In its continuing pursuit to provide outstanding opportunities for artistic achievement in southern New Mexico, the Doña Ana Arts Council is rolling out its annual youth camp programs for summer 2017. The three summer programs include a visual art camp and two performing art camps.
“We are collaborating with the Santa Fe Opera to bring an opera specialist and will hire a composer from Las Cruces. They will work with students to create and put on a short opera production at the end of the week-long camp,” said Executive Director for the Doña Ana Arts Council Kathleen Albers. “I am very excited to bring back these opportunities for the youth of our community. And, as always, we offer scholarships for families who need assistance. We want every child who wishes to pursue his or her dream of creating art or performing on stage.”
Career Art Path (CAP) is a two-week immersion program in the visual arts for middle school students. The program is designed for students entering the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades and will be held June 12-23, 2017 at Alma d’Arte Charter High School, 402 W Court Ave, Las Cruces, NM. Tuition is $100 per student for the two-week program. The Arts Council and program founders, Marian and Jordon Wolle, donate financial support to any student who has an expressed interest in the visual arts, but who is unable to pay the full tuition.
Opera Storytellers of Las Cruces will return this summer as a camp for kids. Presented by The Doña Ana Arts Council in collaboration with The Santa Fe Opera, the camp will run from June 19-24, 2017 and will be presented at the Rio Grande Theatre. The program is designed for students entering 3rd – 8th grade. 25 – 30 students will use elements of opera, libretto writing, music composition and theatrical staging to compose and present their own musical drama based on the Hero’s Journey. Tuition is $100 per student; partial scholarships are available.
Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) has become a proud tradition of the Doña Ana Arts Council, bringing quality theater experiences for children to Las Cruces for over three decades. The Missoula Children’s Theatre will be June 26-30, 2017 at the Rio Grande Theatre. Try outs will be held on Monday, June 26 starting promptly at 10 a.m. Plan on a full two hours for the tryouts at the Rio Grande Theatre. The performance will be on Friday, June 30 at 7 p.m. For students entering grades 1-12. Tuition is $60 per student; partial scholarships available. The show title this year is Aladdin.
The Rio Grande Theatre is located at 211 N. Main Street, in Las Cruces, NM, and is managed by the Doña Ana Arts Council for the City of Las Cruces. Offices are located upstairs in the theater and are open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on the Doña Ana Arts Council’s Summer Youth Programs visit www.DAArts.org , or call (575) 523-6403.