A week of intensive peer-to-peer art mentoring for 10-15 elementary-aged artists from the City of Reading, Pennsylvania. Campers would: - self-identify as an artist - look for art in everyday life - meet working artists from their community - build a personal art kit and portfolio - establish the everyday practice of art - learn more about art history and famous artists - discover art resources in the community - explore careers in art, design, and illustration - find mentors in teen artists NEED: Art gets little funding, attention, or space in urban public schools pressed to meet federal testing goals. Art lessons and private art schools are too expensive for many city families. Families may not have the time or transportation to visit places were children can see art and artists at work. Parents may not feel art is a worthwhile career path, or be able to afford to provide art supplies. PROGRAM: The CityArt Boot Camp project is organized by Celeste Galanos, a 15-year-old artist. She has assembled a team of other teen artists to mentor the elementary-aged campers. Adult artists will be invited to lead lessons. Breakfast and lunch will be provided during each 9AM-5PM day of the 5-day camp program. The goals of the camp project are to: - Build a peer support group for city children interested in art and art careers. - Validate art-based career interests as valuable goals. - Provide tools to bridge some of the gap between low-income urban school children and kids in suburban schools with more opportunities. - Introduce the idea that art is one of the paths to success for low-income students. - Promote multicultural connections through the sharing of ethnic art influences. TIMELINE: Spring 2008: Recruitment of campers from GoggleWorks and Reading School District contacts. Identification of venue and selection of summer 2008 program dates. Development of detailed curriculum based on result of grant proposals. Summer 2008: Program implementation. Autumn 2008: Evaluation, follow-up, reporting, and further program development. COMMUNITY SUPPORT: The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Berks County will provide a meeting and kitchen space for the program. The PeaceWorks Program, a teen social action project of Berks Women in Crisis, has approved a $300 grant to fund the project. Several private donors are providing food. Additional funding is being sought to expand the range and quality of art supplies. Additional grant-writing could allow the program to be expanded into monthly meetings year-round. Organizers plan to make a FaceBook cause page for the project and solicit small donations from teens and other supporters.