“Art is as natural as sunshine and as vital as nourishment.” – artist and author MaryAnn F. Kohl
If summertime grows your creativity, you’re in luck this year. Mint Artists Guild has an array of free arts and crafts activities we’re offering in and around Detroit.
We believe in art for all. And we know that when children and youth create art, it gives many benefits to the child and to the community. Making art may help children and adults visualize a hopeful future and improve empathy. Coloring also
“Art is a place for children to learn to trust their ideas, themselves, and to explore what is possible,” said Kohl, a former teacher who has written an array of art activities books for children.
So join us at an array of free family arts and crafts throughout Detroit this summer:
Clark Park. Join us on Thursday afternoons from 3:30 – 5 pm for creative crafts led by our youth artists. Clark Park is located at 1130 Clark Street, just off Vernor. Check in with Clark Park Coalition for our exact location. Runs July 3 to Aug. 6.
Cool Cities Park. Held during a weekly farmers market, these crafts run 4:15 – 5:30 pm Wednesdays and come with a side of music and community. Cool Cities is located at 14150 Woodrow Wilson St. , Detroit, and is part of the Pistons Neighbors summertime activities.
Palmer Park. Join us on Thursday afternoons 3:30 – 5 pm near the Palmer Park Splash Park (GPS address is 1121 Merrill Plaissance, Detroit) for cool, creative fun led by our youth artists. Runs July 3 to Aug. 13.
Watson Park. Meet us in Brush Park, 202 Watson, on Friday evenings for some all ages arts and crafts activities, 5:30 pm -6:30 pm. Runs June 27, July 11, July 25 and Aug. 8 (all Detroit Tigers home games), thanks to the Pistons Neighbors.
Festivals and special events. We will bring extra special arts and crafts to the Detroit Festival of Books and the Belle Isle Art Fair Aug. 2 and 3. We may add others. All our public events also are shown on our events calendar here.
Most of the youth who lead or help with these are part of the Mint Creative Summer Jobs program, run in partnership with Grow Detroit’s Young Talent. We are grateful to our partners who support these free family arts and crafts: the Belle Isle Art Fair, Arts & Scraps and many individual donors. Please donate now. And the Pistons Neighbors and Come Play Detroit have supported Mint’s free arts and crafts in Detroit parks since 2020, and this year offer a variety of activities in 14 parks.
Mint’s arts and crafts are for all ages, but they tend to be best for children 10 and under. For other creative youth, check our blog of creative meet-ups and art making places. Or If you’re feeling lazy or want a more intimate creative activity, create your own craft afternoon. Borrow some ideas from MaryAnn Kohl’s children’s art books here or head to Arts & Scraps and buy something wonderful or weird. You also may download a Mint coloring page here and savor the joys and benefits of coloring.
Otherwise, we’ll see you soon!