Augusta for Kids & Teens 2026

Folk Arts for Kids with Kendall Broussard

Kendall Miller Broussard is an enthusiastic, energetic individual who is always happy to share Cajun culture and life with others. She is a native of Iota, Louisiana and granddaughter to longtime Augusta instructors Larry and Jackie Miller. Having grown up close to her grandparents, Kendall was immersed in Cajun culture and traditions. She often traveled to festivals with them helping to demonstrate and sell Cajun accordions and Mardi Gras costumes. Growing up she frequently worked alongside her grandpa in his accordion shop. At age eight, Kendall began to participate and perform in the local Mardi Gras celebration. From this grew a love of Cajun music, dance and language. Jackie, Kendall’s grandmother, has taught her how to make the local Mardi Gras costumes including, masks, capuchon (hats), and suits. A favorite pastime of hers is assisting her grandmother during Mardi Gras mask-making and demonstration workshops. Kendall has earned a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. While doing so she was able to work in the Center for Louisiana Studies, helping to archive various media sources of Cajun and Creole music. This afforded an opportunity to connect with various peoples and their folk arts. With her husband and three young children Kendall now lives in Lafayette, Louisiana. She constantly strives to pass down her Cajun heritage to their children.

FAFK runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Folk Arts for Kids with The Old Brick Playhouse

The Old Brick Playhouse opened November of 1992 and, for the past thirty-three years, has offered Educational Arts programming locally, throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and overseas.  The Old Brick Playhouse offers regular afterschool programs that provide a safe and positive environment for elementary and secondary school students to explore the arts.  Programs serve 150 secondary students and 80 elementary school students boasting an alumni roster of over 2,540 students.  Over the past 30 years, our performances have entertained over 2.5 million children and have been merited at the National Theatre in Washington, DC, the Edinburg Festival Fringe, and thousands of Elementary Schools in the Mid-Atlantic region and overseas.  In 2009, The Old Brick Playhouse received the Coming Up Taller Award from the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Science presented at the White House by First Lady Michelle Obama.  

FAFK runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Folk Arts for Kids with Emolyn Liden

Emolyn Liden is an artist, musician, and dancer. She grew up in Brasstown, North Carolina and discovered her love of craft at a young age observing the artists in her community. She learned from her mother about raising sheep, natural fiber, and to knit which led her to spinning and natural dyeing. Through her business, The Roving Knitter, she designs knitwear inspired by texture and color, teaches people of all ages to knit, and displays her work at craft shows and exhibits. Emolyn is a graduate of the professional craft program in jewelry at Haywood Community College. She is interested in the cross-section of fiber and metalsmithing, how to create a softness in something structured like metal, and how to create sculptural art with knitting techniques. Emolyn is a community-minded teaching artist who blends her passion of music, dance, and craft to empower others to discover confidence, creativity, connection and understanding. She has danced with the Cane Creek Cloggers of Chapel Hill; the Green Grass Cloggers of Asheville; Cape Breton step-dancing team, The Twisty Cuffs; and has been a dance instructor for kids in public school and at camps around the country. She regularly performs Appalachian old-time music and teaches at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina.

FAFK runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Teen Augusta with Emily Prentice

Emily Prentice is an artist and arts educator living in Elkins, WV. She graduated with degrees in English and Fine Arts from Davis & Elkins College in 2016, and has been merging those two forms ever since. While interested in every kind of making, she spends most of her time drawing, making zines, and playing with fibers; she says that she loves making art that shares information, builds community, and helps all people realize their creative potential. Since starting her work as an artist she has become passionate about educating other artists, too, having taught zine- and quilt-making across Appalachia and now teaches classes in creative play online.

Teen Augusta runs from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Folk Arts for Kids with Emily Prentice

Emily Prentice is an artist and arts educator living in Elkins, WV. She graduated with degrees in English and Fine Arts from Davis & Elkins College in 2016, and has been merging those two forms ever since. While interested in every kind of making, she spends most of her time drawing, making zines, and playing with fibers; she says that she loves making art that shares information, builds community, and helps all people realize their creative potential. Since starting her work as an artist she has become passionate about educating other artists, too, having taught zine- and quilt-making across Appalachia and now teaches classes in creative play online.

FAFK classes run from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Youth Vocal Academy with Lexi Ugelow

The Youth Vocal Academy is an exciting new program for musicians aged 9-14.

Lexi Ugelow is a vocalist, songwriter, expressive arts workshop and music education facilitator based in Cambridge, MA. She is a lifelong learner and lover of intergenerational community singing. A professional vocalist and self produced songwriter, Lexi has toured with groups such as Northern Harmony, Culomba, Honey & Soul and Road Dogs, performing and teaching workshops to adults and children. Though her interests and experience with music spans from funk, to world folk music, you can always be sure to expect some buttery harmonies. A firm believer that our bodies are our instruments, she encourages the practice of non-judgement during exploration of musical play. Moving into her fifth year as co-music director for Sing Positive, Lexi continues to use music as a way to help others build community, confidence and self expression.

Folk Arts for Kids with Zoe Payne

Kids classes run from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Zoë’s teaching experience is a culmination of teaching artistry experience, dance technique classes, and interdisciplinary teaching practices. She began teaching through an apprentice program at The Dance Factory under Nina Scattaregia and has been teaching both in person & virtual for over 8 years. In the Spring of 2021-May 2023, Zoë added a dance portion of Sister’s Academy in West Baltimore’s After School Programming & Summer Programming. Zoë is also an instructor for Augusta Heritage Center’s Folk Arts for Kids, leading through a STEAM approach to learning with hands on activities. Zoë has also expanded her teaching range through positions at AileyCamp Baltimore, Pilgrim Christian Day School, Metropolitan Ballet Theatre & private lessons.

Bluegrass Kids Academy with Sarah Larsen

The Bluegrass Kids Academy, now in its second year, is an exciting program for musicians aged 9-14.

Sarah Larsen is a multi-faceted teacher & musician. Originally from Wisconsin, she grew up playing classical music with her pianist mother and sister. Her formative years were spent at Lawrence University, the Walnut Hill School, New England Conservatory’s Preparatory Division, and the University of Hartford’s Hartt School on full scholarship. College introduced her to alternative styles
including a run with string quartet Vox4 that led to Carnegie Hall; Americana rock string trio, Little Ugly; and premiering Gary Tomasetti’s Violin Concerto written specifically for her.

Sarah’s time in Philadelphia saw her playing with the Hot Club of Philadelphia, multiple bluegrass bands as well as frequent calls as string arranger for local songwriters. She has recorded at every
major studio in the greater Philadelphia area, working with Ben Arnold, Susan Werner, Hop Along and Dr. Dog, among others. Sarah is an award-winning contest fiddler having taken Grand Champion of the Lyons Fiddle Festival and the Delaware State Championship.

Refusing to be defined by labels or genres, Sarah is equally at home in a jazz jam, a bluegrass pick, or an orchestral setting. She has spent over 30 years learning to communicate with musicians of all
levels and styles, and has dedicated her life to helping others achieve satisfaction and joy through music.