Summer Camp – Alabama Contemporary Art Center

$225 Full Day/$125 Half Day for MEMBERS | $300 Full Day/$175 Half Day for NON-MEMBERS

Calling all creative kiddos! Alabama Contemporary Summer Camps have landed at the new AC Satellite, a collaborative community studio and experimental art space at 561 Saint Francis Street in Downtown Mobile. This year, our teaching artists are delving into parts of their own complicated practice to make fun and thoughtful activities for your budding art star.

We have 4 weeks full of artist-led activities from painting, mixed media, and clay, to graffiti and costume making. Camps are divided into age groups 6-10, and 11-15 with both full and half day options available. They run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., with a 30 minute lunch break onsite for full day campers. Half day campers must bring a snack from home each day, and full day must bring a snack and lunch. Please avoid peanut products.

2026 Schedule

Ages 11-15

June 15 – 19

Morning, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
MAKE with Michelle Jones
This is an artist-led multidisciplinary studio that will build creative problem solving skills through all kinds of media, including painting, collage, sculpture, visual and 3D. Michelle Jones is a Mississippi native with a long professional exhibition and award resume who has a vibrant creative practice. Students will learn to take risks, troubleshoot, and innovate.

Afternoon, 1 – 5 PM
SHAPE with Lucy Gafford
This multidisciplinary studio focuses on mostly 3D practices, led by national treasure Lucy Gafford: the brilliant artist responsible for the Fantastical Forest built at MMoA. Lucy will lead activities that dig into a multitude of materials and methods, so creative minds grow and thrive. Students will leave with more tools in their toolkit and a sense that they can probably create anything. Both MAKE and SHAPE stand alone as classes, but whole-dayers get to realize their biggest ideas.

July 13 – 17

Morning, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
GRAFFITI with Brandin Stallworth
The hallowed form of street art has been around since we lived in caves. There’s just something magical about drawing directly on a wall… so come draw on ours! Brandin Stallworth will show students the current tools and methods street artists use, and students get to try their hand while learning critical drawing and painting skills as well spacial planning.

Afternoon, 1 – 5 PM
PERFORMANCE with Nadine Andrews Brooks
This camp will guide students through envisioning a unique character, imagining their wardrobe, make-up, and set design. Campers will delve into stage crafting by adapting a familiar tale and creating fun costumes and a set made with recycled materials. Bring your personality out and learn to express yourself through theatre and acting! Camp is held Monday through Friday; the week will end with a theatre skit performance featuring the characters created by the campers.

Ages 6-10

June 22 – 26

Morning, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
PAINT with Soynika Edwards-Bush
See how far your young Frankenthaler, Rothko, or Van Gogh can stretch their painting skills, guided by experienced teaching artist and local celebrity Soynika Edwards-Bush. Campers are invited to explore a wide variety of painting techniques and discover new materials and applications that best represent them and their intended creative message.

Afternoon, 1 – 5 PM
COLOR with Colleen Comer
Explore the very basics of art practice in not so basic ways with local artist Colleen Comer. Your camper will learn all the rules of artmaking and the right ways to break them with daily art projects that push creative boundaries and experiment with color.

July 20 – 24

Afternoon, 1 – 5 PM
PLAY with Lucy Gafford
For the youngin’s, Lucy Gafford will lead activities that build their creative muscles through play. Kids will imagine, plan, and create while learning the elements of art and design and exploring new mediums.

Children’s Summer Camp and education programs are generously supported by