New Musikfest Concert Photography Experience and ‘Young Artist Intensives’ Highlighted

An opportunity to be a rock star concert photographer at Musikfest and new Teen and Pre-teen Young Artist Intensives featuring glassblowing, street photography, graffiti art and more highlight the dynamic camp lineup at ArtsQuest’s Banana Factory arts center this summer. The 2016 summer session, featuring weeklong camps for ages 4-17, runs through July 29. For complete information, or to register for a camp, visit www.bananafactory.org or call 610-332-1300.

Highlighting the 2016 camp lineup is the Musikfest Photopass Concert Photography Experience, a new camp that takes participants behind the scenes at one of the nation’s largest music festivals to learn all about concert photography. Running Aug. 8-12, this camp provides students with exclusive access to Musikfest’s Festplatz, Volksplatz, Liederplatz and Plaza Tropical stages, as they learn what it takes to produce good concert and festival photos from professional photographer Ryan Hulvat. Each student also receives his or her own media pass, allowing access to backstage areas and other locations usually reserved only for working media. The Photopass camp is open to students entering grades 6-8 and is limited to only 10 participants.

This summer, the Banana Factory is putting ‘art’ in the spotlight in its camps for ages 4-9 by highlighting the many ways the visual arts enhance other forms of creative expression. Each camp session is inspired by a different theme and provides the opportunity for young artists to explore a variety of artistic mediums, including drawing and painting, printmaking, fiber arts, jewelry and metals, digital arts and photography. The week concludes with an art party and exhibition where family and friends can see the wonderful artwork created by campers.

Also new this year are the Pre-teen (ages 10-12) and Teen (ages 13-18) Young Artist Intensive Programs, which allow young people to go in depth while exploring a specific medium or art form. Among the 20 different offerings that students can explore are Digital Animation, Street and Urban Photography, Sketchbook Drawing Creations and Hot Glass. One of the offerings, Screenprinting: Graphic Apparel, even teaches participants the screen printing process, allowing them to create their own t-shirts, clothes and stylish bags.

Banana Factory camps days run 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., and parents can sign up their kids up for full- or half-day sessions. New for 2016 is extended before-care (8-9 a.m.) and after-care (3:30-6 p.m.), making it easier than ever for families to take advantage of the art center’s diverse summer camp lineup.