Youth Programs

Real Tools, Real Techniques

Kids in AACA's youth programs use the same materials as our adult students — real calligraphy brushes, actual ink sticks ground on stone, traditional rice paper. We don't water things down or substitute markers for brushes. Young learners are capable of more than most people give them credit for, and they respond well to being taken seriously.

That said, classes are structured differently for younger students. Sessions are shorter, with more variety built in. A typical youth class might start with calligraphy practice, shift to a painting project, and end with a cultural story or activity. The goal is to give kids a genuine connection to these art forms, not just a craft project to take home.

Youth classes run seasonally, often alongside our adult programs on Saturdays. We also offer special workshops during school breaks and at community events throughout the year.

Ages & Format

Ages: 6 – 16 (grouped by age)

Class size: 6 – 10 students

Duration: 1 – 1.5 hours

Materials: All provided

Schedule: Seasonal (check events page)

Scholarships

AACA offers scholarships for youth classes to ensure cost isn't a barrier. If your child is interested but the fee is a concern, reach out — we'll find a way to make it work.

Ask about scholarships

What Kids Learn

Chinese Painting

Brush control, ink loading, and traditional subjects like bamboo, flowers, and animals. Kids start with simple compositions and build up to more complex pieces over a session.

Calligraphy

Basic strokes, character structure, and the rhythm of brush writing. Students learn to write their names in Chinese characters and practice classical phrases and poems.

Cultural Workshops

Seasonal activities tied to Chinese festivals and traditions — paper cutting for Lunar New Year, lantern making for Mid-Autumn Festival, and stories from Chinese history and folklore.

View Schedule Enroll Your Child

New

Youth Conference

Our classes teach young people to hold a brush. The Youth Conference is about what they do next — a place to put their own work in front of an audience.

It is open to talents and research projects both: a painting or a piece of calligraphy, a martial arts form, a piece of music, or a study a student has been working on independently. The point is that young people present it themselves, and are taken seriously when they do.

We are putting the first one together now. Dates, format, and how to submit will be posted here once they are settled — if your family wants to hear first, get in touch and we will let you know.

What Students Can Bring

Painting, calligraphy, or other artwork
A martial arts form or demonstration
Music or performance
A research project or independent study

Open to students of all levels, whether or not they take classes with AACA.