Jonesboro, AR — (JonesboroRightNow.com) — March 19, 2025 — The Foundation of Arts (FOA) will be providing new full-day summer childcare options at the FOA Summer Arts Academy.

The academy will run Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. at the FOA’s newly renovated Arts Center at 328 S. Main St. Parents can pick up or drop off anytime in that window. The two-month camp will run from June 2 through June 27 and July 7 through Aug. 1 with a gap for the Independence Day holiday.

The camp is for children ages three to 12, or through sixth grade. Younger children must be potty trained.

“It’s a full-day childcare option; however, some parents may not choose to use it for the full extent of the day. They may drop off at 9 a.m. and pick up at 4 p.m. or something. But we will be open those hours,” said FOA marketing manager Meridith Pierce.

The academy includes flexible weekly options, including:

  • A 5-Day-Week option, which will be Monday-Friday, for $700 per month.
  • A 3-Day-Week option, which runs on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (days may vary based on parents’ needs) for $540 per month.
  • A 2-Day-Week option, which runs on Tuesday and Thursday (days may vary based on parents’ needs) for $440 per month.

“We’re extremely flexible on days per week so if a parent needs to drop off two days a week where it will work with them on the two-day option or if they need three or even a four-day option,” Pierce said. “This is basically a need in the community that we’ve heard over and over and over, and we’ve just never had the resources to be able to offer it until this summer.”

Pierce noted the Arts Academy students will automatically be incorporated into the FOA’s shorter day camps, although they will remain divided by age. 

“We can kind of incorporate our full-day kiddos into the arts camps that are already occurring, so they’ll be exposed to art theater, dance, musical theater and all sorts of different things throughout the day, and then have breaks in between with snack times, lunchtime, and even some outdoor activity time,” she said. “So, we just try to change it up throughout the day for them.”

Although snacks are provided, students must bring their lunch and water bottle.

Pierce also noted the FOA is offering a 10% discount for each additional sibling after the first student is enrolled, as well as a discount on the Young Artist Theater Program for those interested in both camps.

“We have, every summer, our Young Artist Theater Camp Program and it’s still going to be occurring this summer alongside this camp. If they choose to opt into our Young Artist Theater Option, they also get a discount on it as it would be a separate tuition from our Summer Arts Academy,” Pierce said. “The Young Artist Theater Camp is a more immersed camp, where they’re putting on a stage production at the end of the camp.”

Pierce said parents should register early to secure their spot. The FOA needs at least one week notice for camp attendance to plan accordingly.

To register, call 870-035-2726, visit the Forum Box Office or Arts Center, or visit The Foundation of Arts website.