ENCINITAS, CA — (March 8, 2010) — From July 5 to August 5, Lux Art Institute will host its annual Summer Art Camp for “young artists” ages six to 14 with age-specific classes available throughout each week.

The camp allows kids to experiment with painting, sculpture and photography, as well as collaborate on group art activities, explore the Lux landscape and installations and view renowned modern art in the Lux studio. Summer Art Camp is led by the Lux education staff and focuses on fostering creative experimentation and exposing youth to a variety of artistic materials and processes.

This year, thanks to contributions from Lux donors and volunteers, Lux will launch a new scholarship program that will allow more students than ever to participate in Summer Art Camp. Recipients will be chosen by Lux’s Education Committee, based on a set of criteria including financial need and artistic interest. Those interested in a scholarship must submit an application package by May 1. Applications are available by e-mailing kleen@luxartinstitute.org.

“We are thrilled to continue the expansion of Lux’s Summer Art Camp based on high levels of participation and interest,” said Lux Director of Education Kara Leen. “There is a huge demand for creative opportunities and hands-on art instruction for children throughout San Diego County, especially as arts education continues to decrease in public schools.”

The camp provides a creative outlet to children on summer vacation and builds on Lux’s school-based outreach program, the Valise Project; the Luxcursion program, which brings students to tour the artist’s studio and create a related art project on site; and the new Kids-in-Residence, an in-depth, after-school arts curriculum.

Summer Art Camp Schedule 2010

Week 1, July 5-9: Drawing

Week 2, July 12-16: Painting

Week 3, July 19-23: Sculpture/Ceramics

Week 4, July 26-30: Mixed Media/Photography

Week 5, August 3-6: Printmaking

Ages 6 to 7: Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Ages 8 to 10: Monday and Wednesday, 1 to 4 p.m.

Ages 11 to 14: Tuesday and Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m.

The program will culminate in an open house and young artists’ reception to showcase the work of camp participants in Lux’s Artist Pavilion on Thursday, August 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. Participants can invite parents and friends to see their finished work in a museum setting.

Each week costs $80 for non-members; $65 for members. Aspiring artists can sign up for individual weeks or for all five weeks at a discounted rate ($375 for non-members; $300 for members). Session space is limited, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, to make a donation to the scholarship fund or to reserve a spot, please call Kara Leen at 760-436-6611 or e-mail kleen@luxartinstitute.org by June 1.

About Lux Art Institute

Lux Art Institute, located in Encinitas, Calif., is redefining the museum experience with the region’s only artist-in-residence program that invites artists to live and work on site, while producing a commissioned work of art – start to finish. This one-of-a-kind institution welcomes visitors to not only “see art,” but also to “see art happen.”

Throughout each year, Lux hosts several significant regional, national and international artists who participate in its residency program. Visitors from across the country are able to participate in exclusive liaison-led tours, providing intimate access to the artist-in-residence, the artist’s exhibition and the museum’s permanent collection of indoor and outdoor art. Lux also offers a wide range of innovative programming for all ages.

The recipient of the San Diego Architectural Foundation’s top design award, the Grand Orchid, and the first art museum in California awarded LEED certification for new construction, Lux is located alongside one of Southern California’s few remaining coastal wetlands. The five-acre site also overlooks the San Elijo Lagoon and is surrounded by a wildlife preserve that stretches to the Pacific Ocean.

Through its Phase II Capital Campaign, Lux plans to add more than 25,000 square feet of galleries and classrooms. Once completed, the new building will also feature a hilltop plaza and a series of gardens climbing between the galleries and the Artist Pavilion.

Lux Art Institute is located at 1550 South El Camino Real in Encinitas, Calif. Hours are Thursday and Friday, 1 to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and cost is $10 for two visits. For more information about donations, memberships, volunteer opportunities and more, visit http://www.luxartinstitute.org or call 760-436-6611.