CLEARWATER, Fla. — Throughout the summer, Nomad Studio is going into high poverty neighborhoods across Pinellas County and hosting pop-up art camps for kids.
During a camp in Clearwater, the children were taught how to make slime. For many of them, it’s not just their first slime experience, it’s their first art experience in the last four months.
“When you are stuck in a house and you can’t do anything having some art supplies can build wonders and worlds that you can escape to,” said artist Mason Gehring.
Gehring is one of several artists who have returned to their hometown to give back through Nomad Studio.
“We noticed there were a lot of camps having reduced capacity or canceling because of COVID,” said Carrie Boucher, of Nomad Studio who organized the camps. “So we looked for the communities that have been most heavily impacted by COVID and the economic situation because of COVID.”
The camps are held once a week in four different locations and usually attract between 10 and 15 children.
“Creative expression is for everybody it’s not only about the product that you are making but it’s also about the joy and about the self-care,” said Boucher.
Every child who attends the free camp goes home with a bag of art supplies to keep them entertained until the artists return the following week.
“A lot of kids just don’t have those opportunities to tap into their art and their artistic side and not having the supplies to be able to do so,” said parent Stacie Voliton.
For more information go to Nomadartbus.org
