Registration is now open.
CMA members get 20% off. Join today!
Most camps sold out in 2025, so reserve your spot early!
Art + Ingenuity
This summer, the CMA is offering a variety of unique camps to capture the interest of any young artist. Participating in summer camps is a great way for your child to think creatively, practice problem-solving skills, and have fun!
Summer Camp FAQs
- Which age group should I register my child for?
The CMA offers camps for the following age groups: 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-18.
- What happens if the week of camp I want to sign up for is full?
Please reach out to [email protected] to be put on a waitlist.
- What is the cancellation policy?
Please let us know as soon as possible if your child can no longer attend their camp. Refunds are available for nonemergency cancelations made at least two weeks prior to the camp start date; nonemergency cancelations received within 13 days of the camp start date are ineligible for refunds. If your child is registered for a camp that the CMA has been forced to cancel, staff will reach out to you. We will make every effort to alert you to any changes before the camp is scheduled to begin. You'll have three choices for the registration fee:
1. Receive a full refund
2. Choose a different camp to apply the registration fee toward if space allows
3. Support the CMA by letting your registration fee become your donation to the museumThe CMA reserves the right to cancel any camp that does not meet minimum enrollment (five campers) or for other unforeseen circumstances. We will do our best to notify families at least one week prior to the start of a camp session if a particular camp is canceled. Any payments made toward a week of camp that the CMA cancels will be eligible for a refund or can be applied to another camp if space permits.
- Can I sign up my child for more than one week?
Absolutely! Registration is by week, and each week of camp is a separate session with its own theme. You are welcome to register your child for as many weeks as you like.
- Do you offer before care or aftercare?
We do not offer before or aftercare.
- Should my camper bring a lunch?
Only campers signed up for Lunch Buddies bring their own nut-free brown bag lunch, must be registered for both morning and afternoon camps, and pay a $30 fee. As always, food sharing is never permitted at camp. Campers not attending Lunch Buddies are asked to eat their lunch either before or after camp each day.
- What does my child need to bring and wear?
We encourage campers to dress for a mess in clothing that they are comfortable creating in. Close-toed shoes are encouraged but not required. Some inside areas can get chilly so some campers may want to bring a sweater or cardigan.
- Where do I drop off and pick up my child and what are the drop-off and pickup times?
Drop-off and pickup is on Hampton Street in front of the museum, using the bus lane. Staff will be curbside ready to assist you. For morning camps, drop-off begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 9:00 a.m. and pickup is at noon. For afternoon camps, drop-off begins at 12:45 p.m. and lasts until 1:00 p.m. and pickup is at promptly 4:00 p.m. Caregivers of teen students can elect to sign a driving authorization form so that they can check themselves in and out. Please have your ID ready for every pickup so that CMA staff can verify your identity.
- What should I do if my child is ill?
Any signs of illness should be taken seriously, and the camper must be kept at home. Please consult your pediatrician for treatment advice based on your child’s symptoms. If your child is diagnosed with COVID-19 after attending camp, please alert CMA staff.
- What if my child leaves their lunch or gets sick during camp and I must pick up my child?
Please call the Welcome Desk at 803-799-2810 and let them know of the situation. CMA staff will bring your child to be signed out or will meet you at the Welcome Desk to pick up their lunch.
- Will activity spaces be sanitized?
Yes. All spaces will be sanitized after each use.
- Can my child bring nuts or food containing nuts to camp?
No. Due to sensitivity to nut allergies, CMA camps are nut-free. If anyone in your child’s camp has a severe allergy to a particular food item we will alert you prior to the first day of camp to ensure everyone’s safety.
- Will the CMA be providing lunch or snacks for campers?
The CMA provides a nut-free snack during each camp. The CMA does not provide lunch, but some camps for ages 7 – 12 have the Lunch Buddies option, which means these campers can stay all day from morning camp through afternoon camp. Lunch Buddies bring their own nut-free brown bag lunch, must be registered for both morning and afternoon camps, and pay a $25 fee. As always, food sharing is never permitted at camp.
- Can my child bring a refillable water bottle?
Campers will need to bring a water bottle each day labeled with their name. We will have bottled water on site in case a camper forgets their water bottle that day.
- Where will my child eat snack/lunch?
If your camper is signed up for our Lunch Buddies program, they will eat lunch in the Theater. Snack breaks take place in the Theater, Salon, Reception Gallery, or Boyd Plaza.
- Will my child have access to the CMA galleries during camp?
Yes! All campers will have access to the CMA galleries during camp.
2026 Instructors
Lauren Bates is an artist and high school art teacher who enjoys working with a variety of mediums in her personal work. She is soon to graduate with her master’s in art therapy from Pennsylvania Western University and strives to bring the wellness of artmaking into each of her practices. In her personal practice, Bates works with a range of materials from graphite and ink to oil paint, film photography, ceramics, and various forms of printmaking. She is thrilled to be participating in CMA summer camps this year and looks forward to sharing her excitement of art with campers.
Anna Byars was born and raised in South Carolina. She received her B.A. in studio art and art history at the College of Charleston and is currently working on her M.F.A. at the University of South Carolina. Her work has been shown in exhibitions at the Southern Graphics Conference, Sawtooth Visual Arts Gallery, and the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art. Byars primarily focuses on printmaking and jewelry and is currently exploring the idea of transcendence within her work. She has taught CMA summer camps since 2025.
Ashley Dunbar is the engagement apprentice at the Columbia Museum of Art. She has always been involved in the arts, whether through participating in school programs or her own creative pursuits. Dunbar has experience working in a variety of youth-based programs and loves expressing her creativity through drawing, painting, photography, and jewelry making. She is excited to work with children of all ages and is dedicated to making their art experiences fun and inspiring.
Leo Dunlap is a student at the College of Charleston studying studio art and art history, with a concentration in painting, specializing in portraiture. He previously interned for the CMA summer camp program in 2023 and 2024. Born in Columbia, Dunlap grew up visiting the CMA and participating in summer camps as a camper; he is excited to share this experience with the next generation of young artists.
Addison Graham is a visual artist and educator from Fort Smith, Arkansas. She earned her B.F.A. from Arkansas Tech University in 2020 and her M.F.A. from the University of South Carolina in 2024. Graham’s work has been featured in some 20 exhibitions throughout Arkansas, South Carolina, and Taiwan. Her achievements include receiving a scholarship to the Penland School of Craft, completing a summer residency at Stormwater Studios, and being selected by curator Danielle Krysa for the publication 100 Emerging Artworks of 2024 - Women's Edition. As an adjunct instructor, Graham teaches studio art courses in the School of Visual Art and Design at USC and has been teaching summer camps at the CMA since 2023.
Becky Groth has served as a studio docent at the CMA for over 12 years and hails from a family of artists. She is a mother of three, and teaching children has always been one of her passions. Groth has taught CMA summer camps since 2023 and is a three-time award-winning participant in the Columbia Design League’s Runaway Runway Recycled Fashion Show. She is excited to share her recycling and design skills with her students.
Emelyn Guild is from Lancaster, South Carolina, and graduated from the University of South Carolina with her B.F.A. in art education. She currently teaches art at Sandhills Elementary School and has worked as a lead summer camp counselor at an animal hospital in Waxhaw, North Carolina, for the past five years. Guild loves all types of art but has a special passion for fiber arts.
Erin Kuykendall is this year’s CMA Kress Interpretive Fellow, hailing from Austin, Texas. She has a B.A. and M.A. in art history, with a focus on Islamic manuscript painting. She has worked as a preschool teacher for many years and looks forward to helping campers learn and grow.
Emma Lipe is an elementary art teacher in Richland School District One. She earned her B.A. in art education from Anderson University. Lipe attended CMA summer camps while growing up and worked as a camp intern in 2024. She enjoys helping young artists explore creativity through hands-on and playful art experiences.
Jason Schoonover is an artist and illustrator based in Irmo, where he lives with his family. He earned a bachelor's degree in studio art from Florida State University and an associate's degree in graphic design from Broward College. Specializing in pen-and-ink drawing, Schoonover also explores comics and cartooning, which are central to his creative practice. His work has been featured in independent publications, and he has self-published several comics and art books, with more projects on the horizon.
Kaitlyn Smith is a current undergraduate in the art education program at the University of South Carolina. She worked for the Columbia Museum of Art as a summer camp intern last season and looks forward to coming back this year to teach. Smith has a passion for the arts as a creator and consumer, holding a special place in her heart for all art forms. She is especially fond of collage, 3D design, and painting.
Rachel Stone is a sophomore B.F.A student majoring in art education at the University of South Carolina. Originally from Anderson, South Carolina, Stone graduated from Wren High School, where, as a teacher cadet, she completed field experience at Hunt Meadows Elementary School. While at USC, she has had the opportunity to take classes in many different art mediums, including drawing, painting, and three-dimensional design. She is a Teaching Fellow, Capstone Scholar, and National Art Education Association member, and has been on the President's and Dean's List every semester. Stone has taught art at various afterschool programs and has been an AVID tutor for two years, allowing her to gain experience teaching middle and high school students.
Megan Tapley is a ceramic artist who earned her B.F.A. from Clemson University in 2024. Originally from Irmo, she is a resident artist at Gemini Arts Collective in Rosewood and a studio instructor and assistant at The Mad Platter. Tapley’s work encompasses bold textures, colors, and patterns. She has taught a variety of ceramics workshops throughout the greater Columbia area and is overjoyed that she is able to spread her love of clay with others.
Dana Witkoski is the engagement manager at the Columbia Museum of Art. Originally from Columbia, she has a B.A. in public relations from the University of South Carolina and a master’s in arts administration from Winthrop University. Witkoski oversees summer camps and workshops at the CMA and has taught workshops there since 2016. Her favorite mediums to work with are fiber, metals, and prints.
Lunch Buddies
Some camps for Ages 7 to 12 have the Lunch Buddies option, which means these campers can stay all day. Lunch Buddies bring their own nut-free bag lunch, must be registered for both morning and afternoon camps, and pay a $30 fee.
More Information
Prices
Ages 4 – 6: $175 / $140 for members
Ages 7 – 9: $200 / $160 for members
Ages 10 – 12: $200 / $160 for members
Ages 13 – 18: $250 / $200 for members
Drop–off and pickup
Drop-off and pickup is on Hampton Street at Boyd Plaza in front of the museum, using the bus lane. Staff will be curbside ready to assist you. For morning camps, drop-off is 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. and pickup is at noon. For afternoon camps, drop-off is 12:45 – 1:00 p.m. and pickup is at 4:00 p.m. Parents of teen students can elect to sign a driving authorization form so that students can check themselves in and out.
Photography
The museum sometimes takes pictures of students participating in classes for promotional use. If you have concerns about your child being photographed, please inform us upon registration.
Registration and Refund Policy
Please note that registration is required for all camps and fees are nonrefundable.
Summer Camp Forms
Looking to get ahead on your paperwork? Here are some forms you'll need to fill out for your camper:
Scholarships
The CMA offers need-based scholarships for summer camps. You can help a child in need attend summer camp by adding any additional amount to your total, which will go directly to the CMA Summer Camp Scholarship Fund. Call 803-343-2170 about donating to the fund or applying for scholarships.
Deadline: May 4, 2026
Summer Camps
Supported by
This project is funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.