Children's art classes currently enrolling for:
Summer Arts
Summer Arts 2026 registration now open.Summer Arts is a fine-art program consisting of weekly classes with two, three-hour classes per day, organized by grade, accommodating children from grades K- 8. These extended duration classes allow for immersive experiences and learning which expands beyond the studio. In addition to classes, there are four unique features of Summer Arts which augment learning; Creative Challenge Period, student portfolio, museum tours, and student exhibitions.
Summer Arts 2026: Give Me Space!
Click here to read about weekly themes, pricing, and schedules for 2026 Summer Arts at the Danforth Art School!
Take advantage of a 10% discount on Summer Arts classes by purchasing a Danforth Museum membership.
Those with an Individual Membership receive 10% off one Summer Arts class, those with a Family Membership receive 10% off up to four Summer Arts classes.
We understand that children vary in their development widely from grade to grade, and offer classes open to a grade range so parents/guardians may select which class best aligns with their child’s developmental level. Please choose either the grade your child will complete in June 2026, or the grade your child will enter in September 2026. Please reach out to us via email if you have any questions, danforthartschool@framingham.edu.
If the class you would like is marked as ‘wait list’ please register your child on this list. We often create second sections of classes and will contact those on the wait list in the order they appear.
Optional AM and PM Extended Day is available for an additional fee. Please see registration pages for more information.
Just like the excitement of an amusement park or a busy summer beach, our studio will be buzzing with creativity this week. Young artists will explore new materials and ideas, inspired by busy spaces, through drawing, painting, and building. Join us in the studio to create, discover, and be inspired during a fun-filled week of art making – our busy spaces are the perfect place to explore and create!
Register For Classes
Just like the excitement of an amusement park or a busy summer beach, our studio will be buzzing with creativity this week. Young artists will explore new materials and ideas, inspired by busy spaces, through drawing, painting, and building. Join us in the studio to create, discover, and be inspired during a fun-filled week of art making – our busy spaces are the perfect place to explore and create!
Register For Classes
Just like the excitement of an amusement park or a busy summer beach, our studio will be buzzing with creativity this week. Young artists will explore new materials and ideas, inspired by busy spaces, through drawing, painting, and building. Join us in the studio to create, discover, and be inspired during a fun-filled week of art making – our busy spaces are the perfect place to explore and create!
Register For Classes
Students will spend the week experimenting with lots of different art media, mixing and layering them to see how their ideas grow and change. Prioritizing process over product, the emphasis will be on discovery, creativity, and exploration. Along the way, students will think about why artists combine different media and how those choices can change the meaning of their artwork.
Register For Classes
There is something magical about finding a cozy nook or secret corner just for yourself! This week, we will be making art inspired hiding places – the special spaces where imagination and creativity come to life!
Register For Classes
There is something magical about finding a cozy nook or secret corner just for yourself! This week, we will be making art inspired hiding places – the special spaces where imagination and creativity come to life!
Register For Classes
There is something magical about finding a cozy nook or secret corner just for yourself! This week, we will be making art inspired hiding places – the special spaces where imagination and creativity come to life!
Register For Classes
Experiment with color, texture, light, and patterns to set mood and movement. Explore both realistic and abstract styles while developing your own unique visual voice. This class is appropriate for beginners and experienced artists alike.
Register For Classes
This week we will blend science and imagination and explore cosmic spaces through art. Students will create a colorful and imaginative collection of artworks using a variety of media. From rocket ships to stardust and moon walks, this week is sure to be out of this world!
Register For Classes
This week we will blend science and imagination and explore cosmic spaces through art. Students will create a colorful and imaginative collection of artworks using a variety of media. From rocket ships to stardust and moon walks, this week is sure to be out of this world!
Register For Classes
This week we will blend science and imagination and explore cosmic spaces through art. Students will create a colorful and imaginative collection of artworks using a variety of media. From rocket ships to stardust and moon walks, this week is sure to be out of this world!
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Register For Classes
Bring your fashion ideas to life! Learn how to draw the traditional fashion figure, explore garment shapes and style lines, and even practice draping fabric on a scale mannequin. Participants will learn techniques for rendering fabrics, textures, patterns and details, while creating a mood board and well-presented fashion collection.
Register For ClassesGet ready to think big – and small! Students will design art for and inspired by public spaces. From colorful graffiti and giant murals to small, subtle installations, we will discover all the creative ways art can surprise, delight, and be shared by everyone!
Register For Classes
Get ready to think big – and small! Students will design art for and inspired by public spaces. From colorful graffiti and giant murals to small, subtle installations, we will discover all the creative ways art can surprise, delight, and be shared by everyone!
Register For Classes
Get ready to think big – and small! Students will design art for and inspired by public spaces. From colorful graffiti and giant murals to small, subtle installations, we will discover all the creative ways art can surprise, delight, and be shared by everyone!
Register For Classes
Build, shape, and create in this 3D art class. Students will explore materials like clay, wire, cardboard, and found objects while learning how to construct and transform artworks in space. The focus in on experimenting, problem-solving, and developing a personal sculptural style.
Register For ClassesArtists frequently take what is old and make it new again. They do this through the process of thinking; using existing knowledge, experimenting and creating a new idea. This week we will consider the spaces we use for thinking. Inside our minds, the minds of others and inventing new ways we make art.
Register For Classes
Artists frequently take what is old and make it new again. They do this through the process of thinking; using existing knowledge, experimenting and creating a new idea. This week we will consider the spaces we use for thinking. Inside our minds, the minds of others and inventing new ways we make art.
Register For Classes
Artists frequently take what is old and make it new again. They do this through the process of thinking; using existing knowledge, experimenting and creating a new idea. This week we will consider the spaces we use for thinking. Inside our minds, the minds of others and inventing new ways we make art.
Register For Classes
Do you like to draw? Learn how to use a variety of drawing media to express your ideas. Chalk and oil pastels, charcoal, colored pencil, ink and more will be explored in this class. Learn how choices between media help tell a story in drawing, as you develop skill in capturing correct proportions and creating depth and dimension.
Register For Classes
A keyhole, a dollhouse, an insect’s tunnels beneath a rock – this week we will crouch down and explore tiny spaces up close. Students will create small-scale sculptures that play with size and perspective, or miniature paintings perfect for a miniature art gallery.
Register For Classes
A keyhole, a dollhouse, an insect’s tunnels beneath a rock – this week we will crouch down and explore tiny spaces up close. Students will create small-scale sculptures that play with size and perspective, or miniature paintings perfect for a miniature art gallery.
Register For ClassesA keyhole, a dollhouse, an insect’s tunnels beneath a rock – this week we will crouch down and explore tiny spaces up close. Students will create small-scale sculptures that play with size and perspective, or miniature paintings perfect for a miniature art gallery.
Register For ClassesStudents will explore how artwork and storytelling come together in the form of Comics and Illustration. Develop a comic strip with your own invented characters; learn how to draw a variety of facial expressions, animate objects, imply motion, and use background space in your story.
Register For ClassesMake art with us that brings your imagination to life. Picture yourself as a superhero, soaring with dragons, or snuggling with a tiger. Students will use clay, paints, fabric, and a variety of other materials to turn their creative visions into reality.
Register For Classes
Make art with us that brings your imagination to life. Picture yourself as a superhero, soaring with dragons, or snuggling with a tiger. Students will use clay, paints, fabric, and a variety of other materials to turn their creative visions into reality.
Register For Classes
Make art with us that brings your imagination to life. Picture yourself as a superhero, soaring with dragons, or snuggling with a tiger. Students will use clay, paints, fabric, and a variety of other materials to turn their creative visions into reality.
Register For Classes
Explore the creative world of fibers and fabrics in this hands-on class! Students will experiment with sewing, knitting, weaving, embroidery, and other textile techniques to make unique, tactile artwork. The focus is on trying new skills, combining materials, and expressing personal style. Create original works of art and design utilizing traditional and contemporary technologies in fiber arts.
Register For Classes
This week, we will explore negative space – the shapes and areas around objects that help art come to life. Students will play with cut-outs, stencils, and clever drawing tricks to see how empty spaces can be just as exciting as the shapes themselves. From bold silhouettes to surprising patterns, we will create art that makes you look twice and sparks your imagination. Come see how the spaces in between can be full of fun!
Register For Classes
This week, we will explore negative space – the shapes and areas around objects that help art come to life. Students will play with cut-outs, stencils, and clever drawing tricks to see how empty spaces can be just as exciting as the shapes themselves. From bold silhouettes to surprising patterns, we will create art that makes you look twice and sparks your imagination. Come see how the spaces in between can be full of fun!
Register For Classes
This week, we will explore negative space – the shapes and areas around objects that help art come to life. Students will play with cut-outs, stencils, and clever drawing tricks to see how empty spaces can be just as exciting as the shapes themselves. From bold silhouettes to surprising patterns, we will create art that makes you look twice and sparks your imagination. Come see how the spaces in between can be full of fun!
Register For Classes
Experiment with color, texture, light, and patterns to set mood and movement. Explore both realistic and abstract styles while developing your own unique visual voice. This class is appropriate for beginners and experienced artists alike.
Register For ClassesArt and play make fast friends. This week we will make work inspired by places in which we play. A playground or bounce house are sure to deliver, but what about that clearing in the woods, or the top of the fort in your friend’s back yard? Students will play with new materials while making art about play.
Register For ClassesArt and play make fast friends. This week we will make work inspired by places in which we play. A playground or bounce house are sure to deliver, but what about that clearing in the woods, or the top of the fort in your friend’s back yard? Students will play with new materials while making art about play.
Register For Classes
Art and play make fast friends. This week we will make work inspired by places in which we play. A playground or bounce house are sure to deliver, but what about that clearing in the woods, or the top of the fort in your friend’s back yard? Students will play with new materials while making art about play.
Register For Classes
Do you like to draw? Learn how to use a variety of drawing media to express your ideas. Chalk and oil pastels, charcoal, colored pencil, ink and more will be explored in this class. Learn how choices between media help tell a story in drawing, as you develop skill in capturing correct proportions and creating depth and dimension.
Register For ClassesNow Available! Gift Certificates for art classes may be purchased through the Register for Classes Link.
Important Information for Workshops and Summer Arts
Yes! We are pleased to offer a morning extended day program. Drop off is at 8am in the Art School conference area next to the office. At 9am when classes start, staff will walk students to their studios. This program runs Monday- Friday and costs $40.
We also offer an afternoon extended day program from 4pm to 6pm that runs Monday- Thursday and costs $60. Staff gather students attending this program at the end of classes and walk them to the conference area. There is no PM extended day on Fridays due to our fabulous student exhibition!
Please note, there is a maximum of 9 children for AM and PM extended day.
To register please go here.
We get this question a lot. At Danforth, we spend a lot of time in consideration of the special requirements of our youngest artists and have modified the daily schedule for their classes to allow time for moving bodies, using the restroom, getting fresh air and taking breaks. They have their own dedicated studio with appropriately sized furniture, bookcases stocked with books and activities for self-directed quiet time. Our instructors are experienced with artistic development for this age group and design lessons and projects to promote experimentation and personal creative expression. Trained studio assistants are also on hand in the studio to support a fun and comforting learning experience for everyone.
Yes! Danforth provides everything your child needs to have fun experimenting while creating exceptional artwork. We feel it is important to teach fine art using the correct tools and (non-toxic) supplies so children understand from the start how materials are supposed to look and work. School staff are happy to chat with you about art supplies in the event you are interested in creating an at-home art studio for your family, but for Summer Arts, you don’t need to buy a thing!
Every student who attends Summer Arts participates in a tour of the museum exhibitions as part of their study at the Danforth. Our tours include discussion about the art and artists featured in the galleries, giving students opportunities to share their perspectives of what they are viewing. Just like other museums, the Danforth expects all children to be respectful while visiting the galleries. Respectful behavior includes not touching the walls or artwork, moving bodies carefully, keeping quiet voices and following directions. We review this prior to museum “trips” and also appreciate reminders of these expectations from grown-ups!
The weekly portfolio is both a practice and an actual large folder. All students are given this folder each week to keep preliminary sketches as well as finished work. We encourage students to reflect on their progress during the week but also after they finish Summer Arts, and keeping their ongoing work in a portfolio promotes a respect for the process in addition to the finished product.
Our Friday Student Exhibition is an important and well-loved feature of Summer Arts which captures the incredible successes of students in each studio from the week’s immersive study. Our Studio Assistants work carefully with instructors to design and install these exhibits of student work complete with explanatory labels describing the project objectives and inspiration. We invite families into our studios on Friday afternoons to view the student exhibition. This practice reinforces the importance of craftsmanship for the student as they look forward to showing their work at the end of the week (although exhibiting work is not the only goal of making art).
We also use the exhibition as a way of promoting literacy in speaking about artwork, methods, materials and techniques and to understanding that there is a relationship between a viewer and the artwork that is created.
Our Danforth Assistants and staff members eat lunch with the children outside under the tent. We understand children need time to unwind during their day, so after a 20-30 minute period devoted to eating, we offer Choice Time. There will be opportunities for physical activities on the lawn as well as options for directed play and creative time.
No, we design our program to be a progressive and immersive experience for students so that each day builds upon ideas learned previously. Students create a portfolio of work during the week which is presented on Fridays during a special art exhibition.
We understand this happens sometimes. Please call the school as soon as possible if you need to cancel a registration. Cancellations received at least 2 weeks prior to start date will receive a full refund less a $25 cancellation fee. No refund will be issued after this time except in the case of emergencies. Please note that if a registration has been transferred from a class, it cannot be cancelled, but will be issued a credit less a $25 cancellation fee.
Please see our student behavior expectations here.
Danforth school staff and instructors would like to support all students who register for our programs, and knowing about any differences ahead of time allows everyone to make necessary adjustments to our approaches. If you’d like to contact us about your child for any reason, please email either the Summer Arts Manager, Kathy DeAntonio or the Art School Director, Noelle Fournier.
Donate to the Danforth — Your support helps fund exhibitions, programs and scholarships.
