Holiday & Vacation Programs
Art programs for holidays and school breaks
Be creative, find new friends, and have fun learning!
Our holiday and vacation programs are open to children aged 6-10, or currently enrolled in grades 1-4. Older children may join if they are comfortable working with younger kids. Our vacation programs are not designed for preschool students. Kindergarten students who have been part of one of our regular programs for a minimum of 6 weeks may join after getting permission from the instructor (please send us an email).
Holiday Workshops: Each workshop is limited to 10 students. During the 3 hours, we will spend some time outside to recharge our creative energy, have a snack together (bring a nut-free snack from home), and work on our creative projects. On most federal holidays we offer morning and afternoon workshops that can be combined into a full-day program (bring lunch and two snacks for a full day).
Vacation Programs: Vacation programs are limited to 10 students per day. Each week has a theme that will be explored with a variety of daily changing art projects. Vacation programs can be booked for single days (except for the summer program), or for an entire week . We will always spend a good amount of time outside and have two snacks and lunch together during the day (please bring from home).
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions.
November 3, 2026 (CPS no-school day, Election Day)
Morning Workshop: Animal Portrait
We are repeating another one of our favorite projects: create a portrait of an animal of your choice! We will use a tracing technique that will make it easy to create a realistic drawing of the animal you choose. Mixing watercolor, soft and oil pastels will make our portraits colorful and artistic masterpieces.
If you would like to create a portrait of your pet or your favorite animal, send us a portrait photo no later than 48 hours before the workshop starts. We will prepare and print it for you to use.
The morning workshop can be combined with the afternoon workshop for a full-day program from 9am-4pm. At no additional cost, participants can stay at the studio for lunch break during 12-1pm. We will eat lunch together (bring from home) and play games. Simply book both workshops under the same name.
Program time: 9am-12pm
Cost: $60 (all materials included)
If you enroll more than one child, register and pay the full price for the first child, then apply our 10% sibling discount when you register the sibling separately. Use coupon code SIBLING during checkout for the discounted fee.
Age requirement: 6-10 years (students must be currently enrolled in grades 1-4); older children are welcome to sign up if they are comfortable working with younger kids
What to bring: wear clothes that can be washed easily in case it gets messy (we have aprons), bring weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes to spend time outside, water bottle, nut-free snack
Please sign our waiver prior to your child’s first day at Blue Mouse Gallery. You can bring a printed copy to your first day of the program, email us a signed PDF, or fill out the form when you arrive at our studio (please allow for extra time). We need a new waiver for the 2026-2027 school year, so please fill out a new one even if we have one on file from the last school year. Thank you!
Afternoon Workshop: Shadow Box
Make a shadow box with us! Start with an unfinished wooden box, then use paints, markers, beads and trinkets to decorate it and turn it into a piece of art. The only rules are for handling the (low-temperature) hot glue guns, you are free to create without limits.
The afternoon workshop can be combined with the morning workshop for a full-day program from 9am-4pm. At no additional cost, participants can stay at the studio for lunch break during 12-1pm. We will eat lunch together (bring from home) and play games. Simply book both workshops under the same name.
Program time: 1-4pm
Cost: $60 (all materials included)
If you enroll more than one child, register and pay the full price for the first child, then apply our 10% sibling discount when you register the sibling separately. Use coupon code SIBLING during checkout for the discounted fee.
Age requirement: 6-10 years (students must be currently enrolled in grades 1-4); older children are welcome to sign up if they are comfortable working with younger kids
What to bring: wear clothes that can be washed easily in case it gets messy (we have aprons), bring weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes to spend time outside, water bottle, nut-free snack
Please sign our waiver prior to your child’s first day at Blue Mouse Gallery. You can bring a printed copy to your first day of the program, email us a signed PDF, or fill out the form when you arrive at our studio (please allow for extra time). We need a new waiver for the 2026-2027 school year, so please fill out a new one even if we have one on file from the last school year. Thank you!
November 11, 2026 (Veterans Day)
Morning Workshop: Gyotaku Prints
This is a rare occasion for you to learn the ancient Japanese art of printing fish. We will use rubber fish instead of real animals, and regular paper instead of fragile rice paper. To present our prints, we will create colorful backgrounds and mount the Gyotaku fish on them.
The morning workshop can be combined with the afternoon workshop for a full-day program from 9am-4pm. At no additional cost, participants can stay at the studio for lunch break during 12-1pm. We will eat lunch together (bring from home) and play games. Simply book both workshops under the same name.
Program time: 9am-12pm
Cost: $60 (all materials included)
If you enroll more than one child, register and pay the full price for the first child, then apply our 10% sibling discount when you register the sibling separately. Use coupon code SIBLING during checkout for the discounted fee.
Age requirement: 6-10 years (students must be currently enrolled in grades 1-4); older children are welcome to sign up if they are comfortable working with younger kids
What to bring: wear clothes that can be washed easily in case it gets messy (we have aprons), bring weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes to spend time outside, water bottle, nut-free snack
Please sign our waiver prior to your child’s first day at Blue Mouse Gallery. You can bring a printed copy to your first day of the program, email us a signed PDF, or fill out the form when you arrive at our studio (please allow for extra time). We need a new waiver for the 2026-2027 school year, so please fill out a new one even if we have one on file from the last school year. Thank you!
Afternoon Workshop: Paper Chandelier
We will adapt one of our summer projects to create beautiful chandeliers out of paper elements. We will punch different shapes our of colorful paper, then combined it with straws and beads into a beautiful work of art that will add a festive atmosphere to your home.
The afternoon workshop can be combined with the morning workshop for a full-day program from 9am-4pm. At no additional cost, participants can stay at the studio for lunch break during 12-1pm. We will eat lunch together (bring from home) and play games. Simply book both workshops under the same name.
Program time: 1-4pm
Cost: $60 (all materials included)
If you enroll more than one child, register and pay the full price for the first child, then apply our 10% sibling discount when you register the sibling separately. Use coupon code SIBLING during checkout for the discounted fee.
Age requirement: 6-10 years (students must be currently enrolled in grades 1-4); older children are welcome to sign up if they are comfortable working with younger kids
What to bring: wear clothes that can be washed easily in case it gets messy (we have aprons), bring weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes to spend time outside, water bottle, nut-free snack
Please sign our waiver prior to your child’s first day at Blue Mouse Gallery. You can bring a printed copy to your first day of the program, email us a signed PDF, or fill out the form when you arrive at our studio (please allow for extra time). We need a new waiver for the 2026-2027 school year, so please fill out a new one even if we have one on file from the last school year. Thank you!
We will not offer programming during Thanksgiving break.
Please contact us with questions about our holiday/vacation programs.