Summer

Explore the profound impact of storytelling and how it shapes our world, points of view, and how we express ourselves.

Spend a week with creative souls developing a new perspective on mastering the secret techniques of advanced wheel throwing! Create intricately detailed ceramic pieces while mastering size, design, and balance. Join us for a journey in creativity and skill-building!

Learn the art of sterling silver “paper-clip” chain making in this hands-on workshop, where you’ll craft your own unique necklace while exploring essential jewelry techniques in a creative and inspiring environment.

Explore the uniquely classic Hopi technique of silver overlay metalsmithing. Silver overlay, as a technique for conveying traditional Hopi designs in silver, originated in 1938 from drawings produced at the Museum of Northern Arizona. Later, Fred Kabotie (Hopi), a noted former Idyllwild Arts faculty, taught this technique for World War II veterans’ classes held from 1947-1951 in Arizona.

Discover and play with color using pigmented slips. This workshop will focus on low-fire decorating techniques and methods of hand building utilizing coils and slabs.

Using the self as source, students will learn an interwoven combination of slab, coil, and pinch construction methods to hollow-build a self-referential bust. Build skills in how to create an interior clay armature, enlarge a maquette, and sculpt the figure!

This workshop is designed for experienced pianists to improve their performance skills and repertoire. Practice and learn alongside professional and performing piano artists in our beautiful William M. Lowman Concert Hall.

This workshop, led by master screenprinter Jacob Meders, introduces the art of screen printing with a focus on cultural identity and altered perceptions of place. Participants will develop their own designs using 2-D principles, create a matrix for screen exposure, and experiment with techniques like rubylith cutting. The hands-on experience includes printing on paper, fabric, and t-shirts, allowing for an interdisciplinary exploration of personal and cultural expression.

This hands-on workshop explores the artistry and cultural significance of Lakota-style hand drums and moccasins. Participants will craft a hand drum from elk hide and rawhide lacing while learning about its role in ceremonies and social songs, as well as create custom-fit moccasins using traditional materials like elk buckskin and latigo hide.

Idyllwild Arts is honored to welcome Diné master weavers and sisters Barbara Teller Ornelas and Lynda Teller Pete for their 28th year teaching in the summer program. This workshop will provide a hands-on view of the world of Navajo weaving, supporting you as you weave your own Diné inspired rug.

Experience the art of quillwork firsthand and engage in the entire process, from extracting quills from a Porcupine pelt to cleaning, dying, and using them as an embroidery fiber. The workshop will culminate in creating your own smoked, brain-tanned deerskin drawstring pouch adorned with embroidered quills.

Learn the fundamentals of hot glass art and the technical and philosophical elements to inspire your work with expert one-on-one guidance from renowned Hopi glass artists.

*Due to popular demand, in addition to this first glassblowing session, we are also offering a second session. You may enroll in both weeks or just one. For returning students, the second session will be an opportunity to dive deeper into your newly established glassmaking skills and advance to making larger objects with greater detail.

This surface workshop explores screen-printing, stenciling, and underglaze transfers on greenware. Create layered, dynamic surfaces on hand-built forms, experiment with custom silk screens and color palettes, and learn techniques to enhance your decorative style.

Create wheel-thrown forms, learn underglazing and texturing techniques, and explore essential preparations and firing techniques for successful soda firing.

Join students of all levels to gather around a round table to bead, talk, laugh, and learn. You will receive detailed hands-on instruction and demonstrations on creating an array of beaded wearable art projects using quality materials such as Swarovski crystals and Czechoslovakian glass cut beads.

A no-nonsense, comprehensive course that pursues oil painting from life.

Learn to properly gather, process, and work with plant materials to create a Cahuilla Basket. Along the way, you will learn about Cahuilla Basketry’s cultural significance in Cahuilla communities.

The Artist Discovery program allows children, ages 8 to 10, to continue their creative journey. Visual art, music, movement, and drama will be explored through creative play and structured activities that allow for learning all that the arts has to offer. Children may come for multiple weeks and gain new discoveries each session.

*This is a Kids program and will follow those guidelines outlined in our FAQ section.

Learn the fundamentals of hot glass art and the technical and philosophical elements to inspire your work with expert one-on-one guidance from renowned Hopi glass artists.

*Due to popular demand, we are excited to offer this second glassblowing session. You may enroll in both weeks or just one. For returning students, this second session is the opportunity to dive deeper into your newly established glassmaking skills and advance to making larger objects with greater detail.

Learn the Hopi-Tewa method of creating polychrome pottery, which utilizes traditional materials and techniques such as hand building, polishing, painting, and traditional firing.

Design patterns and create colorful collages in semi-precious stones as you learn how to operate lapidary equipment to cut, grind, and polish stones to set into the silver form of your choice, such as bracelets, pendants, belt buckles, and rings, which you will create!

*Due to popular demand, we are excited to offer two Navajo Inlay Jewelry sessions.. You may enroll in both weeks or just one. For returning students, the second session provides the opportunity to dive deeper into your newly established jewelry making skills and work on additional projects or continue a larger project.

The Multi-Arts day program challenges children ages 5 to 7 to use their imaginations to translate creative ideas and images into visual art, music, movement, and creative drama through integrative arts experiences.

*This is a Kids program and will follow those guidelines outlined in our FAQ section.

Idyllwild Arts is honored to welcome Diné master weavers and sisters Barbara Teller Ornelas and Lynda Teller Pete for their 28th year teaching in the summer program. This Level II workshop offers a more in-depth experience ideal for beginning weaving students as well as more advanced students who have projects they may need troubleshooting with or completing.

This workshop, led by experts in California native plants, creates community through a learning journey that includes meadow talk conversations, a field trip to local Cahuilla rock art sites, and an in-depth analysis of the medicinal properties of California native plants that have cured and maintained the health and wellness of Indigenous people for millennia.

Learn the basics of seat weaving with Danish paper cord and take home a completed walnut and Danish cord stool.

Create three dimensional relief surfaces while expanding your handbuilding skills using soft slab construction.

Discover how to create tableware by blending wheel throwing, slabs, and bisque mold-making techniques, mastering consistency and precision in every form.

Idyllwild Arts is honored to welcome Diné master weavers and sisters Barbara Teller Ornelas and Lynda Teller Pete for their 28th year teaching in the summer program. This Level III workshop is optimal for those interested in expanding their already established skills in weaving. This workshop also welcomes beginners but emphasizes completing projects, troubleshooting, and learning more about weaving techniques, wool dying, and spinning.

From the Real to the Surreal, Shopping Malls to Emmitt Till:
Examine the world of documentary poetics by studying the poetry of contemporary poets and using their work as models for your own poems.

What does it mean to write with the environment? How does the environment shape the content and form of our work? This workshop will focus on environmental writing across genres and how they can contribute to our overall practice of writing eco-literature.

Get an introduction to the timeless art of stained glass and the fundamentals of its creation. Taught by glasswork artist Ramson Lomatewama, this workshop is unique because it is taught through the worldview of Hopi culture.

A lighthearted workshop geared toward building acting improv technique and tools while having lots of fun.

Design patterns and create colorful collages in semi-precious stones as you learn how to operate lapidary equipment to cut, grind, and polish stones to set into the silver form of your choice, such as bracelets, pendants, belt buckles, and rings, which you will create!

*Due to popular demand, we are excited to offer this second Navajo Inlay Jewelry session. You may enroll in both weeks or just one. For returning students, this is the opportunity to dive deeper into your newly established jewelrymaking skills and work on additional projects or continue a larger project.

This program is designed to introduce students to the many varied forms of art. Students will discover the joy of making one of a kind designs as their creativity unfolds and develops throughout the week.

*This is a Junior Artists program and will follow those guidelines outlined in our FAQ section.

The Idyllwild Arts Instrumental Artist’s Intensive offers a one of a kind opportunity for young artists to engage in a two-week deep dive into everything that a budding musician needs to shape a career in music and get an intimate look at what it’s like to be a part of the Idyllwild Arts Academy’s musical community. This comprehensive pre-professional artistic experience allows students to immerse themselves in all facets of music making: Chamber Music, Chamber Orchestra, Collaborative Work, and Solo Performance with opportunities to participate in a concerto competition and perform in front of an orchestra. Students will also participate in private lessons, masterclasses, and additional coaching opportunities, and select classes/workshops as available (ex. conducting, choir, excerpt class, etc.) throughout the program, as well as attend special performances by our seasoned faculty and special guests. An audition is required.

*Instrumental Artists Intensive is a Teen program. Younger students will be matched with an older ambassador to help them to navigate the campus, but will not be supervised as a Junior Artist.

This summer program focuses on the complete dancer. You will be submerged in the art of dance, with daily classes in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern, Tap, Musical Theatre Dance, and Choreography.

*Dance Intensive is a Teen program. Younger students will be matched with an older mentor to help them to navigate the campus, but will not be supervised as a Junior Artist.

Jazz thrives and grows when it is passed unselfishly from generation to generation. Come to the Idyllwild Summer Jazz Intensive and learn from a generation of greats. This two-week session is built around giving students an exciting opportunity to learn from and see performances from Jazz greats in an intimate festival environment, a truly unique experience not offered at other camps.

*Jazz Intensive is a Teen program and will follow those guidelines outlined in our FAQ section.

Perfect for beginning to advanced songwriters, this exciting summer music program will teach you new skills and techniques to rapidly improve your craft. This two-week intensive is for students who have experience with songwriting and want to learn more, or students who are starting out. Students should have basic knowledge of a chordal instrument (piano, guitar, ukulele, etc) and the willingness to sing along!

*Songwriting Intensive is a Teen program and will follow those guidelines outlined in our FAQ section.

Curtain Up has something for everyone. If you’re new to acting or an old pro, we welcome you! The performance will be inclusive of all levels of experience and talents. This is an exciting two-week program for enthusiastic and motivated actors.

*This is a Junior Artists program and will follow those guidelines outlined in our FAQ section.

Explore the wonders of art in this fun and exciting combination summer camp! Discover traditional and non-traditional ways to create and think about art. Use your own creativity to develop your personal style.

*This is a Junior Artists program and will follow those guidelines outlined in our FAQ section.

If you love color and design, and want to learn more about sewing, embroidery, beading, textile art and upcycling, then this is the summer fashion camp for you! Come prepared to indulge yourself in creativity as you spend two weeks completely immersed in designing and creating various textile and upcycling projects.

*This is a Junior Artists program and will follow those guidelines outlined in our FAQ section.