Our 7-yr old child has loved the programs during the school year (February & April break) and many of the summer sessions over the last 3 years. There is a wonderful mix of art, movement, costume design & theater to keep her busy and interested. They also seem very inclusive of kids with different learning styles and celebrate diversity in many forms. They offer a scholarship program, which is also rare. There are many participants who return for years, some of whom end up as counselors. Can’t recommend it enough. Thank you, Multi-Arts!!!
My son really enjoyed this program last year when he first attended the Multi-art camp when he was seven. At the Multi-art camp, teachers with different expertise in various art areas lead children to experience arts in a dynamic and fun way.
This program was fantastic!!! My daughter came home every day so happy talking about her day with the staff and campers. I noticed that my daughter had extra confidence every day that she came home. The staff was very welcoming, warm and professional and was able to provide a very positive and creative environment for my child. We are already looking to go back for the spring and summer camps!!! Thank you so much for providing my daughter with a platform to explore the arts and make new friends. Thank you for your time, patience, and kindness. She loved it and said it was awesome!
Also, the art work that she came home with was beautiful and so creative! What a program!
My daughter attended Multi-Arts for the first time this year, and she loved it. She was thrilled to take part in performing a play, and wanted to work on her lines every day. She loves to dance and move but she also discovered she loves to paint sets and particularly, to sew and create costumes! Thank you to all of the wonderful teachers at Multi Arts for exposing her to so many new worlds.
My children have attended Multi-Arts for years, first the older child, now both of them. They are so supported by the wonderful staff of the camp. The format of the camp, allowing kids to engage in a wide array of music, dance, writing, acting, designing, is truly wonderful. There is a freedom at the camp, for the kids to be themselves. The camp is multiculturalism at its best, respecting and drawing from a wide array of cultural traditions in ways that are respectful and engaged. I appreciate the diversity of the camp, the thoughtful programming, and the love of art and children that is implicit in everything they do.
My daughter has attended Multi-Arts for two summers and has enjoyed every moment of her time there. We love that that the camp gives children the chance to explore various kinds of rich, creative experiences -- from mime to creative writing to flamenco dancing to singing. This summer, my daughter left feeling noticeably confident and inspired. She is already talking about next year's performances!
My children have attended Multi-Arts summer camp for the past two years after it was recommended to me by several friends and their children. The Arts have played a very important role in my life, and I wanted my children to have the opportunity to experience some of the things I experienced -- the cultivation of imagination and how it feels to bring something into the world which came from something intangible, visualization, self-expression, self-confidence, focus, collaboration, discipline, AND fun. Multi-Arts gives children the opportunity to do and have all of that while supported by a talented, dedicated group of teachers and assistants. What is truly rare and special is the amount of support, flexibility, and tolerance offered by everyone involved, creating an environment where being who you are and trying something new is not just accepted but encouraged. I am grateful to Multi-Arts for all that they offer to this community, especially its children.
I volunteered at Multi Arts earlier this summer, and was impressed by the amount of concentration the group of 3.75-7 year-olds I worked with willingly applied to it. The supervisors would do no more than introduce the activity, and the children would make it their own from there. I would recommend the program for anyone with a younger child looking for a fun time!
Our 6 year old went to Multi Arts during winter break, and he loved it. During spring break, we enrolled both our 4 year old and 6 year old, and were pleased that both kids loved it. They would come home exhausted, happy, and in great moods for the evening. We love Multi Arts, and will enroll our kids again and again...
This is a great program and the children really enjoy themselves. It was wonderful to be a part of tis organization and I'm looking forward to dong it again. There is a great variety of activities led by people who really care and manage to inspire children to get excited about art.
Multi-Arts provides an art experience full of love of art and love of children. It is a program with a lot of heart, where artists bring their passion and joy to their teaching. My 8 year old daughters attended Mult-Arts camps last summer and during the February school break, and had a fabulous time. We were most impressed that the instructors value the creative process and engaged children in writing the plays they performed, creating the fashions they wore, and designing their own art projects. Our children not only learned to do art, they had a chance to experience being artists. We would recommend Mult-Arts to anyone.
My twins, Jack and Charleigh Olmstead attended the Multi-Arts camp for February vacation. They raved about it! Charleigh really enjoyed the art classes and especially the teacher. Both mentioned that they loved creating fairy tale stories and especially the robber stories. Jack loved learned how to Hip Hop dance and has shown us his new moves. Jack also loved building towers out of cups. Both loved having the opportunity to snack and lunch with everyone as a group since they were able to see their cousin, Brynn, who attended as well.
I would definitely sign my twins up for this camp again and am hoping to do so this summer!
Thank you for this opportunity. Kristin Olmstead
Multi-Arts is giving children the education they are no longer getting in public schools. Given the budget cuts in the Fine Arts, music and physical education, public school children in the Pioneer Valley are no longer able to get excited about all the wonderful things an arts program can do to get them excited about learning. Multi-Arts is essential to our community and our children's future. It is teaching them to express themselves in many different and positive ways: with dance, fashion design, drama and the visual arts. My daughter usually doesn't like going to camp. She is six years old and gets homesick easily. But since the first day of this camp, she has not wanted to come home! She was suppose to do a half day program, but after getting teary that she didn't want to leave, we extended her time to the full day of activities. The staff is exceptional...all are artists and accomplished in their own rites. They are passionate about what they do and this gets conveyed to the children in all sorts of small ways. Learning becomes fun, creative, expressive and they figure out that this is what "school" is all about. I wish Multi-Arts could continue in this kind of education for the entire school year. I would take this over the remedial preparations they do to get our children ready for the MCAS!
This organization could use more money so that they could provide more scholarships to children who attend public school and parents who cannot afford the price tag. This is the kind of education that should be available to all children no matter their socio-economic status.
My child enjoyed Multi-Arts summer camp and wanted to do the vacation week camp when learned a friend had signed up. Nice variety of artistic endeavors including drawing, painting, drama, mime, dance, costume design and performing. Very nice staff, diverse group of counselors and campers-though even more would be nice! Would like to see more singing; not typical children's songs - something original!
My 6-year old son is about to finish his first week of winter break camp at Multi-Arts and I don't have enough superlatives to describe his experience in the program. He has come home each day talking endlessly about the drawing, art projects, pantomime, music, dancing, on and on. Last night, before going to sleep, my son whispered into my ear, "mommy, I just can't wait to go to camp tomorrow". He's met a great group of children of various ages. As a parent, I'm impressed with the experience and level of knowledge the staff have. Fantastic group!
fantastic program, very well run. My 6 year old daughter has been having a wonderful time and exposed to a variety of new art forms (flamenco!).
This camp provides children with experience in a wide range of art forms and opens their eyes to new things. This is well-organized and communication with parents is clear. I'll be sending my son back this summer.
Both my girls have loved this camp for years. Even though my girls are very different from one another, it is both of their favorite camp. I just asked my older daughter what she loves about Multi- arts, and she said, "everything!!!!!"
Previous Stories
I have a 6th grader who has gone to this camp for years. It is her favorite camp, and the only camp she still wants to go to. The counselors are amazing - very creative. My third grader also loves this camp even though she is very different than her sister. It is fun, flexible, creative, and inclusive.
My ten-year-old daughter has been attending the summer and fall programs that Multi-Arts offers for the past several years. Multi-Arts is an organization where children are encouraged to be creative, and to have fun! Their program consists of various things including art, acting, and fashion design. There are many things that my daughter has loved about Multi-Arts, but I would have to say that as a fashionista, my daughter has enjoyed most designing and sewing a dress this past summer. As a parent, I love the fact that the people who run this program are extremely responsible and hire the best staff.
My daughter has attended the Multi-Arts summer program for six years.
Each year, she has a different favorite among the broad offerings of the program- theater, playwriting, visual arts. Her favorite additions this year were the funk dance class and fabric arts.
The program is conceived and run by professional artists. The kids have fun and put on a show at the end. The program serves everyone - kids of different abilities and preferences are all included and as far as I can tell, enjoy the program. The staff is attentive and responsive to feedback from parents.
It is important to me that the Multi-Arts program attracts participants from various socioeconomic backgrounds. Although the percentage of people of color in our community is relatively small, kids of color comprise about 10% of the participants. Also, around one third of participants receive financial aid, without which they would not be able to attend.
My daughter wouldn't miss a summer! She even talks about becoming an assistant in the program when she is too old to attend herself. We are indeed fortunate to have this resource.
Multi-Arts is a wonderful organization that strives to bring the arts, including but not limited to music, dance, the visual arts,filmmaking, drama, and writing to children and the community. Catalina Arrubla and her talented, multicultural, and professional staff teach and nurture the children who become confident enough to express themselves creatively. Over the years, I have seen many children, including my own daughter ,blossom from shy young artists who hold their creative spark inside, to excited artists and arts lovers who are eager to express their creativity. Ms. Arrubla's Multi-Arts has a generous scholarship program to ensure that all children can experience the arts!
My daughter has attended Multi-Arts summer programs for at least 3 or 4 years over the past 8 and has always had a fabulous time. The staff really related well to her and she learned many things about all of the art forms they represent there. It was the first place in her life that I think she really felt understood and included, as she is a very creative and artistic child. This did not always get appreciated in kindergarten, etc. Multi-Arts offers a marvelous program for children of all ages and is very generous with financial aid, but could use much more in the way of funds for that purpose.
I've had the pleasure of volunteering for Multi-Arts at their community performances .and ACT sponsored recordings. I enjoy the enthusiasm generated by the children because they have the choice of learning to write, build, direct, act or all the above. Thier performances are entertaining. Also, the students learn from the community based ACT- filming, photogrophy, etc. I've alwyas been impressed at how well the girls and boys work together!!! The instructors represent high quality performers/teachers in the NY/New England region. I am pleased that there is a creative arts option for kids in our community.
The quality of the program is probably mainly due to an amazing bunch of teachers. They are artists in life and believe in children bringing their best in expressing themselves.
Children have the opportunity to think outside the box and work with unexpected materials.
I have two spectrum kids who have done really well at Multi-arts
they have nurtured one of my son's special talent in art and managed some very different developmental levels than his peers! They have been positive and supportive. They have alot of counselors in the summer which I like alot! As well as alot of fun interesting child focused and driven activities. For instance, the play is written by the children then they perform it for family/visitors at the end of the week.
They do art, acting, singing, dance, music all in each day/session.
They are expanding doing a variety of things- My sons also did their seminar for making their own Halloween costumes which I hope will become an annual tradition- They would go to the after school too if it didn't conflict with other things they are already committed to.
The talent, dedication, and enthusiasm of the Multi-Arts executive director and her staff are extraordinary. The group is constantly striving to provide children in the community with new and varied creative workshops and the staff are willing to work with very tightly-controlled budgets to try to grow their programs. As the treasurer and a board member, I can attest to the fiscal responsibility of the organization.
I enrolled my child in the Multi-Arts summer camp in 2010. Every day she was more than excited to get to camp and see her friends. In 2010 they added a Fashion Design program to their list of artistic activities. It was my daughters' favorite class, besides drama. Whenever I came to pick her up, the whole camp was buzzing with enthusiastic children and responsive adults. The counselours and teachers all helpred to educate the kids in every kind of art imaginable. I only wish that there had been a program like this when I was young.
A vital, nourishing & supportive forum for young ones to experience many forms of the arts. Through personal one to one appreciation & instruction by true artists in the fields I saw tremendous stretches of ability, confidence & skill take place in a few short weeks. A tremendous & unique place.
We found Multi-Arts when we moved to Amherst in 2002. It was our introduction to the area, and we were amazed by the energy and commitment of the professional artists running it. My daughter has returned every summer since. She discovered flamenco (how many programs for kids offer flamenco!) and has become a very good dancer. Multi-Arts also expanded her love of music -- and her love for the family behind the program. It is a program that should be year-round, in the schools, and expanded to allow a larger number of participants. It's great that they extend financial help to children who otherwise might not be able to participate.
volunteer, Multi-Arts teaches kids about acting, dancing, writing plays, music, building stuff out of cardboard. The teachers really like being with the kids. It's great fun.