughout the week, participants will share their love of art with their peers, receive individualized feedback on their existing work, and get instruction in various digital and traditional media, such as drawing, painting, printmaking, animation, and 3D construction.
Dates: July 20-24, 2026
Grades: 10 through 12 + recent high school graduates
Location: Eskenazi Hall
Times: Daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $350 per weeklong session
