Camp and Classes FAQs

Q: I read Camp Art Stars celebrates and encourages process over product–what does that mean? 

A: The creative process is ongoing, experimental, reflective, and messy. When working with Art Stars, teaching artists provide instruction and demonstrations to help them explore a range of answers to creative problems. Sometimes this results in a finished product, but that is not always the goal. The main goal is to support each young artist’s experience while creating. 

Art Stars will try out different techniques and materials through experimentation. Their unique artistic voice will come through in their creations. 

Q: How long does Camp Art Stars last?

A: Each camp session is five days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Camp Art Stars runs from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

We offer Camp Art Stars four weeks throughout the summer.

Q: What time does drop-off and pick-up start? Where do I drop off and pick-up my Art Star?

A: Drop-off begins at 8:45 a.m. at the front entrance of the Museum. A staff person will be out front with a clipboard, ready to sign in campers. No need to park and walk inside!

A guardian must always sign the camper in and out.

If you arrive late and before 9:55 a.m., the Museum will not be open to the public yet. Please contact us at 757-333-6269 or discover@chrysler.org.

If you arrive after 10:00 a.m., please park and bring your Art Star all the way into the Museum to join the group in the Diamonstein Education Workshop.

Pick-up begins at 4:00 p.m. at the front entrance of the Museum. All Art Stars must be picked up no later than 4:10 p.m. A staff person will be out front with a clipboard ready to sign out Art Stars. You are welcome to park or use the roundabout.  

Please make sure you meet with the staff person before leaving with your Art Star. Eager campers often run straight to their adult, and we need to make sure each young artist is safe and signed out.  

Q: Does the same adult need to drop off and pick up?

A: No. Different adults can drop off and pick up. Please let the Museum staff person know who will be taking care of pick up, and they will make a note on the sheet.

Q: What should I send with my Art Star?

A: Each camper should bring 2 snacks and a lunch as well as a refillable water bottle. We do not have refrigeration or reheating capabilities, and lunches will be stored in the Diamonstein Education Workshop.

We will supply all artmaking materials.

Q: What should the young artist wear to Camp Art Stars?

A: A Camp Art Stars t-shirt or apron will be issued at the start of the program. We kindly ask Art Stars to wear their T-shirt or aprons at all times while attending camp to help support camp comradery and the security of all campers.

Art is messy; plan to dress accordingly. If your Art Star gets cold easily, bring a sweater since the Museum can sometimes be chilly. We will also spend time outdoors, weather permitting.

Q: Do you have scholarships available?

A: Yes. Email discover@chrysler.org to request a scholarship form. You will be asked to provide a brief explanation of why you are applying for a scholarship and how you see this experience as a benefit to your Art Star. 

Q: Do you ever cancel a camp session?

A: In a post-COVID era, we never say never.  It is important for you to be aware that the Chrysler Museum of Art reserves the right to cancel any under-enrolled course, restrict the registration in a course, change instructors when necessary, and reschedule individual classes as needed and appropriate. If the Museum finds it necessary to cancel courses or make schedule changes, every effort will be made to notify registered students.  If a camp session is cancelled, a refund will be issued. 

For inclement weather such as drastic flooding or hurricanes, cancellations will be made in accordance with available forecasts.  

Q: What if my Art Star has to miss a day or two?

A: Unfortunately, class tuition cannot be prorated due to planned or unexpected absence(s), and individual makeup sessions will not be scheduled.

Please do not send a sick child to Camp Art Stars. Once they are feeling better, we look forward to continue Camp Art Stars. We do not issue refunds for illness.

Q: What if my plans change, and I need to withdraw my Art Star from camp?

A: A full refund may only be granted if written notice is provided 14 or more days from the scheduled event. Please email discover@chrysler.org to cancel your registration. 

Q: What is the social climate of the camp? What are the Community Agreements for Camp Art Stars? What happens if they are violated?

A: We believe that environment conditions behavior, so we will spend time building an atmosphere of trust and cooperation, a sense of belonging and community, and communicate clear expectations. Community Agreements will be discussed as a group during the beginning of each Camp Art Stars in order to have a safe, playful, and enjoyable environment and mindset. These agreements will be revisited and reinforced as needed throughout the camp. These are the main expectations for all Camp Art Stars:

Art Stars…

• Show Kindness: In order to be creative and be a member of a community, Art Stars are kind to fellow campers, instructors, staff, artists, and volunteers. There is no tolerance for bullying or overly rough play.
• Show Respect: Art Stars will respect the spaces we explore together as well as the people we meet. In the Museum’s galleries, that means no touching, mark-making, running, or wandering. In the Education Workshop, that means treating art materials with care, cleaning up after working, giving fellow Art Stars space to create, and using furniture safely.   
• Listen and Share: Art Stars will engage in active listening and follow instructions. Art Stars will also share their ideas with fellow campers, instructors, staff, artists, and volunteers throughout Camp.
• Know Where They Are: Good behavior choices look different depending on where Art Stars are spending time. This means taking in your surroundings and checking the volume of your voice, the way you move your body, and how you play with others. We expect Art Stars to check in and make sure their choices respond to their spaces.

If an Art Star cannot follow the above expectations, a guardian will need to retrieve their camper and not return to the program. In these cases, which are rare, refunds are not granted.  

Q: What is Art Show Friday?

A: All week Art Stars work on various projects, experiments, and works of art. Art Show Friday happens during the last 30 minutes of Camp Art Stars. Families are invited to the Diamonstein Education Workshop for a showcase of each camper’s creations. Bring the whole family on Friday at 3:30 p.m.

Q: When does the artwork come home?

A: All the artwork will go home after Art Show Friday. We want to make sure each artist has a robust presentation for Art Show Friday, and many projects will take more than one day to complete. 

Also, any forgotten items such as water bottles or lunchboxes will be turned into lost and found and kept for 10 days.  

Q: How will Camp Art Stars be documented?  

A: We take photos of projects, adventures, and Art Stars throughout the Camp. On the first day, each guardian will receive a photo release form to let us know their preferences for photography. These photos are compiled into a digest so families can see what’s happening each day.  

Q: What is the best way to reach my Art Star if necessary? How will Camp Art Stars information be communicated? 

A: You can always call the front desk of the Chrysler Museum, and the helpful host will connect you to the lead instructor or staff member in the space where the Art Stars are located. If more direct communication is required, please alert the Camp Art Stars team in advance. We are happy to accommodate.  

Whoever registered for Camp Art Stars will include an email address during payment. All important updates and reminders will be emailed to that email address. If more than one guardian needs information, please email discover@chrysler.org with all necessary email addresses and include the name of the Art Star.