Summer Arts Studio is in full swing at River Oaks Square Arts Center, and once again it is proving why the program remains such an important part of both the Arts Center’s educational mission and its outreach to the community. More than just a summer camp, SAS gives young people a place to explore creativity, build confidence, and discover new ways of expressing themselves through art. It is one of the most visible examples of how River Oaks continues to invest in the next generation, making high-quality arts education accessible, engaging, and fun for families across Central Louisiana.
This summer’s sessions have already been packed with energy and imagination. Session One wrapped up with a splash, literally, as campers closed out their time with awards, star rewards, and an outdoor group competition that included relay races and an epic balloon war.
What makes Summer Arts Studio so impactful is its broad, hands-on approach to the arts. Campers have spent time working the potter’s wheel in ceramics, painting stars and portraits, and creating mixed-media pieces inspired by music and movement. In Mr. Michael’s ceramics class, students have not only shaped their pieces but also glazed them and prepared them for kiln firing. In Mrs. Carrie’s class, they have worked with color and portraiture, while Mr. Dusty’s students built expressive mixed-media instrument pieces. Across all of these projects, campers are not simply making art, they are learning technique, problem-solving, and how to trust their own creative instincts.
Themed event days have also added a special layer of excitement to this year’s camp. One standout was “The Industrial Steampunk Revolution,” where campers arrived in elaborate costumes and competed in playful challenges like hoop tosses and book-balancing contests. Another highlight was the “Westward Bound Hoe-Down,” complete with line dancing and homemade root beer brewed on-site. These creative celebrations help make Summer Arts Studio feel like much more than a camp session. They turn it into a full experience - one that blends art, imagination, teamwork, and memory-making.
“Summer Arts Studio is one of the most joyful things we do at River Oaks,” says Executive Director Rachael Dauzat. “It reflects so much of what our mission is about - creating access, encouraging self-expression, and making sure young people in our community have the chance to experience the arts in a meaningful way. Every summer we are reminded that art can inspire confidence, connection, and a sense of possibility.”
Adding to the excitement this month is the launch of the 2026 Theatre Immersive Program: Session 3B, which expands the performing arts component of SAS in a big way. This new three-week session gives young people ages 8-13 the opportunity to dive into acting, improvisation, stagecraft, theatre tech, scenic design, and stage management, culminating in performances at the Coughlin Saunders Performing Arts Center. It is a natural extension of the acting and improv classes that have grown inside Summer Arts Studio for the past nine years, and it reflects River Oaks’ commitment to broadening the definition of creative education.
Camp Director Aubrey Bolen sees the theatre component as an exciting next step. “We’ve watched our acting and improv classes grow from a small addition into something students genuinely look forward to every summer,” he says. “This new immersive theatre session gives kids the chance to go deeper - not only in performance, but in the collaborative process that makes theatre so powerful. It’s another way River Oaks can serve the community by helping young people grow creatively and confidently.”
Summer Arts Studio and the new theatre component are made possible through the generous support of Explore Alexandria Pineville CVB, LA Project Grant as administered through the Arts Council of Central Louisiana, The Hotel Bentley, RoyOMartin, Cleco, Dun-Cour LLC, Jackson Orthodontics, Alexandria Pediatric Dentistry, the River Oaks Board of Directors, Martha & Will Crenshaw, Beverly & Gray Easterling, Tammi & Bryon Salazar, Leetha & Lance Harris, Noelle & Michael Crowell, and Michelle & Chris Karam. Their support helps make this work possible for families throughout our region and strengthens River Oaks’ role as a creative resource for the entire community.
As the summer continues, campers will keep creating, learning, and building work that will eventually be featured in the Summer Arts Studio Student Show on August 15. Pieces are already being selected, and if the first sessions are any indication, the exhibition will be filled with imagination, skill, and the unmistakable joy that Summer Arts Studio brings out in every young artist who walks through the doors.
For more information on Summer Arts Studio, the Theatre Immersive Program, or other upcoming River Oaks programs and exhibitions, call (318) 473-2670, visit RiverOaksArtsCenter.com, or follow River Oaks Arts Center on Facebook.
