Photo: College of Central Florida.
Appleton Museum of Art Wins State Museum Excellence Award for Education for Its Summer Art Camp
This is a arts & culture news article published on 2026-10-21 covering local Marion County, Florida news. The Florida Association of Museums gave the Appleton Museum of Art its 2026 Museum Excellence Award for Education, recognizing a Summer Art Camp that grew from 178 campers in 2017 to 405 in 2025 and added a free week for East Marion Elementary students.
Photo: College of Central Florida.
At a Glance
- Award: Florida Association of Museums 2026 Museum Excellence Award for Education, part of FAM's annual Museum Service Awards Program
- Winner: Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
- Program honored: the 2025 Summer Art Camp, half-day visual art camps for ages 5 to 17
- Growth: 15 camps, 178 campers and eight staff in 2017; 29 camps, 405 campers and 21 staff in 2025
- Outreach: a free week of camp in 2025 for students from East Marion Elementary
- Led by: Museum Educator Hollis Mutch, who has run the program since 2017
What Did the Appleton Win?
FAM is the not-for-profit professional organization for Florida's museums and museum professionals. Its Museum Service Awards Program exists, in the association's words, to recognize outstanding contributions to the museum profession in Florida. The college's release says the Museum Excellence Award for Education honored the Appleton's 2025 Summer Art Camp for its impact, its growth and its role in the community's cultural and educational life.
How Much Has the Summer Art Camp Grown?
According to the college, the camp has more than doubled in under a decade. In 2017 it offered 15 half-day camps over six weeks, serving 178 campers with eight staff members. By 2025 it ran 29 half-day camps over 10 weeks, serving 405 campers with 21 staff members. About 2,400 students have attended over the eight seasons Mutch has led it.
The release describes it as the largest art camp in the region and one of the few devoted specifically to the visual arts, serving K-12 students. "Our amazing team of talented summer camp teachers and education assistants are the reason our camp is so successful," Mutch said in the release. Victoria Billig, the Appleton's assistant director, credited Mutch and the museum's education team and thanked FAM for the recognition.
Who Is East Marion Elementary?
In 2025 the camp expanded its outreach with a free week for students from East Marion Elementary, which the college describes as a United Way of Marion County community partner school in the rural Ocala National Forest area.
How Does the Camp Work?
The museum's 2026 Summer Art Camp page describes half-day camps for ages 5 to 17 taught by professional art educators and teaching artists. Tuition includes all art supplies, a daily snack, water and a camp T-shirt for the first camp attended, and the one-week camps listed for August 2026 cost $150 for Appleton members and $180 for nonmembers. Early care from 8 to 9 a.m. was added in 2026. The museum's camp information page says need-based scholarships are offered for ages 8 to 17, with some exceptions, and that camp runs Monday through Friday. The Appleton had not posted a 2027 camp schedule when this article was checked; questions go to AppletonEducation@cf.edu or 352-291-4455, ext. 1613.
Can Families Visit the Appleton Before Next Summer?
Yes. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., and parking is free. Its visitor page lists admission at $10 for adults, $5 for ages 6 to 17 and free for children 5 and under. The next Free First Saturday is Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, with free admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., artmaking in the Artspace and documentary screenings at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
More on the Appleton and Kids' Activities in Ocala
Our Appleton Museum of Art guide covers the collection, admission and Free First Saturday, and the ArtSpace at the Appleton guide covers the hands-on studio. See museums in Ocala for the rest of the county's museums, Ocala summer camps for next summer's planning, and things to do with kids in Ocala.
Sources: College of Central Florida news release, "CF Appleton Museum of Art wins FAM 2026 Museum Excellence Award for Education," Oct. 19, 2026 (cf.edu), including the award, camp growth figures, East Marion Elementary outreach, quotes, hours, address and parking; Florida Association of Museums Awards Program page (flamuseums.org), including the purpose of the awards program; Appleton Museum of Art 2026 Summer Art Camp page and 2026 Summer Art Camp Information page (appletonmuseum.org), including ages, tuition, inclusions, early care, scholarships and schedule; Appleton Museum of Art Plan Your Visit page and Free First Saturday November 2026 event page (appletonmuseum.org), including admission and the Nov. 7 program. Checked Oct. 21, 2026.
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