Emergency Information and Authorization Form

Spring 2013 PDF

Summer Art Camps 2013 PDF

Winter 2013 PDF

SPRING 2013

Sculpture with Fibers
Ages 8-10
April 11-May 16, Wednesdays 4:30-6:00pm
Visit the 2013 Fiberarts International exhibit in PCA’s galleries to find inspiration on how to combine fabric, foam and even natural materials to form sculpture. Experiment with different sculpting processes like weaving, sewing and assemblage to produce larger than life every day objects, fantastical creatures and abstract installations.   Sign Up

Bowls and Decals
Ages 11-14
April 15 - May 20, Tuesdays 4:30-6:00pm
Use our professional potter’s wheels to throw bowls of all shapes and sizes. Next, use photographs, drawings, and other documents to create personalized decals that can be applied to your ceramic bowls to produce artworks that are both beautiful and functional. Due to the drying and firing time needed to complete a ceramic piece, artworks might need to be picked up at a later date.  Sign Up

SPRING 2013

Around the World in 6 Days
Ages 5-7
April 13-May 18, Saturdays, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Hop on a train, ocean liner or hot air balloon and explore unique cultures and artworks across the globe. Each class, focus on a different area of the world and create artwork inspired by the visual art, music, dance, fashion, and history of the places you’ll discover in your journeys.   Sign Up

Collage
Ages 5-7
April 13-May 18, Saturdays 1:00-3:00pm
Combine painting, printmaking, paper cut-outs and photographs to create multi-layered, mixed media masterpieces. Look to collage and paper artists Romare Bearden, Menri Mattise and Eric Carle for inspiration and combine different textures, colors and patterns to create something brand-new.  Sign Up

Draw/Paint/Sculpt
Ages 8-10
April 13-May 18, Saturdays 1:00-3:00pm
Focus on the fundamentals of drawing, painting and sculpting, combining these techniques to create multi-media artwork. Work in the 2D and 3D with a range of materials, including oil pastels, acrylic paint and plaster.  Sign Up

Clay Animation
Ages 8-10
April 13-May 18, Saturdays 10:00am-12:00pm
Learn how to design and create your own movies using the popular technique of claymation! Watch and discuss a variaty of clay animations, then use cameras, clay, and computers to short animations with a soundtrack.  Sign Up

Ceramics
Ages 9-12
April 13-May 18, Saturdays 10:00am-12:00pm
Learn the basics of working with clay including handbuilding, wheelthrowing, glazing and firing. Create vessels like bowls and cups, realistic sculptures and brand-new abstract creations. Due to the drying and firing time needed to complete a ceramic piece, artworks might need to be picked up at a later date.  Sign Up

Fiber Arts
Ages 11-14
April 13-May 18, Saturdays 10:00am-12:00pm
Visit PCA’s galleries to be inspired by the 2013 Fiberarts International exhibition and discover how contemporary artists push the boundaries of fiber to create unique artworks. Explore fiber by using yarn, various types of paper, and fabric. Try your hand at weaving, dyeing fabrics, embroidering, and repurposing old clothing or toys to create works of your own.  Sign Up

Foundations of Digital Filmmaking
Ages 11-14
April 13-May 18, Saturdays 10:00am-12:00pm
This hands-on class will introduce students to the basics of visual language used in movies. Pre-production, cinematography and editing will be covered. Participants will learn how to work with digital video cameras and editing software while collaborating to produce short digital films. Designed for aspiring young filmmakers who want to make their own movies.  Sign Up

SPRING 2013

Mixed Media Painting
Grades 9-12
April 13-May 11,Saturdays 10:00am-12:00pm
Combine acrylic paints, oil paints and paint pens in one composition to create contemporary mixed media artworks. Focus on mark making, style, focal point and concept while discovering each material’s unique properties.  Sign Up

Portraits in Clay
Grades 9-12
April 13-May 11,Saturdays 1:00-3:00pm
Explore form and texture and experiment with clay carving and sculpting methods to convey expression in a figurative sculpture. Learn about facial proportions and skeletal structure, and move beyond the realistic representation of the human form to convey a distinct mood.  Sign Up

Digital SLR Workshop
Grades 9-12
April 13-May 11,Saturdays 10:00am-12:00pm
Learn how to harness the power of your Digital SLR (single lens reflex) camera in this hands-on class. Discover how to take photographs using manual settings, utilize basic studio lighting, and work with RAW images and Adobe Photoshop software to digitally alter photographs. In-class projects will improve aesthetic and technical skills through guided practice and critical analysis. Bring your own DSLR camera to class or borrow one of ours. This class will be held at Pittsburgh Filmmakers, 477 Melwood Avenue, 15213.  Sign Up

SPRING 2013

Clay Animation
Ages 8-10
April 13-May 18, Saturdays 10:00am-12:00pm
Learn how to design and create your own movies using the popular technique of claymation! Watch and discuss a variaty of clay animations, then use cameras, clay, and computers to short animations with a soundtrack.  Sign Up

Foundations of Digital Filmmaking
Ages 11-14
April 13-May 18, Saturdays 10:00am-12:00pm
This hands-on class will introduce students to the basics of visual language used in movies. Pre-production, cinematography and editing will be covered. Participants will learn how to work with digital video cameras and editing software while collaborating to produce short digital films. Designed for aspiring young filmmakers who want to make their own movies.  Sign Up

Digital SLR Workshop
Grades 9-12
April 13-May 11,Saturdays 10:00am-12:00pm
Learn how to harness the power of your Digital SLR (single lens reflex) camera in this hands-on class. Discover how to take photographs using manual settings, utilize basic studio lighting, and work with RAW images and Adobe Photoshop software to digitally alter photographs. In-class projects will improve aesthetic and technical skills through guided practice and critical analysis. Bring your own DSLR camera to class or borrow one of ours. This class will be held at Pittsburgh Filmmakers, 477 Melwood Avenue, 15213.  Sign Up

Spring Break Art Camps

March 18-22, All Camps 9:00am-3:30pm

Mini Performances
Ages 5-7  Sign Up

Sculpture
Ages 8-10  Sign Up

Mixed Media Animation
Ages 8-10  Sign Up

Spring Break Art Camps Week II

March 25-28, All Camps 9:00am-3:30pm

Journey to Outer Space
Ages 5-7  Sign Up

Paint/Print/Sculpt
Ages 8-10  Sign Up

Mixed Media Animation
Ages 8-10  Sign Up

Ceramics
Ages 11-14  Sign Up

2013 Summer Art Camps will run June 10 - August 30 for students between the ages of 4 and 17. There are full-day and half-day options each week as well as child care before and after the camp day. Camp themes includes digital media, studio arts, performing arts, architecture and fashion design.Browse Camps

" Download Summer Art Camps PDF

1. How can I provide my child’s medical information?
   
   

   Emergency Information and Authorization Form
   The information that you provide on this form will be used to ensure your child’s safe participation in programs at PCA. A completed form must be submitted before your child will be allowed to begin class or camp. This form can be found in our catalog, at the PCA school, or you can download the PDF. A form should be submitted for every child one time during the semester.

   Medication
   PCA Staff is not allowed to dispense non-emergency medication to students. If a student is unable to administer his/her own non-emergency medication, a designated adult must come to PCA to dispense it. Emergency medication must be labeled with the student’s full name and given to the Instructor at sign-in. Emergency medication will be stored in the child’s classroom and taken on any field trips.

   Special Needs
   PCA is committed to providing an enjoyable art-making experience for all students and strives to create an inclusive and welcoming artistic community. Please share information about your child’s allergies or other special needs on the Emergency Information and Authorization Form. Parents or guardians are encouraged to contact the Children’s Program Manager & Camp Supervisor to discuss any needs a student may have which would impact his/her participation or if a TSS will be accompanying the child to class or camp. The aid’s name and agency must also be included in the Emergency Information and Authorization Form. 

2. What is the daily schedule?
   

   Sign-in
   Students may be signed in with their camp or class 15 minutes before it begins. Parents will sign students in with the Instructor or Assistant on the front lawn or in their child’s classroom. On the first day of camp, parents will check in at the front desk and be directed to the appropriate sign-in location. Parents who wish for their 11 to 17 year old child to sign themselves in and out from camp must initial the authorization form. Students attending a high school camp may sign themselves in and out of camp without an adult. No students under the age of 11 may sign themselves in or out of camp without a parent or authorized adult.

   Lunch and Scheduled Breaks
   Students attending a full-day camp will have a 30 minute lunch/recess period from 12:00 PM-12:30 PM and two 10 minute breaks in the mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Please provide your child with a non-perishable lunch and drink labeled with his/her first and last name. We suggest that campers also bring a snack for mid-morning and mid-afternoon breaks.

   Sign-out
   Half-day camps end at 12:00 PM and full-day camps end at 3:30 PM. Campers will be waiting for pick up at the same location as their sign-in. If the student is not attending a high school camp, is under the age of 11 or does not have a signed authorization form, a parent or authorized adult must sign their child out with their child’s Instructor or Assistant. Children may not, under any circumstances, be left unattended at PCA School. Parents will be charged for a session of post-camp if their child is signed-out over 20 minutes late.

3. Do you offer extended care?
   
   

   Extended care options are available before and after camp hours during the summer. To ensure that adequate staffing is available, arrangements for pre-camp and post-camp should be made at the time of registration. Fees are non-refundable and spaces are limited. Placement cannot be guaranteed for last-minute registrations. Pre-Camp is offered between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM at a rate of $7.00 per day and Post-Camp is offered at a rate of $12.00 per day. Extended care is not always offered for camps during the school year. Call PCA School at 412-361-0455 for more information.

    
4. Can my child participate in a camp outside of his or her age range?
   

   PCA is dedicated to the best practices in arts education, including developing and implementing age-appropriate visual and media arts curriculum for our students. Each program is designed to meet the unique social and developmental needs of children in each age bracket. Students will not be allowed to attend a camp outside of their age. If you would like your child to be placed in the same camp section as another child, this preference must be indicated at the time of registration and the placement of the children must coincide with our age and group size requirements.
    

5. How do I register?
   
   

   There are several ways to register for a class or camp, listed below. Please note that your registration will not be complete until we have received full payment
   ·      Online at pca.pittsburgharts.org/school/registration
   ·      Over the phone by calling 412-361-0455
   ·      By fax: 412-362-4589
   ·      In person or by mail, using the form in the back of every catalog
   We are located at 1047 Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15232
   

    
6. Is financial aid available?
   
   

   A limited number of financial awards are available for students demonstrating financial need. An application is included in the back of every catalog. Families who have never applied for an award must fill out an application and submit proof of income. Families who have submitted the latest year’s proof of income need only submit the application. Proof of income must be updated every year and we must be notified if your income has changed.

7. What is process over product?
   
   

   All projects are process-based, which affords children the opportunity to engage in critical thought, collaborative learning, and creative experimentation under the guidance of an experienced professional artist and educator. PCA places emphasis on the skills acquired during the process of creation, rather than the importance of the final product. To that end, students will often work collaboratively, and may create temporary installations that will not go home with them at the end of camp. While most students will end their class or camp with a final artwork to take home, this cannot be guaranteed.

    
8. Who teaches at PCA?
   
   

   PCA Instructors are talented artists, devoted educators and responsible caregivers. Our instructors are passionate about designing a class curriculum that reflects their skills and expertise, while upholding the commitment to best practices in arts learning. Our instructors are highly educated working artists with multiple years experience in arts education. Every instructor, staff member and assistant are required to hold Act 33/34 Clearances.

    
9. What you should bring/keep at home
   
   

   All supplies are provided for class and camps. Students in studio arts camps often use messy materials; you may send your child with a labeled apron or smock to wear while engaged in art making. For a full-day camp, send your child with a non-perishable lunch and two snacks, labeled with first and last name. For a half-day camp, send your child with one snack. You may send sunscreen and/or a hat with your child as many camps spend time outdoors. Please leave toys, MP3s and other valuables at home. Cell phones may be used in emergencies but must be kept on silent during camps. Please send an extra change of clothes for students 4-7 years old.

   
   
10. Are there any other details I need to know?
    
    

    Student Artwork
    Personal belongings and artwork left behind at the conclusion of camp or class are collected and kept in the lost and found located in the Registration Office. Pittsburgh Center for the Arts reserves the right to discard artwork and other personal belongings two weeks after the conclusion of class or camp. Students may be asked to provide artwork to be displayed at a student exhibition. Parents will be notified when the work can be picked up. Due to kiln firing schedules, some artwork from clay and ceramics camps may not be ready for pick up until approximately two weeks after the camp ends.

    Photo Consent
    Your child’s image may be photographed or reproduced on PF/PCA promotional materials. You can indicate whether you do or do not authorize the use of your child’s image on the Emergency Information and Authorization Form.

SPRING 2013

Ceramic Whistles
Ages 4 and up w/ an adult
Saturday April 6, 1:00-4:00pm
Use the pinch and relief methods to build and embellish a musical ceramic artwork. Due to the drying and firing time needed to complete a ceramic piece, artworks might need to be picked up at a later date.  Sign Up

Basketweaving
Ages 8 and up w/ an adult
April 13 & 20, Saturdays 10:00am-12:00pm
Learn traditional weaving and coiling methods and use natural materials like English ivy, wisteria grapevine, and reeds to create your own hand-made basket.  Sign Up

Natural Fabric Dyeing
Ages 4 and up w/ an adult
April 14 & 28, Sundays 1:00-4:00pm
Experiment with natural non-toxic dyeing materials like food and flowers and use “bundling” techniques to create patterns on cloth using found materials. Go home with a unique dyed cloth and a bundle dyeing kit that can be used again and again.   Sign Up

Knit, Weave & Stitch
Ages 4 and up w/ an adult
Saturday April 20, 1:00-4:00pm
Create unique artworks by combining fibers through knitting, weaving, and stitching methods that can be individualized for all ages and levels of experience. Explore the 2013 Fiberarts International in our galleries and work with your fellow classmates to construct a collaborative work that will be installed in the PCA school.  Sign Up

Knee Bowls
Ages 4 and up w/ an adult
April 27-May 11, Saturdays 10:00am-12:00pm
Use your own knees to create individualized decorative bowls. Learn how to manipulate clay and embellish your artwork, leaving the workshop with something really unique and special. See the facing page for an image of this process! Due to the drying and firing time needed to complete a ceramic piece, artworks might need to be picked up at a later date.  Sign Up

Embossed Jewelry
Ages 4 and up w/ an adult
Sunday May 5, 1:00-4:00pm
Explore texture and pattern and create stamped copper bracelets, pendants, or rings in our professional jewelry studio.  Sign Up

Upcycled Totes
Ages 4 and up w/ an adult
Saturday May 18, 10:00am-12:00pm
Repurpose gently used jeans, t-shirts and other fabrics into funky, functional tote bags using hand and machine sewing techniques.  Sign Up