Best Art Camps for Kids in Nashville — Summer 2026 Guide

Art camps in Nashville fill faster than almost anything else on the summer calendar. The structural reason is simple: a ceramics studio at Cheekwood holds 12 kids, not 120. Once those spots go, they're gone — and unlike a sports camp, you can't just add another court. If you're in the market for a creative camp this summer, the time to register is now, not in June.

Art Camps for Young Kids (Ages 3–7) in Nashville (2026)

The best starting point for little ones is usually a half-week or single-medium program that keeps the pace light and the mess high. Cheekwood's Storybook Adventure (Ages 6-7) ($380–$450 for a full week) combines art-making with Cheekwood's botanical gardens — kids explore the grounds and bring what they find back into their projects. It's pricier but the setting is genuinely special. If your child is 5, Cheekwood: Studio Sampler (Age 5) and Cheekwood: Bugs & Blooms both run $190–$225 and are designed specifically for that young attention span.

For a more affordable entry point, Franklin Road Academy: Little Artist is hard to beat at $145 for ages 4–6. FRA runs a huge slate of themed art weeks — Crafternoon, Imagine & Create, Tie Dye & Slime — all at that same flat price. There's no premium for the theme, and the value is real. Overbrook's ARTrageous Week ($275–$375) is another strong pick for the 3–6 crowd at Overbrook Catholic School if you're on the Brentwood side.

Art Camps for Elementary Age Kids (Ages 8–11) in Nashville (2026)

This is the richest age band for Nashville art camps. The options are wide and the programs get more specific. Cheekwood: Painting Techniques (Ages 8-10) runs $380–$450 for a full week. Cheekwood: Cartoon Creations is one of their most popular sessions, also $380–$450, and it books early every year — 2026 sessions have already sold out, so check the waitlist. If your kid is into textiles, the Cheekwood: Textile Creativity half-week is $190–$225.

University School of Nashville runs one of the best-organized art camp catalogs in the city. USN: Artist Exploration ($250, ages 7–10) is a solid general-media intro. More interesting: USN brings in Little Art House for several of their sessions. USN: Little Art House - Rainbow Week ($275, ages 6–9) and USN: Little Art House - Music City ($275, ages 6–9) are both excellent themed weeks on the Belmont Boulevard campus. For ages 10–13, USN: Little Art House - Printmaking/Mixed Media ($275) and USN: Little Art House - Sculpture/Mixed Media ($275) take things up a notch.

Harpeth Hall opens its summer programs to all kids, not just students. Harpeth Hall: Color Wheels Rainbow Magic Art Camp ($250, ages 7–10) and Harpeth Hall: Digital Photography ($230, ages 8–11) are consistently popular. The Harpeth Hall: Graphic Design week ($230, ages 8–11) is one of the few camps in town where kids learn to use actual design software — a useful skill that's hard to find elsewhere.

Art Camps for Tweens and Teens (Ages 12–18) in Nashville (2026)

The options thin out above age 12, but the quality goes up. Ensworth: Photography ($450 plus a $50 materials fee, ages 11–17) and Ensworth: Stone Carving ($450 plus materials, ages 11–17) are serious programs on the Highway 100 campus — the kind of camp where kids come out with a genuine portfolio piece rather than a craft project. Belmont: Teen Art & Design Program ($650 day / $1,500 overnight, ages 15–18) is the most ambitious option in the city, run on Belmont University's campus with college-level instruction. Frist Teen Summer Film Camp ($475–$525, rising 10th–12th grade) is another standout — downtown at the Frist Art Museum, focused on short film production rather than traditional visual art, and one of the more unique programs in the region.

For teens who want more of a traditional art focus at a lower price point, Murfreesboro Intermediate Art Camp ($100 plus a $75 non-resident fee, ages 11–15) and Murfreesboro Urban Art Camp ($100 plus non-resident fee, ages 11–15) at Patterson Park Community Center offer surprising value — these are structured, medium-specific programs run by the city, not just drop-in sessions.

Budget Art Camps for Kids Under $200 (2026)

Franklin Road Academy is the clear budget leader across all age groups. Every single one of their themed art weeks — Clay Camp, Watercolor Camp, Jewelry Making, Tie Dye & Slime — runs at $145 flat for ages 5–14. That's an extraordinary price for a week-long themed program. Nashville Christian School: Art Camp ($170, ages 7–14) and Nashville Christian School: Jewelry Making Camp ($150, ages 7–12) are similarly affordable on the NCS campus in the Whites Creek area.

Art Camps in Williamson County and Nolensville

Williamson County Parks runs a large slate of art camps through their rec centers in Franklin, Nolensville, Longview, and Fairview — all priced between $100 and $200. The Bob Ross-themed weeks ($150, ages 7–11) book fast because the name draws kids who've seen the YouTube videos. Williamson County Parks: Bob Ross for Kids Acrylic Art Camp at Franklin Recreation Complex is the most convenient location for most families on that side of town.

Premium Art Camp Experiences Worth the Price (2026)

If budget isn't the primary filter, White Brick Art Studio ($385–$400, ages 5–14) is an independent studio program that operates differently from the school-based camps — smaller groups, a dedicated studio space, and a curriculum that builds across the week rather than hopping between unrelated projects. Ensworth: Printmaking and Mixed Media Exploration ($450 plus materials, ages 11–17) is similarly focused, and Ensworth's art facilities are genuinely excellent. For the youngest end of the spectrum, Harpeth Hall: Flower Power ($735, ages 5–7) is the most expensive camp in this roundup, but it's a multi-day immersive that includes real botanical work on the Harpeth Hall grounds — it's not just a painting week.

How to Register for Nashville Art Camps

Cheekwood and USN programs open registration in late February or early March and fill within weeks. Harpeth Hall opens summer registration in late February as well. Franklin Road Academy registration tends to stay open longer because they run so many sessions, but individual weeks can close out by May. If you see a session that fits, register now rather than waiting for a sale or a better time — art camps at the popular venues don't discount, and waitlists are real.

Summerly tracks real-time capacity across Nashville-area camps. If a session shows as open on our site, it was open as of the last check. Filter by category, age, and price to find what works for your family.