Author: Joey Ciaramitaro

With the third summer of Art Haven programs comes the opportunity for Cape Ann youth to combine the visual and theater arts like never before. And once again, low-income families will be able to receive financial assistance thanks to a Community Development Block Grant and the Bruce J. Anderson Foundation.

“We really want all kids to have affordable and fun opportunities in the arts,” says Art Haven Director Dawn Gadow. “The summer gives kids a great chance to work on really fun summer projects and to get outside and learn about Gloucester at the same time!”

The main thrust of Art Haven’s summer programming this year is Summer PlayCamp in conjunction with the new Henry Allen TheatreWorks, located at The Cape Ann (“The Annie”, to her friends) at 1 Washington Street. Students from ages 6 – 18 can participate in the program, spending half the day at the Art Haven studio experimenting in the visual arts, and half the day at The Annie writing plays and working on their acting skills.

Youth ages 6-12 will spend the mornings at Art Haven and afternoons at The Annie, while ages 12-18 do the opposite. The groups will work with themes from “The Mermaid Robot of Gloucester” and “Murder on Rocky Neck” to “The Witches of Dogtown”. The end of August even offers teens the chance to write their own political theater pieces. In each two-week session students will write a play, prepare props and costumes, work with materials like clay and printmaking, and perform their play on Thursday evening at the Cape Ann Farmer’s Market.

“It’s amazing the creativity that can come out of kids of all ages,” says Henry Allen of The Annie. “These productions are going to be incredible displays of the artistic power found in the youth of Cape Ann.”

If theater isn’t your forte, Art Haven is also still offering a number of other artistic opportunities to the youth of Cape Ann. They will have continued open studio times for all ages and open darkroom times. These times allow artists of all ages to explore the art studio on their own terms with some artistic guidance from Art Haven’s staff.

Also at the Cape Ann Farmer’s Market, Teen Artist Guild members will once again have the opportunity to sell their artwork. Older students are welcome to be a part of this group to learn how to market and sell their artwork, both at the Farmer’s Market and beyond. These students will meet twice a week to work on artistic skills, business skills, and developing a sense of themselves as an artist.

“We’ve really got opportunities for everyone to get into the arts this summer,” says Gadow. “If you want to get creative, we want to help you.”

For more information about all of these programs, call (978) 283-3888, visit www.arthaven.org or 180B Main Street. Registration forms can be found on the web site or picked up at the Main Street studio.