§ Visual Arts

Visual Arts programs for high schoolers.

59 programs indexed in visual arts. 31 are free or pay a stipend. This page updates whenever we add a new visual arts program.

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All visual arts programs

The College of New Jersey
2D Animation Camp
Students create an animated short while learning professional animation techniques. 2026 cost: $800 commuter/$1,200 residential.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Georgia
3D Animation
Students learn modeling and animation in Autodesk Maya and build original 3D assets while exploring applications in film, game development and design.
📍 GA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
California Water Service
A Splash of Creativity
Students submit original artwork addressing water conservation and local California water issues for statewide recognition and awards.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Pennsylvania
Academies in the Arts
Explore your passion for the arts through specialized academies designed for high school students. Programs may include visual arts, performing arts, and creative writing.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
Wave Hill
ACES — Art, Community, Education and Science
Year-long paid youth program connecting arts education, environmental science, community engagement and informal teaching.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
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
Montana Department of Revenue, Cannabis & Alcohol Regulation Division
Alcohol Responsibility Matters Scholarship
Montana seniors submit original artwork plus a short artist statement about responsible alcohol consumption. The 2026 cycle awarded five one-time $2,000 scholarships and was the program's third annual competition.
📍 MT🎓 Grade 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
Las Cruces Public Schools Foundation
Ana Maria Samaniego Scholarship in the Arts
$1,000 scholarship for an LCPS senior planning to major in the arts at a New Mexico college or university.
📍 NM🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Indiana University Cinema Academy
Animation Academy
Students use professional software and equipment to explore digital animation techniques used in film, television, and games.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Montclair State University
Animation and VFX
Pre-college intensive in animation and visual-effects production.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Michigan Taubman College
ArcStart
Students spend three residential weeks learning architectural drawing, drafting, modeling, history, studio design, and portfolio development. The 2026 fee was $6,250.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
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📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Anderson University
Art & Design Summer Institute
Hands-on studio art/design experience.
📍 SC🎓 Grades 9, 12
Moderate
Ohio University
Art + Design Summer Studios
Two-week intensive studio program where students work in university art facilities across multiple media.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Mississippi State University Extension Service
Art Doing Its Part
Mississippi high-school students create artwork, slogans, and short reflections explaining connections between litter and waterway pollution. The statewide contest highlights regional environmental challenges and uses winning work in public-awareness campaigns.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Art in the Outdoors Camp
Students use painting, photography and multimedia art while drawing inspiration from outdoor and natural environments.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
North Carolina Association for Scholastic Activities
Art Showcase
Students create work in painting, drawing, collage, photography and other media; top entries advance from school-level competition to statewide judging.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Central Arkansas
Art, Geometry and Modular Design STEAM Camp
Students connect geometry, spatial reasoning, paper folding and geometric construction to build three-dimensional and collaborative installations.
📍 AR🎓 Grade 9
Selective
Cosmosphere
Arts and SpaceCrafts
Students combine astronomy, engineering, science, and visual creativity through a residential series of space-inspired art and STEAM projects.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Carleton College Summer Liberal Arts Institute
Between Worlds: Home, Borders, and Belonging
Students study home, borders, and belonging through Latin American studies, English, art, and photography in an interdisciplinary college-level setting.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
LA County Department of Arts and Culture
Bloomberg Arts Internship — Los Angeles County
Students work at arts and cultural organizations while completing intensive college-readiness training, professional development, mentorship and career preparation.
📍 CA🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Blue Marble Review
Blue Marble Review
Online literary journal of writing and art by teens worldwide.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
NCSSM-Durham
Blue Mirror
Primarily student-run art and literature journal publishing creative writing and visual work from NCSSM students multiple times each year.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
Bob Tyler Fish Hatchery Youth Art Contest
Mississippi students depict native fish or wildlife species through original artwork. Winners receive gift cards, publication in Mississippi Outdoors, and display on MDWFP platforms.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–12
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
University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Architecture
Career Explorations in Architecture, Interior Design and Landscape Architecture Workshop
Six-day residential design workshop featuring studio projects, design discussions and exploration of architecture, landscape architecture and interior design. The 2027 session is already confirmed for June 6–11 and costs $650, with scholarships available.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 11–12
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
Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
Carnegie Museum of Art Youth Art Initiative
Student-driven high-school internship connecting Pittsburgh teens with museum staff, contemporary art and public programming.
📍 PA🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
Carnegie Museum Teen Volunteer Assistants
Teen placements across Carnegie Museum of Art, Natural History and Powdermill programs.
📍 PA🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
Western Governors' Foundation
Celebrate the West — Idaho
High-school students create artwork inspired by their western state and compete first for state recognition and then regional awards.
📍 ID🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Evansville
Ceramics Camp — Grades 9–12
High-school students explore ceramics through hand-building, wheel throwing, glazing, and studio practice.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
George Fox University
Ceramics Institute (2027 Pre-College Summer Institute)
Studio ceramics, design, creativity and problem-solving; part of GFU's 2027 Pre-College Summer Institute.
📍 OR🎓 Grades 10, 12
Moderate
Connecticut Office of the State Treasurer
CHET Dream Big! Competition
Connecticut students submit an essay, video or artwork addressing their aspirations or how they can help their community, competing for CHET college-savings awards.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Chickasaw Nation
Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy
Young artists receive intensive arts instruction, creative development and career-preparation programming.
📍 OK🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Children's Museum of New Hampshire
Children's Museum of New Hampshire Volunteer Program
Volunteers age 15+ can assist with museum programs, summer camps, student activities and drop-in STEAM experiences involving art, culture and science.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Alaska Anchorage College of Engineering
Code, Create, and Computational Thinking
Students learn text-based JavaScript through p5.js while creating animations, digital art, interactive projects and simple games, with exposure to AI and computational thinking.
📍 AK🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Arizona State University School of Art
Comics and Storyboards Camp
Students create original comics, anime, manga, characters, storyboards, figures, poses, and visual narratives while learning illustration techniques.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
The College of New Jersey
Comics Camp
Explores comics history and theory while students write, illustrate and develop original comics.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
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
Delaware Court of Chancery
Court of Chancery Legal Art Contest
Students interpret a legal theme through an essay, poem, visual artwork or musical composition. The 2026 theme was "Equity: What Does it Mean to You?"
📍 DE🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kean University Galleries
CREATE at the Galleries
Pre-college art program featuring studio work, gallery experiences, sustainable materials, sculpture/drawing and portfolio/exhibition development.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Jackson State University Margaret Walker Center
Creative Arts & Scholarly Engagement (CASE) Festival
High-school students submit and present essays, poetry, spoken word, fiction, performing arts, or visual art before audiences of students and professors during this annual interdisciplinary festival.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Temple University
Creative Scholars
Year-long full-scholarship Saturday art/design program for Philadelphia students with financial need.
📍 PA🎓 Grades 10, 12
Selective
Loyola University New Orleans College of Music and Media
Creative Summer Experience
High-school students choose intensive creative tracks while gaining hands-on experience in areas such as graphic design, motion design, photography, book arts, game design, film, theatre, and music. Need-based scholarships are available.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Iowa State University College of Design
Creators of Tomorrow
Students interested in art, planning, and design complete a hands-on multidisciplinary project, interact with design professionals and current students, tour campus, and receive college and financial-aid guidance. The one-day program is free and offered in spring and fall.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Cincinnati
DAAPcamps
Creative summer immersions in architecture, fashion, fine art, industrial design and communication design, offered in residential and day formats.
📍 OH🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Highly Selective
Maine Community Foundation
Daniel Cardillo Charitable Fund
Maine young people needing financial assistance can receive support to pursue meaningful artistic, academic, athletic, vocational, or experiential opportunities outside traditional school.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
State of Delaware / University of Delaware
Delaware Governor's School for Excellence
Highly selective residential program with academic and visual/performing-arts tracks. Students study subjects including humanities, government, science, economics and the arts with UD faculty.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Reach Higher Montana
Design a Sticker, Win a Scholarship
Montana students create an original sticker design intended to inspire other high-school students. Awards range from $500 to $1,500, with additional funding for the winning students' school or community art programs.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NC State College of Design
Design Connections Residential Experience
Free residential design program for North Carolina students with limited access to design education; participants complete an interdisciplinary studio project.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Mississippi State University School of Architecture
Design Discovery
Students experience the intensity of architecture school through drawing, modeling, full-scale construction, structural studies, product design, field sketching, and a residential-design project. Summer 2027 is confirmed to return.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Design Hive
Paid youth-led design initiative where students collaborate with professional designers, create projects and develop public programming. The 2027 cohort runs January–June.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Arizona State University
Digital Culture Summer Institute
Project-based workshops combine digital media, arts, music, computing, engineering, technology, and design under ASU faculty and graduate-student instruction.
📍 AZ🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Architecture
Discover Architecture
Rising sophomores through seniors explore architectural design through studio work and other hands-on activities. The next listed session is July 11–17, 2027, with the program fee listed as TBD.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Google
Doodle for Google
Annual K-12 art contest with college scholarships.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 Spring🎓 Grades 1–12
Selective
Dunwoody College of Technology
Dunwoody Design Camp
Students complete hands-on projects in architecture, interior design, and graphic design, interact with industry professionals, and visit local design firms. The 2026 fee was $350, including lunch, supplies, and a field trip.
📍 MN🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate

Visual Arts programs for high schoolers.

All visual arts programs

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