Garrett
A first-ever Exhibit Columbus and Foundation for Youth Design Camp for students in grades six through 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 26-30 still has openings — and scholarship help for those needing it to cover the $175-per-student cost.
A $20,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant is making the program available at Columbus Youth Camp, according to Laura Garrett, director of partnerships for the Landmark Columbus Foundation. That is the non-profit umbrella agency for Exhibit Columbus, an exploration of community, architecture, art, and design that activates the modern legacy of Columbus.
For the two previous summers, Britt Brewer with the local J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program worked with retired teacher Robin Cain to host a design camp at Columbus Youth Camp.
As part of the new program, campers will meet Exhibit Columbus’ four Miller Prize winners and will have an opportunity to learn and work on projects of their own. Campers will also have knowledgeable mentors from the upcoming exhibition’s High School Design Team helping along the way.
Garrett mentioned that the Miller Prize winners, among some of the top designers in the nation and world, will help students gain a better understanding of elements such as scale, color, space and texture.
“I hope the community understands just how special all this is,” Garrett said.
She said Exhibit Columbus leaders ideally intend for the design camp to become a bridge between the local elementary schools’ STEM lab program — a program that includes an Exhibit Columbus component — and the High School Design Team.
“I want to say that the Foundation for Youth has been an amazing partner and they are excited to be on board for this,” Garrett said.
She added that the camp could become a regular offering in the future.
Columbus Youth Camp Director Brian Cain said he loves that Exhibit Columbus and the foundation have added to the camp’s specialty offerings.
“And having the Miller Prize winners here will be absolutely amazing,” Cain said.
