§ Visual Arts

Visual Arts programs for high schoolers.

63 programs indexed in visual arts. 42 are free or pay a stipend. 10 prioritize under-resourced or underrepresented students. This page updates whenever we add a new visual arts program.

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All visual arts programs

Adobe
Adobe Design Achievement Awards (Semi-Pro)
International student creative awards across graphic design, film, animation, and social impact.
📍 Global📅 June🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Japan Cartoonists Association
All-Japan Manga Competition (Youth)
Youth-open division of the Japan Cartoonists Association's annual manga award.
📍 Japan (submissions welcome globally)📅 Autumn🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arkansas State University / Arkansas Department of Education
Arkansas Governor's School
A five-week residential program for high-achieving high school students in Arkansas focused on math, science, and the arts.
📍 Russellville, AR⏱ 5 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Carnegie Mellon University
Art
Pre-College Art program at Carnegie Mellon University.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Bennington College
Bennington July Program
Two-week residential program for writers and visual artists in grades 10-12.
📍 Bennington, VT⏱ 2 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Blue Marble Review
Blue Marble Review
Online literary journal of writing and art by teens worldwide.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs
Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest
Annual creative contest for teens combining art, writing, film, and music with environmental advocacy.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Spring🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
CSSSA Foundation
California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA)
Multi-disciplinary arts sessions for young artists to collaborate and learn from professionals.
📍 Valencia, CA⏱ 4 weeks📅 March 15🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Carnegie Mellon
Carnegie Mellon Summer Pre-College Programs
Six-week pre-college programs in architecture, art, design, drama, CS, music, and more.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA⏱ 6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
US House
Congressional Art Competition
Nationwide art contest with winning art displayed in the US Capitol.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Annual📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum
Cooper Hewitt Summer Design Institute
Free design programs and workshops for NYC HS students.
📍 New York, NY⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Google
Doodle for Google
Annual K-12 art contest with college scholarships.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 Spring🎓 Grades 1–12
Selective
Google
Doodle for Google Contest
Annual K-12 art contest where winners' doodles appear on the Google homepage.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Spring🎓 Grades 1–12
Selective
Immerse Education
Immerse Education Essay Competition
Free international essay contest; winners receive 100% scholarships to Immerse summer residencies at Cambridge, Oxford, and elsewhere.
📍 Global📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Interlochen
Interlochen Arts Camp
Renowned summer arts camp across music, theater, dance, visual arts, writing, film.
📍 Interlochen, MI⏱ 1-6 weeks📅 January🎓 Grades 3–12
Moderate
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Arts Camp: One-Week Intensives
One-week intensive arts programs for high school students in various disciplines.
📍 Interlochen, Michigan🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Arts Camp: Three-Week Art Camps
Three-week arts programs for students in grades 6-12. Offers opportunities in various arts disciplines.
📍 Interlochen, Michigan🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Arts Camp: Visual Arts Programs (High School)
High school visual arts summer programs.
📍 Interlochen, Michigan🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Summer Arts Camp
Premier summer arts camp in music, theatre, dance, visual arts, creative writing, film, motion picture arts.
📍 Interlochen, MI⏱ 1-6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 3–12
Moderate
IEFTA
International Emerging Film Talent Association
International youth film mentorship and festival access programs.
📍 International📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholars
Free 5-year program for 7th-grade high-achieving low-income students. Includes summer programs, college advising, and scholarships.
📍 Nationwide⏱ 5 years📅 April🎓 Grade 7
Selective
Kenyon Review
Kenyon Review Young Writers (Online Program & Publication)
The official high school literary magazine of the Kenyon Review, accepting poetry and prose globally. Virtual workshops also available.
📍 Online/Kenyon College⏱ Annual publication📅 May (Summer Review)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maryland Institute College of Art
MICA Pre-College
Four-week residential art program in Baltimore.
📍 Baltimore, MD⏱ 4 weeks📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Maryland Institute College of Art
MICA Pre-College Studio Residency
Four-week residential studio program for rising 11th-12th graders.
📍 Baltimore, MD⏱ 4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Museum of Modern Art
MoMA Teen Apprentice
Paid teen apprenticeship in arts curation, design, and education at MoMA.
📍 NY⏱ Summer + school year📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Museum of Modern Art
MoMA Teen Programs
Free teen programs at the Museum of Modern Art.
📍 New York, NY⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
YoungArts
National YoungArts Foundation Competition
National arts competition for ages 15-18 across 10 disciplines; finalists receive cash and YoungArts Week.
📍 Miami, FL⏱ Self-paced📅 Fall🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
YoungArts
National YoungArts Photography
Photography track of the YoungArts national competition.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 October🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
YoungArts
National YoungArts Week
Week-long master classes and performances in Miami for YoungArts winners across 10 disciplines.
📍 Miami, FL⏱ 1 week📅 Fall🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
NYFA
New York Film Academy Summer
Summer film, acting, photography, and animation camps.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ 1-4 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
NYU
NYU PreCollege
Earn college credit across a number of artistic disciplines, including casting and auditioning, dramatic writing, producing for film and television, and more. NYU Precollege is open to all current high school sophomores and juniors.
📍 New York, NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs
Ocean Awareness Contest
International student contest in visual art, film, writing, and music addressing ocean conservation.
📍 Global📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Interlochen Arts Camp
One-Week Intensives Arts Camp
One-week intensive arts programs covering various disciplines like music, theatre, visual arts, creative writing, dance, film & new media, and interdisciplinary arts. Students will perfect their skills and learn new ones alongside lifelong friends.
📍 Interlochen, Michigan, USA📅 Applications open Sept. 1 for Camp 2027🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Otis College
Otis College Summer of Art
Four-week pre-college art and design program.
📍 Los Angeles, CA⏱ 4 weeks📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Otis College of Art and Design
Otis Summer of Art
Four-week pre-college program in fine art, design, fashion, and animation in LA.
📍 Los Angeles, CA⏱ 4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Oxbridge Academic
Oxbridge Global Scholars Programme
Summer academic residencies at Oxford, Cambridge, Barcelona, Los Angeles. Financial aid for admitted students.
📍 Various📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Parsons / The New School
Parsons Pre-College Academy
Online and in-person pre-college art and design courses.
📍 New York, NY⏱ 4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Pratt Institute
Pratt Fall and Spring PreCollege Classes
Spend Saturdays developing your skills in classes designed to fit a high school schedule. With both online and in-person options, students collaborate with peers from near and far while receiving expert guidance on their projects.
📍 Brooklyn, New York (and remote)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Pratt Institute
Pratt Online Summer Program
Join a global community of students in live online classes, held Monday through Thursday. Through demos, critiques, and guided projects, instructors help students sharpen their skills and create polished, portfolio-quality work.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Pratt Institute
Pratt Pre-College
Four-week summer college experience in art, design, and architecture.
📍 Brooklyn, NY⏱ 4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Pratt Institute
Pratt PreCollege Intensive Program
Live and learn on Pratt’s Brooklyn campus! Spend four weeks taking two courses, building a portfolio, and experiencing life as a college student in New York City. This immersive program pushes students creatively while preparing them with college-ready work.
📍 Brooklyn, New York🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Rhode Island School of Design
RISD Pre-College
Six-week intensive at the top art and design school.
📍 Providence, RI⏱ 6 weeks📅 February🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Rhode Island School of Design
RISD Pre-College Program
Six-week intensive pre-college program for rising 11th and 12th graders in art and design.
📍 Providence, RI⏱ 6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
SAIC Early College Program
Intensive summer studio program for high schoolers earning college credit.
📍 Chicago, IL⏱ 4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
South Carolina Governor's School
SC Governor's School Summer Programs
Free arts and STEM intensives for top SC students.
📍 SC⏱ 3 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–11
Selective
Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
The longest-running recognition program for creative teens in the US — writing, visual art, photography, film.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ Year-long competition📅 December-January (regional)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Scholastic Art & Writing
Scholastic Art & Writing Programs (Exhibitions and workshops)
Exhibitions and workshops for teens, along with professional development for educators.
📍 Various🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Scholastic Art & Writing
Scholastic Art & Writing Scholarships
Information about scholarships available through the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
📍 remote🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SAIC
School of the Art Institute Early College
Summer art and design intensives for high schoolers.
📍 Chicago, IL⏱ 1-4 weeks📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Youth Engagement
Internships across Smithsonian museums and research centers.
📍 Washington, DC⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NYU Tisch
Spring Future Artists Program
The Spring Future Artists Program is free of charge and offered to students in the Tri-state area. It is designed for students who may not have access to other programs in their schools and/or communities and who would qualify for financial aid at NYU. This program requires a 14-week commitment on Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from early February through mid-May, and is taught by faculty from the undergraduate departments.
📍 New York, NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Stone Soup
Stone Soup Magazine
Magazine of writing and art by children and teens up to age 14.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 5–9
Selective
The Young Authors Foundation
Teen Ink
An award-winning monthly print and online magazine by and for teens.
📍 Online / Jersey City, NJ📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Daphne Review
The Daphne Review
An independent literary journal specifically for middle and high school writers and artists.
📍 Online📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Vans
Vans Custom Culture Art Competition
National high school art competition to design custom Vans shoes for cash and supply grants.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kennedy Center
VSA Emerging Young Artists Program
Awards for young artists with disabilities; cash and exhibition at the Kennedy Center.
📍 Online📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Whitney Museum
Whitney Museum Youth Insights
Paid teen programs and internships at the Whitney.
📍 New York, NY⏱ Academic year📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Pratt Institute
Workshops
Spend an afternoon exploring Pratt’s Brooklyn campus through a 3-hour hands-on workshop led by Pratt faculty.
📍 Brooklyn, NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
National YoungArts Foundation
YoungArts
Free national arts competition. Winners receive cash awards, mentorship, and the chance to perform at YoungArts Week in Miami.
📍 Miami + regional⏱ 1 week📅 October🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
National YoungArts
YoungArts at Oberlin: A One-Day Summer Intensive for High School Artists
A one-day summer intensive program at Oberlin Conservatory of Music for high school artists.
📍 Oberlin Conservatory of Music📅 Aug 12, 2026🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
National YoungArts Foundation
YoungArts Awards
National competition in writing, visual arts, design, music, theater, film for 15-18 year olds.
📍 Miami, FL⏱ Year-round📅 October🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists
YoungArts National Arts Competition
One of the nation's most prestigious honors for high school students in the visual, literary, and performing arts.
📍 Miami, FL / Nationwide📅 December 1🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
National YoungArts
YoungArts Theater
National recognition program for theater artists 15-18.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 October🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective

Visual Arts programs for high schoolers.

All visual arts programs

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