Alhambra Theatre Expands Summer Arts Camps for Local Youth

Pennyroyal Arts Council offers new visual arts, mural painting, and live theater opportunities for Christian County students.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 7:30am

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A bold, colorful silkscreen print featuring repeating icons of paintbrushes, paint palettes, and theater masks, capturing the diverse creative mediums and theatrical elements of the Alhambra Theatre's summer arts programming for youth.The Alhambra Theatre's summer arts camps offer local youth a vibrant mix of visual arts, mural painting, and live theater experiences.Hopkinsville Today

The Pennyroyal Arts Council is expanding its summer youth programming in 2026, offering a mix of visual arts, mural painting and live theater opportunities at the historic Alhambra Theatre in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The programs reflect the council's mission of making the arts accessible to the community and include a weeklong visual arts camp, a mural arts program, and the return of the Missoula Children's Theatre residency.

Why it matters

The Pennyroyal Arts Council has served as a cultural hub in Hopkinsville for decades, managing the Alhambra Theatre and hosting educational programs that engage the local community. The expanded summer offerings aim to provide creative outlets and hands-on learning experiences for youth, particularly in a smaller community where access to arts programming may be limited.

The details

The visual arts camp, themed 'America at 250', will highlight influential American artists and give students a chance to explore styles from pop art to realism. The mural arts program will introduce a new format, with students working on a large indoor panel rather than painting directly on a wall. The Missoula Children's Theatre residency will have local students stage a production of 'Peter and Wendy' in just one week, from auditions to final performance.

  • Registration for the summer programs is now open.
  • The camps will run throughout June and July.
  • The Missoula Children's Theatre performance is scheduled for July 25 at the Alhambra Theatre.

The players

Pennyroyal Arts Council

A nonprofit organization that has served as a cultural hub in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, managing the Alhambra Theatre and hosting performances, exhibits, and educational programs throughout the year.

Kelly Selfe

The art education coordinator for the Pennyroyal Arts Council, who oversees the expanded summer youth programming.

Missoula Children's Theatre

A professional theater organization that brings actor-directors to communities across the country to cast local children in full productions, rehearsed and performed in less than a week.

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What they’re saying

“We have broadened our visual arts camp. We're now having a full day session available for 5-12th graders.”

— Kelly Selfe, Art Education Coordinator, Pennyroyal Arts Council

“A lot of youth in America are not introduced to American artists. So we're taking the opportunity with America 250 to focus on American artists that have made a huge impact on the art world.”

— Kelly Selfe, Art Education Coordinator, Pennyroyal Arts Council

“In one week, 60 and sometimes 65 children create a masterpiece. They learn their lines, they get their sets, they have their costuming, everything in one week.”

— Kelly Selfe, Art Education Coordinator, Pennyroyal Arts Council

What’s next

The summer camps will culminate in the Missoula Children's Theatre performance scheduled for July 25 at the Alhambra Theatre.

The takeaway

The Pennyroyal Arts Council's expanded summer arts programming at the historic Alhambra Theatre aims to provide creative outlets and hands-on learning experiences for youth in the Hopkinsville community, fostering artistic skills, problem-solving, and community engagement.