Ages 4 to 16 • Evenings & Weekends • All Skill Levels Welcome
Where getting messy is part of the process
Explore programming for children and teens at our in person campuses. The Ottawa School of Art (OSA) offers seasonal general interest courses and workshops in a variety of mediums, from printmaking, cartooning and drawing, to painting, ceramics, textiles and mixed media, led by professional artists.
Two Ottawa locations: ByWard Market and Orléans.
Ages 4–16
Grouped by age range ·
All materials included
$295–$400
Per 8 to 12 week session ·
Taxes waived
10–15 Max
Students per session ·
No experience necessary
2 Campuses
ByWard Market · Orléans
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.
Make Art Year-Round
The Ottawa School of Art's Children & Teens programming is designed to provide a hands-on creative, inclusive and community-based space for young artists to experiment, build their skills and have fun, alongside their peers!
Seasonal offerings are available for Fall, Winter and Spring, through 8 to 12 week courses or short workshops and Art Camps available during March Break and Summer.
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All Skill Levels Welcome
Each program covers foundational skills and techniques by medium—ranging from drawing, painting and sculpture, to textiles, printmaking and mixed media—guided by professional artist-instructors.
These in person sessions are intentionally kept to small participant numbers, grouped by age ranges, to ensure each developing artist receives feedback on their project, skill building and ideas.
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
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.
The Ottawa School of Art's Children & Teens Programming runs year-round, with seasonal general interest courses and short workshops in Fall, Winter and Spring. Art Camps run during March Break and Summer.
Courses, workshops and camps are grouped by age range to ensure the right fit for every child. Visit our registration portal to filter by age, art medium and location — 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.
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.
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 course, workshop or camp may be cancelled due to low enrolment, however, every effort is made to transfer any students registered into a similar offering. If this is not possible, the 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 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.
As of 2026, we've extended 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.
Absolutely! Our programming is designed to welcome all skill levels, and most participants 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 individuals.
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.
Many of our Art Camps are offered in both official languages, English and French. Bilingual programming is marked and includes details within the 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 students ages 4 – 12, every session is led by one professional instructor supported by a student technician. For ages 13 – 16, sessions are led by one instructor.
Class sizes are kept small at a maximum of 15 participants, so every child gets real attention throughout the course, workshop or camp.
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, 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 artists focus on foundational skills like colour, line, form, and composition, building confidence through exploration and play. Older artists work with more intention, developing personal style, critical awareness of their own work, and in some cases, 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 students return year after year, and the growth between seasons is something families often notice right away.
Each course, workshop or 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 your child get exposure to real artistic practice, not just technique.
For younger children (ages 4–12), each instructor is supported by a student technician to ensure every participant gets the attention they need.
You can meet our instructors on the faculty page.