Young artists shine at Creative Market

More than 20 young artists displayed and sold their artwork Aug. 16, in an end-of-summer showcase held at the West Side Creative Market, wrapping up the Developing Artist Collaboration’s inaugural Artist Rising summer camp program. 

The program, open to kids ages 9 to 14, consisted of eight weeklong sessions led by DAC working artists. Each session covered a different topic, including woodworking, printmaking, bead-making and macrame, experimental art, two weeks of fine art and two weeks of ceramics.

“It has gone incredibly,” said DAC founder Leah Beach. “All of the weeks were pretty much full, and we had a bunch of kids who were very passionate about the program.”

Around 88 kids participated, some in multiple sessions. The showcase featured those who were available and able to attend.

Beyond the art itself, the program introduced the basics of marketing and business development. The kids designed their own business logos and learned how to market, price and sell their work.

“We’re teaching them the entrepreneurial side of it, because that’s what we do for adult artists,” Beach said. “All marketing is is relationships, and that’s one of the biggest struggles that adult artists have — how to talk to people, how to sell to people.”

Many parents have reached out to express their older teens’ interest in the program. In response, DAC will be implementing an after-school program for high school students that will tackle higher-level business and marketing skills.

“We want to actually make a pathway into the arts for teens,” Beach said. “Our vision is to be able to grow the next generation of artists in Sussex County and beyond.”

The goal is to get the program up and running in January. Beach said more details will likely be released this October, and she encouraged folks to join the DAC email list and monitor its social media for updates.

For parents of children ages 9 to 14 who are interested in the 2026 Artist Rising summer program, registration will open in spring 2026.

The DAC offers subsidized prices to families that are otherwise unable to access the program. For more information about the Artist Rising subsidy or to donate to the fund, visit developingarts.org/donate.