VOTED THE BEST PLACE TO TAKE AN ART CLASS BY THE PRESS BANNER!
Where creativity begins and confidence grows
At the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center, we believe every child is a budding artist. Our youth programs are designed to nurture imagination, build confidence, and inspire a lifelong love for creativity—whether it’s after school on campus, exploring new mediums at the Art Center, or making art under the redwoods during the summer.
Our teaching artists guide children to experiment, make mistakes, laugh, and discover new ways to express themselves. Here, it’s never just about the finished piece: it’s about the joy, curiosity, and confidence that grow through the process of creating art.
Art After School–On Campus
Our Art After School program supports families on early-out days, giving kids a creative place to land and grow.
We’re proud to bring the Art Center experience right to local schools in the San Lorenzo Valley. Each school year is divided into six themed sessions—Fall I & II, Winter I & II, and Spring I & II—each running for five to six weeks of weekly classes (depending on the school). Every session introduces new projects and materials, giving kids fresh ways to create and express themselves through art.
Budding artists explore painting, drawing, printmaking, jewelry, and more. Classes are designed to spark curiosity and confidence while connecting kids through art and friendship.
Youth Classes at the Art Center
For kids ready to dive deeper into their artistic journey, Youth Classes at the Art Center offers after-school classes focused on specific mediums.
These sessions typically run for six classes, meeting once a week, and give young artists time to build skills, explore new techniques, and gain confidence as they create.
From ceramics and cartooning to acrylics and watercolor painting, students learn to work with texture, color, and form and experience the joy of making something with their own hands. Each class encourages curiosity, expression, and creative growth.
Youth Summer Art Classes
When school’s out, the creativity continues!
Our Summer Art Classes offer new projects, materials, and experiences each week that let kids express themselves freely and build friendships along the way.
It’s art, play, and discovery—all rolled into one unforgettable summer.
Ready to Create?
Scholarships and Sliding Scale Tuition are Available
We’re committed to keeping art accessible for all families. Thanks to generous support from Wild Roots Market, Redwood Mountain Faire, Ben Lomond Market, and individual donors; we’re able to offer tuition support to a limited number of students to help ensure that young artists who want to make art, can.
Use the links below to find out about SCMAC’s Sliding-Scale Scholarship Program and apply.
Youth Art Program Sponsors:
SCMAC Youth art programs are made possible because of donations from the following, and people just like you.
We have established a Gloria Seneres Memorial Fund which directly supports our Youth Art Programs. DONATE online today or send a check to the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center, 9341 Mill St. Ben Lomond, CA 95005. All contributions are tax-deductible. Thanks for helping make youth art happen!
Inspire Encourage Create
Voted the Press Banner FAVE “Place to Take a Class.”
The Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center recognizes the importance of a variety of art experiences for the well-rounded development of children, for enriching local communities and for a more humane global community. All Art Center youth art classes incorporate age appropriate SCMAC Standards and California State Content Standards for the Visual Arts. Content standards were designed to encourage the highest achievement of every student, by defining the knowledge, concepts, and skills that students should acquire at each grade level.
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