Fire & Form : Register now
Ages 6–16
Grouped by age range
$310–$405
Per week · all materials included
Max 15
Campers per session
3 campuses
ByWard · Orléans · Kanata
Note on membership: As a not-for-profit, OSA requires an annual family membership of $30 + tax.
It includes a 10% discount at Wallack's art supplies and access to member exhibitions — and it's added at checkout.
A Creative Experience
At the Ottawa School of Art, camps are about more than keeping kids busy — they’re about building confidence, curiosity, and creative thinking. Whether your child is discovering art for the first time or already loves to create, our camps meet them where they are.
Artist-led
instruction
Camps are led by professional artist-instructors who guide campers through creative projects while encouraging curiosity and self-expression.
Skill-building
through play
Campers develop foundational art skills through hands-on activities and games that balance learning with experimentation and fun.
Small, supportive classes
With a maximum of 12–15 campers per session, every child gets real attention.
All skill levels welcome — no experience required.
Finished artworks to take home
Each camper completes a variety of artworks throughout the week, celebrated at a small end-of-camp exhibition on the final afternoon.
Enrolled my 6-year old daughter in the March break art camp. She was nervous the first day I dropped her off, but when I picked her up and ever day after, she LOVED it and was in extra good spirits all week.
Cindy
My children attended the summer camps for three years, ages of 6-13.
They participated in diverse programs such as visual arts, woodworking, and jewelry making, and their overall experience was excellent.
The camp provided high-quality instruction, and the facilities at the Orleans campus were impressive.
Elena
A worthwhile endeavor for the mind and soul, a great education for children, of all ages as well.
Christopher
Art Camps at the Ottawa School of Art are offered during March Break and throughout the summer. These week-long, in-person camps are designed for children and teens and are grouped by age range to ensure an engaging and supportive learning environment.
Each camp explores a variety of art techniques and mediums—including drawing, painting, sculpture, and mixed media—guided by professional artist-instructors.
Camps welcome all skill levels and focus on creativity, skill-building, and hands-on exploration.
Need extended care?
Before and after camp care is available Monday through Thursday at ByWard Market, Orléans, and Kanata. Add it to your cart when you register.
Kanata
Beaverbrook Community Centre
1002 Beaverbrook Rd, Ottawa, ON, K2K 1L1
ByWard Market
Ottawa School of Art - ByWard Market Campus
35 George Street Ottawa, ON, K1N 8W5
Orléans
Ottawa School of Art - Orléans Campus - Shenkman Arts Centre
245 Centrum blvd. Orléans, ON, K1E 0A1
Frequently Asked Questions
Registration & payment
You may register in person at the reception desk, at one of our two campuses, by phone, or online at www.artottawa.ca/register. When registering in person, you may pay by cash, cheque, credit card (Visa or MasterCard only, please note there is a 2.5% credit card surcharge), or Interac; by phone or online, we accept credit cards only (Visa or MasterCard).
Payment in full must be made at the time of registration. The Ottawa School of Art accepts cash, cheque, VISA or MasterCard credit cards and INTERAC debit cards. NOTE: There is a $25 administration charge (+ HST) on all NSF cheques and a 2.5% credit card surcharge on all credit card payments.
We urge you to register early, at least two weeks prior to commencement of the course. Space will not be reserved without full payment. The Ottawa School of Art reserves the right to cancel any class due to insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances.
Summer 2026 camps run from June 29 to August 21 — a total of 8 weeks at ByWard Market and Orléans, and 4 weeks at Kanata. Each camp is one week long, Monday to Friday.
Camps are grouped by age range to ensure the right fit for every child. Age ranges vary by camp but generally follow these groupings: ages 6–8, 9–12, and 13–16.
Each listing shows its specific age range — please ensure your child falls within it before registering. Exceptions are made at the discretion of the instructor, so feel free to contact us if you have a question about fit.
You can register for multiple weeks — many families book their child into two or three different camps across the summer.
Camps normally range in price from $310 – $405 depending on duration, material costs, and whether there are models during the camp.
Summer 2026 camps are priced between $310 and $405 per week, depending on the camp's duration, materials, and whether a model is used during sessions.
All art supplies are included.
Yes — before and after care is available at ByWard Market and Kanata campuses every week.
Before care: 8:30 – 9:00 am After care: 4:30 – 5:30 pm
At Orléans, after care is available from 3:45 – 5:00 pm. Before care is not offered at Orléans.
Before and after care can be added when you register. Spots are limited, so we recommend booking early.
Click here to view our cancellation policy document
An educational receipt can be e-mailed upon request if the parent or guardian contacts us. The receipt will be issued to the person who registered the participant(s). Please e- mail program_officer@artottawa.ca
Please note that as a not-for-profit organization, the Ottawa School of Art charges an annual family membership fee of $30 (plus tax). This membership entitles you to take classes at the school, take part in members’ exhibitions, sell artwork through the school store, rent studio space and facilities, and a 10% discount on art supplies purchased from Wallack’s. Membership fees are not refundable.
The Ottawa School of Art reserves the right to cancel any class due to insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. On rare occasions, a camp may be cancelled due to low enrollment, however, every effort is made to transfer any students registered in that camp to another similar camp. If this is not possible, the course fee will be fully refunded, with no administrative charges applied. OSA makes every effort to give as much notice as possible in the event of camp cancellation.
What to expect
The Ottawa School of Art has been teaching visual arts for over 140 years. We are a registered not-for-profit and charitable organization with campuses in ByWard Market and Orléans, serving children, teens, and adults across the city.
This summer we're excited to extend our camps to Kanata at the Beaverbrook Community Centre— a new satellite location bringing OSA summer camps to families in the west end for the first time.
We're proud to be accredited by the Better Business Bureau and supported by the City of Ottawa.
Every camp is built around a theme — from cartooning and comics to fibre arts, photography, sculpture, and painting. Within that theme, campers explore a range of techniques and mediums, guided by a professional artist-instructor who brings their own practice and passion to the room.
Sessions balance hands-on making with creative thinking — campers learn to observe, experiment, and develop their own ideas rather than just following instructions. Many camps also draw on art history or visit local institutions like the National Gallery of Canada or the Ottawa Art Gallery.
At the end of the week, campers celebrate their work at a small in-studio exhibition and bring everything home.
Absolutely! Our camps are designed to welcome all skill levels, and most campers arrive with little or no formal art experience.
Instructors meet each child where they are — there's no pressure to produce perfect work, and no comparison between campers.
The focus in younger age groups is on exploring, experimenting, and building confidence. If your child is curious and willing to try, they'll fit right in. For teens, thought there is a more defined focus on skill and technique building, all skill levels are welcome to learn.
We recommend that you start with age — every camp lists a specific age range, and we ask that children and teens fall within it to ensure the best experience for everyone.
From there, browse by theme or medium. If your child loves animals, storytelling, or making things with their hands, you'll find camps built around those interests. If your teen is looking to build a portfolio, there are many camps that will offer ample guidance and opportunity.
If you're unsure, feel free to call or email us and we'll help you find the right fit!
info@artottawa.ca or (613) 241-7471
Various field trips are held throughout the camps: At both campuses children go out most days to a local park during the lunch hour (weather dependent). ByWard Campus campers also go to ByWard Market and National Gallery of Canada. Please ensure your child has the appropriate outerwear to go on these excursions.
Camps run at three Ottawa locations:
-
ByWard Market — 35 George Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 8W5
-
Orléans — Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Blvd, Orléans, ON K1E 0A1
-
Kanata — Beaverbrook Community Centre, 1002 Beaverbrook Rd, Ottawa, ON K2K 1L1
ByWard Market & Kanata
Kids (ages 6–12): 9:00 am – 4:30 pm · Drop-off from 8:50 am
Teens (ages 13–15): 9:00 am – 4:00 pm · Drop-off from 8:50 am
Before care: 8:30 – 9:00 am · After care: 4:30 – 5:30 pm
Orléans
Kids (ages 6–12): 8:45 am – 3:45 pm · Drop-off from 8:35 am
Teens (ages 13–15): 9:00 am – 4:00 pm · Drop-off from 8:50 am
After care only: 3:45 – 5:00 pm (no before care at this campus)
Before and after care can be added at registration. Contact us if you need directions or accessibility information for your campus.
-
Many of our camps are offered in both official languages. Bilingual camps are marked as bilingual and include a French description.
Due to the fact that some of our students have allergies, we are a nut-free classroom (peanuts and tree nuts). All snacks sent in with your child must be free of tree nuts, peanuts and peanut oil (this includes peanut butter). We cannot guarantee a 100% nut- free zone, however, we make every effort to ensure the safety of children with allergies.
Camps hold a maximum of 12 children (Orleans) and 15 (ByWard Market and Kanata).
Some courses using specialized studios have a smaller maximum classroom size.
For campers ages 6 – 12, every session is led by one professional instructor supported by a student technician. For ages 13 – 15, sessions are led by one instructor.
Camp sizes are kept small — a maximum of 12 campers at Orléans and 15 at ByWard Market and Kanata — so every child gets real attention throughout the week.
If your child requires additional support beyond the standard ratio, please contact us before registering so we can discuss arrangements together.
The safety and wellbeing of our campers is our top priority. Staff are trained in basic first aid and emergency procedures.
If your child becomes unwell or is injured during camp, we will contact you immediately using the emergency information provided at registration. For minor incidents, we have first aid supplies on site. In the event of a serious emergency, we will call 911 and notify you right away.
Please ensure your emergency contact information is current when you register, and let us know of any health conditions or allergies we should be aware of.
Both — and we don't think those are opposites.
Younger campers focus on foundational skills like colour, line, form, and composition, building confidence through exploration and play. Older campers and teens work with more intention, developing personal style, critical awareness of their own work, and in some camps, portfolio-ready pieces.
The goal at every age is for your child to leave feeling capable and curious — not just with a stack of finished work, but with a new way of looking at the world. Many of our campers return year after year, and the growth between summers is something families often notice right away.
Every camp is taught by a practising professional artist with experience working with children and teens.
Our instructors bring their own creative specialities into the classroom — whether that's painting, printmaking, photography, textile arts, or illustration — which means campers get exposure to real artistic practice, not just technique.
For camps with younger children (ages 6–12), each instructor is supported by a student technician to ensure every camper gets the attention they need.
You can meet our instructors on the faculty page.