§ Visual Arts

Visual Arts programs for high schoolers.

371 programs indexed in visual arts. 181 are free or pay a stipend. 8 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

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
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
Idaho Commission on the Arts (Arts Idaho), administered via the Anthony Quinn Foundation
Anthony Quinn Scholarship
A scholarship for high school students accepted to a recognized pre-college or summer intensive arts program, covering literary arts, media arts (animation, film, video), performing arts, and visual arts.
📍 Idaho (national program, application online)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Washington Youth & Teen Programs
Architectural Studies I (UW Youth & Teen Programs)
A multidisciplinary course introducing architectural design through design prompts, model making, drawing and visual presentation, ending with an exhibition for guests from the architectural design community.
📍 UW Seattle campus, Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Washington Youth & Teen Programs
Architectural Studies II (UW Youth & Teen Programs)
Builds on Architectural Studies I: students work with a hypothetical client, study the history and socioeconomic conditions of a chosen community, and present their work to professional designers.
📍 UW Seattle campus, Seattle, WA (spring session online)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
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
Arizona FCCLA
Arizona FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America)
Career and technical student organization built into Family and Consumer Sciences education, offering 35+ competitive events in culinary arts, fashion/interior design, and early childhood education, plus scholarships at the State Leadership Conference.
📍 Statewide, AZ📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Phoenix Film Foundation
Arizona Student Film Festival
Statewide short-film competition, running since 2007, for grade school and high school filmmakers whose selected films screen during the Phoenix Film Festival; the Best High School Film wins a $1,000 scholarship.
📍 Phoenix, AZ📅 January🎓 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
Arkansas Scholastic Press Association
Arkansas Scholastic Press Association Spring Convention
A statewide convention for student journalists offering on-site and mail-in contests across yearbook, newspaper, broadcast and social media production, plus workshops, keynote speakers, and General Excellence and All-Arkansas awards.
📍 Fayetteville, AR📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
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
The Nicolaysen Art Museum (The NIC)
Art Studio at The NIC (Nicolaysen Art Museum)
A monthly Saturday art class for students in grades 6-10 at the Nicolaysen Art Museum in Casper where students experiment with different art media, develop their skills and explore their own ideas.
📍 Casper, WY📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–10
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
ArtWorks for Milwaukee
ArtWorks for Milwaukee High School Internship
Five-month paid internships for Milwaukee-area high school students who build career skills through public arts projects, in seasonal areas such as Environmental Arts and Community Arts plus Mental Health Advocacy.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Milwaukee Art Museum
ArtXpress Summer Internship (Milwaukee Art Museum)
A four-week paid summer internship where Milwaukee-area teens ages 16-18 work with local artists to design a mural about a city issue, mentor MPS elementary students as museum docents, and see the mural displayed on a Milwaukee County bus.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Burlington City Arts with Juniper Creative
BCA Youth Artist Apprenticeship Program
A paid four-week public art residency where Burlington-based youth work with professional artists to design and paint a mural, from concept development through installation.
📍 BCA Center, 135 Church Street, Burlington, VT📅 June🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Bennington Museum
Bennington Museum Curatorial Internship (High School)
A paid summer curatorial internship for high school students at the Bennington Museum, working mainly with the Collections Manager while also gaining experience in marketing, education and visitor services.
📍 Bennington Museum, Bennington, VT📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Bennington College
Bennington Young Artists Awards
A free competition for high school artists submitting two-dimensional work (paintings, drawings, photographs), three-dimensional work (sculpture, ceramics) or digital media (video, audio, animation up to 2 minutes), with cash prizes and scholarships for winners who enroll at Bennington.
📍 Online submission (Bennington College, Bennington, VT)📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Bennington College
Bennington Young Innovators Awards (AI)
A free competition for high school students with three AI-focused submission tracks: creating an original artistic work using AI with a reflective essay, writing a critical essay on AI's ethical, social or cultural impact, or building an AI solution to a real-world problem with a short video demonstration.
📍 Online submission (Bennington College, Bennington, VT)📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
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
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America - California
California FCCLA
California's chapter of the only national CTSO centered on family and consumer sciences, where students compete in STAR Events spanning child development, culinary, fashion, and entrepreneurship.
📍 California; State Leadership Conference in Riverside, CA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
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
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
CAMH Teen Council Open Call: Utopias
An open call for teen artists aged 13-19 from the Greater Houston area to submit work in any media (2D, 3D, new media, installation, performance) exploring utopian themes for a museum exhibition. Selected artists receive a modest honorarium.
📍 Houston, TX📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
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
Columbus College of Art & Design
CCAD College Preview
A two-week pre-college program on CCAD's downtown Columbus campus where rising sophomores through seniors choose a major such as animation, illustration, game art and design, fashion design, or interior architecture, take college-level courses for credit, and build a portfolio.
📍 Columbus, OH📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Cedar Rapids Independent Filmmakers
Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival (CRIFF) Student Categories
A regional film festival with dedicated student divisions (freestyle, narrative short and long form, documentary) plus a $1,000 Collins Road Theatres scholarship and a Student Audience Choice award at a discounted-ticket Student Cinema Sunday screening.
📍 Cedar Rapids, IA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
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
Champlain College
Champlain College Animation Academy
Two-week residential pre-college program creating 2-D animations in Toon Boom Harmony and working with Maya, ZBrush, Photoshop and After Effects, from character design to stop-motion.
📍 Burlington, VT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Champlain College
Champlain Game Academy
A two-week residential game development program covering game art, design, programming in C# and Unity, production and sound, ending with a playable prototype.
📍 Champlain College, Burlington, VT📅 Varies🎓 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
Creative Art Society (Southeastern Michigan)
Creative Art Society Visual Art Scholarships
Three $750 scholarships awarded annually to graduating seniors, alumni, or residents of Michigan's Downriver communities pursuing visual arts degrees such as fine arts, art education, architecture, graphic design, or artistic welding.
📍 Downriver Michigan (Wayne County)📅 April🎓 Grade 12
Selective
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
UNT College of Visual Arts and Design
Creative U Pre-College Art & Design Summer Experience
Week-long pre-college sessions at the UNT Art Building covering graphic design, metalsmithing, printmaking, book arts, papermaking, illustration, interior design, sculpture and photography. No prior artmaking or design experience is required.
📍 Denton, TX📅 Varies🎓 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
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Crystal Bridges Teen Summer Volunteer Program
High school students in grades 9-12 can join one of three summer teen volunteer tracks - Grounds Crew, Youth & Family Art Crew, or the Junior Instructor Program - developing leadership and communication skills while earning service hours.
📍 Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
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
Delaware Technical Community College
Delaware Tech Youth Summer Camps
Summer camps and pre-college activities at Delaware Tech's Dover, Georgetown, and Stanton/Wilmington campuses spanning academics, careers, sports, and the arts for area youth.
📍 Dover, Georgetown & Stanton/Wilmington, DE📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
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
George Mason University Mason Community Arts Academy
Digital Illustration: Choose Your Own Adventure (Mason Community Arts Academy)
A guided art camp for ages 13-18 where students design a character, roll dice and draw their own adventure using drawing tablets and styluses provided in class.
📍 Fairfax, VA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Washington Youth & Teen Programs
Digital Photography: Camera, Composition & Beyond (UW Youth & Teen Programs)
Covers camera settings and handling, composition and storytelling; students photograph around the UW Seattle campus and build a portfolio with feedback from instructors and visiting professionals.
📍 UW Seattle campus, Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 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
Eastern Illinois University
EIU Summer Art Camp
High-school artists participate in a residential university art camp with studio instruction and creative work. The 2026 program fee was $600.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (Glassell School of Art)
Emerging Artists: Early College Program
A studio art program for high school artists ages 15-18 with courses in painting, printmaking, jewelry, photography, fashion, ceramics and digital media, portfolio building, free museum access and optional dual credit through the University of St. Thomas.
📍 Houston, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
New York State Council on the Arts / NYS
Empire State Arts Scholarship
Need-based funding helps New York students participate in approved arts education programs. Grades 9–12 are within the eligible grade range. Note: waitlist-only for summer 2026.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Studio Museum in Harlem
Expanding the Walls
Free eight-month photography program combining art, history, community research, artist workshops and exhibition curation. Participants receive a $1,000 stipend and DSLR camera.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts
Experience NOCCA Workshop Series
Louisiana students participate in after-school conservatory-style workshops spanning NOCCA's artistic disciplines, including audition-preparation opportunities for students considering advanced arts training.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
University of Mississippi Summer College for High School Students
Explore the Arts
A four-week residential dual-credit summer college program for aspiring artists choosing among art, theatre, music, and film emphases, earning six to seven transferable college credit hours.
📍 Oxford, MS📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Mississippi
Fantasy World Building: Character Design for RPGs and Other Games
Rising ninth graders create fictional worlds, landscapes, characters, narratives, maps, and models while using role-playing games as a framework for art and storytelling.
📍 MS🎓 Grade 9
Moderate
Kansas State University School of Consumer Sciences
Farm to Fashion Camp
Students explore sheep and wool production along with spinning, dyeing, weaving, fiber arts, and fashion design during a four-day hands-on camp.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Montclair State University
Fashion Design
Studio-based introduction to fashion design and the creative design process.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Montclair State University
Fashion Merchandising
Explores the commercial, marketing and merchandising side of fashion.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
The Loft Literary Center
Finding Your Story Through Images: Writing with Visual Art
A single-session online workshop for teen writers ages 15-18 that pairs visual art with creative writing prompts, taught by a Loft instructor as part of the Loft's year-round Young Writers' Program for ages 6-18.
📍 Online (The Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis, MN)📅 November🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Fourth Circuit Civics Contest
Students from North Carolina and other Fourth Circuit states create an original civics-themed graphic poster and written statement for cash prizes.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
DePauw University
Gateway to Gold: A DePauw Summer Experience
A four-night residential precollege camp for rising sophomores through seniors, with tracks in business, STEAM, the arts, and social change, taught by DePauw faculty with student mentors.
📍 Greencastle, IN📅 June🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Center for Civic Values / NMAA
Gene Franchini New Mexico High School Mock Trial
Students serve as attorneys and witnesses, prepare cases with attorney coaches and compete through qualifiers and state finals. Separate courtroom journalism and courtroom art divisions also exist.
📍 NM🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Georgia FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America)
Georgia FCCLA STAR Events
STAR Events (Students Taking Action with Recognition) let Georgia FCCLA members compete in over 30 categories -- including culinary arts and fashion design -- at regional, state, and national levels.
📍 Statewide; State Leadership Conference📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Georgia Office of Education and Workforce Strategy
Georgia Governor's Honors Program
GHP is a free residential summer program for talented high school sophomores and juniors, held mid-June to mid-July on a college campus with academic, cultural, and social enrichment beyond typical classroom instruction.
📍 Residential college campus, Georgia (site varies by year)📅 November🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Georgia Tech CEISMC
Georgia Tech CEISMC Summer PEAKS
Summer PEAKS offers one- to two-week immersive STEAM sessions on Georgia Tech's campus for rising 9th-12th graders, with hands-on, experiential projects across science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.
📍 Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Governor's Institutes of Vermont
Governor's Institutes of Vermont: Arts Institute
Two-week residential arts institute where students choose two focus areas such as theater, music, writing, painting, film, dance and comics, with 108+ hours of arts training and an evening Artist Series.
📍 Castleton, VT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Governor's Institutes of Vermont (GIV)
Governor's Institutes of Vermont: Technology & Design Institute
A 9-day residential institute with game design, information technology and digital media strands covering Python programming, microcontrollers, robotics, cybersecurity, animation, UI/UX design and virtual reality.
📍 Champlain College, Burlington, VT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
West Virginia Department of Education / West Virginia Wesleyan College
Governor's School for the Arts
A free three-week summer arts program for West Virginia sophomores with auditioned tracks in creative writing, dance, digital art/media, instrumental music, studio art, theatre and vocal music.
📍 West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, WV📅 March🎓 Grade 10
Selective
Arkansas Governor's Mansion Association
Governor's Young Artist Competition
Arkansas high-school artists submit drawings, paintings, illustrations, ceramics, or mixed-media work for a statewide juried exhibition at the Governor's Mansion.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Purchase College, SUNY
Graphic Design
Studio-based design intensive covering visual communication, typography and digital design.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Nevada, Las Vegas Department of Art
Graphic Design Bootcamp
Twelve-day intensive covering image editing, vector illustration, typography and publication design with industry-standard software, culminating in a capstone project. The 2026 fee was $600.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
The College of New Jersey
Graphic Design Camp
Students use Adobe Creative Suite while studying typography, print/digital media and professional design careers.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Hastings College
Hastings College Open Space for Visual and Performing Arts
High school juniors and sophomores with strong artistic ability spend a week immersed in visual arts (up to 35 students) or performing arts (up to 35 students in music or theatre), with Jackson Dinsdale Endowment scholarships covering most of the cost.
📍 Hastings College, Hastings, NE📅 March🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
Hawaiʻi Academy of Science
Hawaiʻi STEM Poster Contest
Students create original artwork interpreting an annual STEM theme; high-school entries are judged separately and top students receive cash prizes.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Idaho
High School Art & Design Exhibition
High-school artists submit original artwork for juried selection into the University of Idaho's annual exhibition, with approximately 30 pieces displayed and student awards presented.
📍 ID🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership
High School Art & Marine Science
A one-week residential program on Hurricane Island for rising 9th-12th graders that pairs marine-science observation with art-making and ends with a public gallery exhibition.
📍 Hurricane Island, ME📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Evansville
High School Art Camp
High-school artists work in university studios on drawing, painting, perspective, figure drawing, and design while experiencing collegiate art instruction.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Towson University Department of Art + Design, Art History, and Art Education
High School Art Scholarship Portfolio Competition
Each fall, Maryland high schools nominate up to two outstanding seniors to submit a portfolio for review by Towson art faculty, competing for renewable departmental scholarships.
📍 Towson, MD📅 January🎓 Grade 12
Selective
New Jersey State Bar Foundation
High School Courtroom Artist Competition
Students observe mock-trial proceedings and create courtroom sketches judged through county and state competition rounds. The 2026–27 cycle is currently active, with registration due October 28, 2026.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
AIA New Hampshire
High School Design Challenge
New Hampshire students respond to an annual architecture/design brief, developing drawings, graphics and a three-dimensional model. Top projects receive recognition and cash awards.
📍 NH🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Idaho College of Art and Architecture
High School Design Day
Students rotate through architecture, art, interior architecture, landscape architecture, virtual-reality and portfolio-development activities with U of I faculty and students.
📍 ID🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Carolina Theatre Conference
High School Play Festival
School theatre companies perform productions at regional festivals, receive professional adjudication and may advance to the statewide festival.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)
High School Summer 10-Day Courses
Ten-day summer precollege courses at FIT for students in grades 9-12 covering fashion, design, and related creative fields, with graded coursework and an official transcript.
📍 New York, NY📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Idaho Transportation Department Division of Aeronautics
Idaho Aviation Art Contest
Students create aviation-themed artwork for statewide judging, with winners receiving prizes and aviation-related recognition.
📍 ID🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Idaho Department of Education
Idaho Holiday Card Contest
Idaho students submit original artwork for consideration as the Department of Education's official holiday card design. Grades 7–12 compete in the older-student division.
📍 ID🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Idaho Journalism Workshop
Idaho Journalism Workshop
An annual summer workshop for high school yearbook and journalism staffs covering theme development, photography, layout design, caption writing, and social media marketing, held at a Boise hotel each July.
📍 Boise, ID📅 July🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Illinois FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America)
Illinois FCCLA
Illinois chapter of the national Family and Consumer Sciences student organization, where members compete in child development, fashion, interior design, culinary, and entrepreneurship events at sectional, state, and national levels.
📍 Illinois (chapters statewide)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
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
In-Sight Photography Project
In-Sight Photography Project Youth Classes
Photography classes for youth ages 11 to 18 in Brattleboro with all equipment provided; fall offerings include Photo Club, Digital Photography and Night Photography.
📍 183 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 6–12
Moderate
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service / Indiana (Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area)
Indiana Junior Duck Stamp Contest
A conservation-through-art contest where students draw a native duck, goose, or swan in its habitat; Indiana's Best of Show winner in the grades 10-12 category advances to the national competition.
📍 Submissions to Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area, Linton, IN📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NCSSM-Morganton
Indigo Ridge
Student-run Morganton art and literature journal providing an outlet for student creative writing and artwork, with two issues annually.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12
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📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Arts Camp: Six-Week Art Camps
Six-week summer arts programs for students in various disciplines.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
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📅 January🎓 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📅 January🎓 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
Interlochen Arts Camp
Interlochen Visual Arts Summer Program (High School)
Three-week residential summer program in northern Michigan for grades 9-12: Drawing and Painting plus one elective studio (digital media, film photography, printmaking, metals or ceramics) in the Dow Center for Visual Arts, ending with a student exhibition. 2027 tuition $7,550; financial aid and scholarships available.
📍 Interlochen, MI📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
IEFTA
International Emerging Film Talent Association
International youth film mentorship and festival access programs.
📍 International📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
International Music Camp
International Music Camp - Visual Arts Sessions
A residential summer fine arts camp on the North Dakota/Manitoba border offering drawing, painting, sculpture, and cartooning sessions for middle and high school students.
📍 Dunseith, ND (International Peace Garden)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
George Mason University Mason Community Arts Academy
Intro to Digital Photography (Mason Community Arts Academy)
A summer camp teaching digital photography fundamentals to students ages 13-18 at George Mason's Art and Design Building.
📍 Fairfax, VA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Iowa State University College of Health and Human Sciences
Iowa State Fashion Camp
Students explore fashion design, sewing, illustration, styling, trend forecasting, visual merchandising, Photoshop, sustainable design, and garment creation during a week on campus. The 2026 fee ranged from $625 to $925 depending on commuter/residential and registration timing.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
College of the Atlantic
Islands Through Time
A two-week pre-college program for rising juniors and seniors exploring the ecology, culture, and history of the Maine coast through marine biology, field ecology, writing, and art, based at College of the Atlantic's island field stations.
📍 Bar Harbor / Mount Desert Rock, ME🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
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
DePaul University
Jarvis Game Development Summer Camp
Students use Unreal Editor for Fortnite and related tools to explore game design, level development, character art, and animation. The 2026 camp cost $450, with full scholarships available.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
George Mason University Mason Community Arts Academy
JumpstART 2D Advanced Summer Studio (Mason Community Arts Academy)
An advanced summer studio for ages 14-18 producing 2D artwork that can be included in a college portfolio, taught by George Mason School of Art faculty.
📍 Fairfax, VA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
George Mason University Mason Community Arts Academy
JumpstART 3D Advanced Summer Studio (Mason Community Arts Academy)
An advanced summer studio for ages 14-18 producing 3D artwork for a portfolio, taught by George Mason School of Art faculty.
📍 Fairfax, VA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Oregon State University, SVPDA Academy
JumpstART Pre-College Art Program
A one-week pre-college intensive for grades 9-12 covering drawing, painting, sequential art/comics, graphic design, and photography, taught by professional artists and JumpstART alumni with both day and residential options.
📍 Corvallis, OR📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
California Coastal Commission
K–12 Coastal Art & Poetry Contest
Students create original visual artwork or poetry inspired by California's coast and ocean, with selected pieces displayed publicly in a traveling exhibit.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Joslyn Art Museum
Kent Bellows Mentoring Program
Year-round mentorship pairing high-school artists with professional artists. Students develop original work, technical skills and portfolios and participate in exhibitions; separate foundations and core tracks serve younger and older high-school students.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Kentucky Performing Arts
Kentucky Governor's School for the Arts (GSA)
Kentucky sophomores and juniors compete for admission to an intensive three-week residential arts program in disciplines including architecture, writing, film, music, theatre, dance, graphic design, and visual art. The program is free for accepted students.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 10–11
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
Kimbell Art Museum
Kimbell Teen Council
Grade 9-12 members work with museum professionals to plan and run Kimbell teen programs such as Teen Hangouts, volunteer at education programs and events, and consult on museum projects. Members learn about the collection through behind-the-scenes experiences.
📍 Fort Worth, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Kansas School of Architecture & Design
KU Design Camp — Kansas City
Kansas City-area high-school students attend a lower-cost week-long day program at KU Edwards Campus with faculty-led design workshops such as footwear and product design.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Kansas School of Architecture & Design
KU Design Camp — Lawrence
Students spend a residential week completing architecture and design workshops taught by KU faculty while developing portfolio-ready projects. Topics include areas such as branding, animation, architecture, and visual communication.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice
Lantos Activist Artist Scholarship
New Hampshire seniors use visual art, writing, music, dance or other creative work to address human-rights issues. The 2026 program distributed $15,000 among eight students.
📍 NH🎓 Grade 12
Selective
New York State Unified Court System
Law Day High School Art Contest
Students create original visual art responding to the annual Law Day theme, with statewide recognition and cash prizes.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Lewis University
Lewis University Art Camp
Students in grades 9–12 explore drawing and painting, three-dimensional clay work, and digital-media design in a four-day day camp. The 2026 fee was $250.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Maine Media Workshops + College
Maine Media Academy Summer Academy
Two- to four-week residential workshops for teens (14-18) in filmmaking, digital and alternative photography, and book arts & design, taught by working artists on Maine Media's Rockport campus, with portfolio-level output and optional high school credit.
📍 Rockport, ME📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D)
Maine Region Scholastic Art Awards
The Maine affiliate of the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, open to students in grades 7-12 to submit original artwork across eighteen categories including painting, photography, sculpture, and video game design for scholarships and national recognition.
📍 Portland, ME (MECA&D; digital submission)📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Kentucky Martin Luther King Jr. State Commission
Martin Luther King Jr. Essay, Artwork and Poetry Contest
Kentucky students can submit an essay, poem, or visual artwork inspired by the annual theme surrounding Dr. King's legacy, diversity, unity, equality, and justice.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Robert H. Mollohan Family Charitable Foundation
Mary Olive Eddy Jones Art Scholarship
A $1,000 scholarship for a West Virginia high school senior majoring in an art-related field (or a college sophomore or junior at a West Virginia institution majoring in art), paid to the student's college.
📍 West Virginia📅 May🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) Arts Program
Maryland High School Juried Art Exhibition
A statewide juried exhibition open to students in all Maryland high schools, showcasing artwork in all mediums with cash awards split between the student and their school's arts program.
📍 College Park, MD📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts (BOPA)
Maryland Region Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
The Maryland regional affiliate of the nation's longest-running teen creative recognition program, judging student art and writing submissions across 28 categories, with Gold Key winners advancing to national judging.
📍 Baltimore, MD📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
The Arts Inc. of Southwest Wyoming
MAT Camp (Music, Arts & Theatre Camp)
A week-long summer arts enrichment camp in Evanston with classes in music, voice, theatre, dance, art and technology for children, youth and adults.
📍 Evanston, WY📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Museum of Contemporary Art Denver / The Denver Foundation
MCA Denver Failure Award Scholarship
Colorado seniors submit an original project demonstrating creative experimentation and meaningful risk-taking, then finalists publicly present their projects.
📍 CO🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD)
MCAD Pre-College Summer Session
A two-and-a-half-week, 3-college-credit residential studio program for students who have completed sophomore, junior, or senior year, who choose a major such as animation, illustration, painting, or character design and concept art and spend full days in foundation and major-specific classes.
📍 Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Minneapolis, MN📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Mississippi
Me, Myself, and Art
Students explore identity and visual communication through portraits, collaborative painting, embroidery, collage, watercolor, and a culminating gallery exhibition.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) Youth & Community Programs
MIAD Design Internship
A free year-long program for motivated high school students interested in design careers, including a 50-hour paid internship with a professional design partner, free tuition to MIAD Summer Pre-College and mentorship.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD)
MIAD Summer Pre-College Program
Two- and three-week studio programs for high school students taught by MIAD faculty in areas such as illustration, drawing, photography, graphic design and industrial design, with Advanced Studio Concepts earning 3 college credits.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
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
Michigan Department of State
Michigan "I Voted" Sticker Contest — High School Division
Michigan students in grades 9–12 submit original, nonpartisan "I Voted" sticker designs; finalists advance to public voting and winning designs are distributed during elections.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Office of the Governor of Michigan
Michigan State of the State Art Contest
Michigan K–12 students create original artwork around the governor's annual State of the State theme, with winning work featured in the official program.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maine Media Workshops + College
Midcoast Maine Summer Arts Expedition: Book Arts & Design
A two-week residential program focused on book arts and design (hand-bound sketchbooks, letterpress, zines, gelli-printing) with field trips to Midcoast Maine museums and artist estates, on Maine Media's Rockport campus.
📍 Rockport, ME📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Midwest Artist Academy (hosted at UW-Eau Claire)
Midwest Artist Academy
A one-week residential pre-college arts experience for ages 14-18 on the UW-Eau Claire campus with focuses in art, dance, music, theater and writing that blend toward a final showcase.
📍 Eau Claire, WI📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Mississippi Museum of Art
Mississippi Museum of Art Teen Council
Grades 9–12 work with museum staff throughout the academic year, advise how the museum engages young audiences, meet artists and cultural professionals, and design museum events for other teens.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Missoula Art Museum
Missoula Art Museum Teen Art Project & Teen Open Studio
Free teen art programming where middle and high schoolers get hands-on instruction from professional artists in drawing, painting, ceramics, and more, plus a Summer Teen Art Project focused on community and leadership.
📍 Missoula Art Museum, Missoula, MT📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Missouri State University
Missouri Fine Arts Academy
Two-week residential academy offering intensive work in visual art, music, creative writing and other arts disciplines. Tuition for the 2026 academy was fully covered by state/private funding.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
MMoCA Teen Forum
A paid teen group of Madison-area high school students who learn how an art exhibition is developed, plan educational programming and explore arts careers, meeting at the museum 6-8 hours per month.
📍 Madison, WI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
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
Montana Office of Public Instruction
Montana Student Art Gallery
Statewide juried student-art program. Selected pieces are displayed at OPI for approximately one year and students receive formal recognition; the 2026–27 theme is "Montana Through Your Eyes." There is no participation fee.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi School of the Arts
MSA Summer Arts Camp
Students choose intensive study in creative writing, dance, theatre, visual art, filmmaking, or vocal music plus two additional enrichment arts classes, culminating in a family showcase.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–10
Moderate
Sternberg Museum of Natural History / Fort Hays State University
Museum Academy Kansas
Students use authentic fossils and scientific literature while learning museum research, collections care, scientific illustration, exhibit design, and public science communication.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Museum Leaders in Training (M.LiT) at VMFA
A free, 12-week career development and leadership training program in which teens go behind the scenes at VMFA, explore museum careers, advise on projects and events, and design an exhibition, earning 50+ community service hours.
📍 Richmond, VA📅 September🎓 Grades 8–12
Selective
Yellowstone Art Museum
Museum Teen Council
Free teen council for ages 13–18 where members create art, collaborate on museum activities, meet arts professionals, volunteer and help shape teen programming. The fall 2026 cohort begins in October.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
N.C. State Fair Art & Photography Competition
North Carolina residents may submit original painting, drawing and photography to the annual State Fair competition.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
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
North Carolina Museum of Art
NCMA Student Short-Film Festival
The museum's first-ever student short-film festival, giving aspiring young filmmakers and artists a venue to screen and grow their work.
📍 Raleigh, NC📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
North Carolina Museum of Art
NCMA Teen Workshops
Workshops for ages 13-18 led by professional artists, writers, and filmmakers, plus a Teen Arts Council that advises teen exhibitions and plans museum takeovers.
📍 Raleigh, NC📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Carolina Theatre Conference
NCTC College Day
High-school students meet college theatre programs, participate in auditions or portfolio reviews and explore postsecondary performing-arts options.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Nebraska–Lincoln Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts
Nebraska Young Artist Awards
Nebraska juniors submit work in visual art, music, dance, theatre, or film/emerging media for statewide recognition. Selected students attend an awards and arts-exploration day at UNL and may become eligible for a Hixson-Lied scholarship if they later enroll there.
📍 NE🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Institute of American Indian Arts
New Freshman Summer Bridge
Incoming IAIA students can earn college credit, live on campus and receive academic/cultural support before their first semester. Tuition, housing, meals, tutoring and program activities are covered aside from a refundable housing deposit.
📍 NM🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Manchester Artists Association
New Hampshire High School Senior Art Scholarship
Annual scholarship supporting a New Hampshire high-school senior planning postsecondary study or a career in the visual arts.
📍 NH🎓 Grade 12
Selective
New Jersey State Museum
New Jersey State Museum Teen Volunteer Program
Volunteers age 14+ assist museum educators with programs, family activities, carts, events and other educational experiences while earning service experience.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Teen Arts NJ
New Jersey State Teen Arts Festival
Statewide multi-day youth arts festival where students present visual, literary and performing work, receive professional critiques and participate in workshops and performances.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
New Mexico Arts / New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs
New Mexico Ekphrastic Poetry Contest
An annual statewide ekphrastic poetry contest in which New Mexicans write poetry inspired by artworks on display at state cultural institutions, with a dedicated Youth (ages 10-18) category.
📍 Statewide New Mexico (online submission)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NYFA
New York Film Academy Summer
Summer film, acting, photography, and animation camps.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ 1-4 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Norman Jordan African American Arts and Heritage Academy / West Virginia State University
Norman Jordan African American Arts and Heritage Academy
A residential summer academy for ages 12-18 with tracks in vocal and instrumental music, theater, dance, creative writing, visual arts and arts technology, with African American history and culture activities and guest artists.
📍 West Virginia State University, Institute, WV📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
NC Department of Public Instruction
North Carolina Governor's School
A four-week summer residential program for gifted and talented high school juniors, integrating academic disciplines (including Social Science and English) and the arts on two campuses, with no credit, tests, or grades.
📍 Raleigh & Greensboro, NC📅 Varies🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Norwich University School of Architecture + Art
Norwich University Summer Design Academy
One-week immersive architecture and design program with sketching, drafting, model building and seminars, culminating in a small building design and public virtual exhibit.
📍 Northfield, VT📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Carnegie Hall
NYO-USA
Free national youth orchestra tour for top high-school musicians; full scholarship including travel and residency.
📍 New York, NY📅 Auditions typically held each December for the following summer — exact date not yet posted🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
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
Ogden Museum of Southern Art
Ogden Museum Teen Internship Program
New Orleans-area teens spend eight summer weeks training in art interpretation, assisting with museum camps, meeting museum professionals, making art, and exploring cultural careers, then continue with monthly school-year programming. The 2026 summer stipend was $1,000 plus $50 per school-year meeting.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–10
Selective
Ohio Expositions Commission
Ohio State Fair Youth Arts Exhibition
Juried statewide art exhibition with monetary awards for Ohio students, including a dedicated high-school division.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Oklahoma State Fair
Oklahoma State Fair Junior Creative Arts
Youth can compete in creative arts classes including photography, crafts, fine arts and related categories.
📍 OK🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Oklahoma State Fair
Oklahoma Student Art Exhibition
Juried statewide student-art competition with a dedicated high-school division and works exhibited at the Oklahoma State Fair.
📍 OK🎓 Grades 9, 12
Selective
Oklahoma Arts Institute
Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute (OSAI) at Quartz Mountain
An immersive two-week residential academy providing professional artistic training to artistically advanced Oklahoma high school students in acting, chorus, creative writing, dance, drawing & painting, film & video, orchestra, and photography, taught by nationally renowned faculty at Quartz Mountain.
📍 Lone Wolf, OK (Quartz Mountain Arts and Conference Center)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly 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
Ohio Northern University
ONU Oratory & Art Festival
One-day statewide creative-expression event centered on student oratory, performance and visual art.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of South Dakota, College of Fine Arts
Oscar Howe Summer Art Institute
A free, two-week residential arts institute at USD for high school students in grades 10-12 who show talent in the visual arts and a strong interest in American Indian culture, with special attention given to Native American applicants. Students take drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, and cultural studies classes from Northern Plains artists.
📍 Vermillion, SD📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
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
Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA)
OUT LOUD Teen Art Workshop Series
Free 12-week workshop series for current high school students, led by visiting artists, to explore new art mediums and develop an artistic voice. The program culminates in a museum exhibition of participants' work.
📍 Salt Lake City, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
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
Parsons School of Design at The New School
Parsons Summer Intensive Studies
Pre-college programs for high school students interested in art and design. Students develop new skills and create portfolio-quality work while experiencing college life.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
Yale University
Pathways to Arts & Humanities Summer Scholars
Free two-week program where local students study archives, art, photography, architecture, comics, playwriting, history and other humanities fields using Yale's collections and faculty.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Willamette University / PNCA
PNCA Oregon Arts Access Scholarship
Fall 2027 tuition-support program for qualifying Oregon students entering PNCA under the same Oregon-access initiative.
📍 OR🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) / Willamette University
PNCA Pre-College
Weekend and summer intensives in studio art, design and creative technology; need-based scholarships available.
📍 OR🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Pacific Northwest College of Art (Willamette University)
PNCA Pre-College Summer Intensive
A two-week, full-time pre-college intensive at PNCA's downtown Portland campus where students ages 14-18 build technical art and design skills and curate a group exhibition across tracks like Foundation, Animation and Creative Tech, and Creativity and Society.
📍 Portland, OR📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
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
A college-level art and design program on Pratt's Brooklyn campus in which high schoolers aged 15.5-18 follow undergraduate curricula in fields like architecture, fine arts, graphic design, and fashion design, earning college credit and portfolio-ready work.
📍 Brooklyn, NY🎓 Grades 9–12
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
Maine College of Art & Design
Pre-College Art & Design Program
Students ages 15–18 spend three residential weeks in professional studios, choose two art/design majors, work with practicing artists, strengthen portfolios, and earn three transferable college credits.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Skidmore College
Pre-College Program
Students take real undergraduate courses alongside college students for credit. Residential and commuter options are available; 2027 applications open in January.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
Pre-College Summer Intensive
A rigorous, college-level residential or commuter program for students ages 15-17 offering studio classes, workshops, and artist talks in art and design, with the option to earn up to three college credits and build a stronger portfolio.
📍 Baltimore, MD📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt)
Pre-College Summer Studios
A four-week, credit-bearing studio intensive modeled on MassArt's Studio Foundation year, in which high school juniors and seniors take core courses in 2D Fundamentals, 3D Fundamentals, and Issues & Images plus an elective of their choice.
📍 Boston, MA (MassArt, Huntington Avenue)📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
University of Hartford, Hartford Art School
Pre-Collegiate Visual Arts Portfolio Workshop
Serious high-school artists spend four weeks developing studio skills, visual communication and original portfolio work for college art/design applications.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
College for Creative Studies
Precollege Summer Experience & Teen Courses
A three-week precollege program (grades 9-12) earning 3.0 college credits while building an art/design portfolio in concentrations like animation, graphic design, fashion design, painting, and transportation design, plus shorter weekly teen studio courses.
📍 Detroit, MI📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Princeton University Art Museum
Princeton University Art Museum Summer Academy
A free two-week intensive for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors from Trenton Central and Ewing High Schools to explore careers in art museums and the visual arts, working with Princeton mentors and regional artists on a capstone project, with no prior art experience required.
📍 Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton, NJ📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
University of Evansville
Printmaking Camp — Grades 9–12
High-school students spend an intensive week creating original work while learning university-level printmaking processes.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Partnership for Maternal & Child Health / NJ Department of Health
Protect Me With 3+ Poster & Video Contest
Students create an original poster or 30-second video communicating the importance of vaccination and public health.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Putney School
Putney School Summer Arts Teen Program
Two- or four-week residential arts workshops for ages 14-17 in visual arts, filmmaking, animation, creative writing (fiction and poetry), acting, dance and songwriting.
📍 Putney, VT📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Rice University School of Architecture
Rice Architecture Summer Immersion
A tuition-free twelve-day residential program giving Houston-area 10th and 11th graders hands-on experience in the principles of architecture and design, including drawing, model-making, and portfolio-ready work. Participants meet Rice faculty, students, and practicing architects.
📍 Houston, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
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 — On Campus
Five-week intensive mimicking RISD undergraduate studio life, with foundations, a chosen major, critiques and portfolio work.
📍 RI🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Rhode Island School of Design
RISD Pre-College Online
Intensive online college-level art/design courses and portfolio development.
📍 RI🎓 Grades 10, 12
Moderate
RISD Continuing Education
RISD Teen In-Person Courses
Half-day Providence courses across art/design disciplines.
📍 RI🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
RISD Continuing Education
RISD Teen Online Courses
Online art/design courses with live meetings and project work.
📍 RI🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
River Gallery School
River Gallery School Teen Studio
Weekly open studio for ages 12-18 where teens choose their own project and medium, including painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, clay and weaving.
📍 Brattleboro, VT📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
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
Milwaukee Art Museum
Satellite Teen Internship (Milwaukee Art Museum)
A weekly fall internship for Milwaukee-area teens ages 16-18 to explore museum careers, work with local artists, and develop tours for elementary students, ending in a museum-wide event.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 August🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
South Carolina Governor's School
SC Governor's School Summer Programs
Free arts and STEM intensives for top SC students.
📍 SC⏱ 3 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–11
Selective
George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts
Scholarship Art Contest
An annual visual art competition open to all Louisiana high school juniors and seniors (public, private, charter, or home school), judged on concept, technical skill, and creativity, awarding a total of $19,000 in college scholarships to ten finalists.
📍 Statewide, LA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
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
Alliance for Young Artists & Writers (Arlington Public Schools; Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley)
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards - Arlington and Southwest Virginia Regions
The Alliance's regional directory lists the Arlington County Art Region (Arlington Public Schools) and the Southwest Virginia Art Region (Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley) as Virginia affiliates where students in grades 7-12 enter art for regional Gold Key, Silver Key and national recognition.
📍 Arlington and Southwest Virginia📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Plains Art Museum
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards - North Dakota Art Region
The North Dakota regional affiliate of the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, inviting students in grades 7-12 to submit original artwork in categories such as painting, photography, sculpture, and architecture for Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mention recognition.
📍 Fargo, ND (Plains Art Museum region)📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Visual Arts Center of Richmond (VisArts) / Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards - Richmond Region (VisArts)
VisArts is the regional affiliate that receives art and writing submissions from students at schools in Richmond City, Hanover, Henrico and Chesterfield; Gold and Silver Key work is exhibited and Gold Keys advance to the national awards.
📍 Richmond, VA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Harris County Department of Education
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards (Houston Region)
The Houston-area regional round of the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, where students submit original art or writing across 28-29 categories for regional Gold Key, Silver Key and national recognition.
📍 Houston, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Scholastic Art & Writing
Scholastic Art & Writing Programs (Exhibitions and workshops)
Exhibitions and workshops for teens, along with professional development for educators.
📍 Various📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Scholastic Art & Writing
Scholastic Art & Writing Scholarships
Information about scholarships available through the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
📍 remote📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alliance for Young Artists & Writers / School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University
Scholastic Art Awards - Massachusetts Art Region
The Massachusetts regional affiliate of the Scholastic Art Awards, through which teens in grades 7-12 submit original artwork across categories such as painting, photography, and design for regional and national recognition.
📍 Massachusetts (regional partner: School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University, Boston)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Museum of Art / Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
Scholastic Art Awards - Mississippi Region
The Mississippi regional affiliate of the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, recognizing outstanding visual artwork from the state's middle and high school students, with Gold Key winners advancing to national judging.
📍 Jackson, MS📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Nevada Museum of Art
Scholastic Art Awards - Northern Nevada Region
The Nevada Museum of Art administers the regional Scholastic Art Awards for middle and high school students across 13 northern Nevada counties, with Gold Key winners advancing to national competition and over $6,000 in scholarships awarded annually.
📍 Reno, NV (Nevada Museum of Art; open to 13 northern Nevada counties)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Milwaukee Art Museum
Scholastic Art Awards: Wisconsin Exhibition
Wisconsin students in grades 7-12 submit art through a teacher for regional Scholastic Art Awards judging and a Milwaukee Art Museum exhibition, with scholarships available for graduating seniors who present portfolios.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
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
Northeastern State University
See My Ability Camp
Inclusive arts/education experience using culturally responsive music, books and creative activities.
📍 OK🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Office of Senator Jack Reed / Rhode Island Art Education Association (RIAEA)
Senator Reed High School Art Competition
An annual statewide art competition co-sponsored by Senator Jack Reed and RIAEA in which each participating Rhode Island high school submits up to three student artworks for judged exhibition and awards.
📍 Warwick, RI (Warwick Mall exhibit)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hawaiʻi Creative Media / Hawaiʻi Department of Education partners
SHOOTS Summit Hawaiʻi
Statewide student-media gathering featuring workshops, industry speakers and competitions in film, broadcast media, photography, graphic design and related creative fields.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Tufts University
SMFA Studio Art
An intensive studio art program offered by SMFA.
📍 Tufts University📅 Not yet announced — check official site for next cycle🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Youth Engagement
Internships across Smithsonian museums and research centers.
📍 Washington, DC⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Schack Art Center (Scholastic Art & Writing Awards regional affiliate)
Snohomish County Scholastic Art Awards (Schack Art Center)
Regional affiliate of the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for students in Snohomish County, with juried exhibition, cash awards, scholarships and a path to national recognition.
📍 Everett, Washington (Snohomish County)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UNC Charlotte School of Architecture
SoA Summer Design Academy
One-week architecture academy where high-school students work in university design studios, complete design exercises and receive critique from faculty, students and professionals.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
SoCal Student Film Festival
SoCal Student Film Festival
An annual showcase of top high school films from across the U.S., held in Southern California with industry panels, workshops, and networking alongside festival screenings.
📍 Irvine, CA (Southern California)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
SOCAPA (School of Creative and Performing Arts) at Champlain College
SOCAPA Summer Arts Camps at Champlain College
Residential and day precollege arts intensives for teens in filmmaking, screenwriting, acting and musical theater, photography, dance, and singer-songwriter and music, taught on the Champlain College campus in Burlington.
📍 Champlain College, Burlington, VT📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE), in partnership with SCDNR and Ducks Unlimited
South Carolina Junior Duck Stamp Competition
A visual-arts and wildlife-conservation competition where South Carolina K-12 students, including a dedicated grades 10-12 category, create an original drawing or painting of a native duck, goose, or swan species to compete for Best of Show and advancement to the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest.
📍 Charleston, SC (entries mailed statewide)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Arts South Dakota / U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
South Dakota Junior Duck Stamp Contest
A free art and conservation-science contest open to students in kindergarten through high school, who research waterfowl and wetlands conservation and submit an original drawing or painting of a duck, goose, or swan; entries are postmarked by March 15, and the state Best of Show winner advances to the national Junior Duck Stamp contest.
📍 Statewide, SD📅 March 15🎓 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📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Spring Semester High School Internship
Students work with museum professionals, attend career workshops and explore careers in art, conservation, education and museum administration. Spring participants receive a $1,100 stipend.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Spy Hop Productions
Spy Hop Apprenticeship
A 2-4 month paid apprenticeship where teens work on real projects for real clients in film, audio, music or design while building a portfolio and earning a stipend.
📍 Kahlert Media Arts Center, Salt Lake City, UT📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Spy Hop Productions
Spy Hop In-House Media Arts Programs
Free hands-on film, audio, music and design programs for youth ages 12-25 at the Kahlert Media Arts Center in Salt Lake City, ranging from drop-in classes to year-long capstone projects. Students get free gear checkout, Adobe Creative Suite access and UTA transit passes.
📍 Kahlert Media Arts Center, Salt Lake City, UT📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
University of Michigan, Stamps School of Art & Design
Stamps Pre-College Portfolio Prep Program
An intensive portfolio-development program for current high schoolers in grades 9-11, offered in virtual and residential formats, structured like a first-year Stamps studio experience to prepare a competitive art school application portfolio.
📍 Ann Arbor, MI (virtual and residential options)📅 February🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Melbourne School District
STEAM & Beyond: Summer Exploration
Ten-day interdisciplinary enrichment combining STEM, arts, music, literature, communication, social studies and world languages through original projects and problem-solving.
📍 AR🎓 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
Nasher Sculpture Center
Student Ambassadors
A group of Dallas-area high school students who help shape Nasher student programming, volunteer at events and get behind-the-scenes museum learning. The group meets monthly on Wednesday evenings in the Dallas Arts District.
📍 Dallas, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUU)
SUMA ARTventures Teen Art Camp
Four-day teen art camp exploring connections between art and the natural world through alternative photography, plein-air painting, printmaking, and collage. All supplies are included.
📍 Cedar City, UT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 8–12
Moderate
Boston Architectural College (The BAC)
Summer Academy – Boston
A half-day, onsite pre-college design program at BAC's Back Bay campus where high schoolers explore architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and other design fields with no experience required.
📍 Boston, MA📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA)
Summer Academy (Pre-College)
A four-week, in-person pre-college program modeled on PAFA's undergraduate first-year curriculum, in which students take Foundations of Drawing plus three elective concentrations (oil painting, printmaking, sculpture, or illustration), culminating in a museum exhibition of student work.
📍 Philadelphia, PA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Georgia Lamar Dodd School of Art
Summer Art Camp
Students rotate through drawing, painting, photography, fiber/3D art, printmaking and book arts and finish with a group exhibition.
📍 GA🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Maine College of Art & Design
Summer Art Camp — Teen Courses
Students ages 14–17 can choose intensive week-long studio courses in areas such as oil painting, silkscreen, digital art, animation, illustration, and metalsmithing.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UTSA Southwest School of Art (UTSA Community Art Program)
Summer Art Studios (Teen Classes)
Seven weeks of summer studio classes in San Antonio, with teen classes for ages 14-18 in drawing, painting, wheel throwing, metalsmithing, photography and sculpture, several with portfolio-development emphasis.
📍 San Antonio, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Murray State University
Summer Art Workshop
Rising ninth graders through seniors work in university studios, participate in hands-on art seminars, visit galleries, and display their work in a concluding exhibition.
📍 KY🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
UW-Madison Badger Precollege
Summer Arts Clinic (Badger Precollege, UW-Madison)
A week-long, hands-on arts program for students completing grades 9-12 at all experience levels, with courses in dance, design, theatre and drama, and visual art that each end with a student performance or exhibit.
📍 Madison, WI📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Idaho College of Art and Architecture
Summer Design Days
High-school students spend four days completing university design workshops, creating projects and exploring architecture, art, interior architecture and related design majors.
📍 ID🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Kansas State University School of Consumer Sciences
Summer Fashion Institute
Students explore fashion design, illustration, sewing, and careers while creating their own designs. The 2026 camp cost $100.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Nasher Sculpture Center and The Warehouse Dallas
Summer Institute for Teens
A five-day program where high school students explore Dallas museums, meet art-world professionals and make hands-on projects with artists. Tuition is free for accepted participants.
📍 Dallas, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Art League Houston
Summer Intensive For Teens (SIFT)
A 4.5-week, tuition-free studio art intensive in Houston with six hours of daily coursework in sketching, textiles, ceramics and digital media, plus artist mentorship, a collaborative mural and a gallery exhibition. Participants receive a $500 stipend.
📍 Houston, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Summer Intensives
Conservatory-style summer intensives offer high-school training in filmmaking, animation, visual arts, drama, voice, composition/music technology, piano, harp and other performing arts.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Nebraska at Omaha Theatre
Summer Musical Theatre Academy
Tuition-free four-week intensive where Omaha-area high-school artists train with UNO faculty and industry professionals in performance, technical production and instrumental music while mounting a full-length musical.
📍 NE🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities (SCGSAH)
Summer Programs (Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Film, Music, Visual Arts)
Residential, arts-intensive summer programs in Greenville for students in grades 6-11 (7-11 for most disciplines) to study creative writing, dance, drama, film, music, or visual arts alongside professional artists.
📍 Greenville, SC📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University
Summer@Cornish Art & Design Intensive
A 4-week intensive giving high school students a mini-college experience at Cornish where they create and present original work, take electives outside their main art form, and build portfolios.
📍 Cornish College of the Arts, South Lake Union, Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) with regional ESD art shows
Superintendent's High School Art Show
Annual statewide student art competition: high school students enter a regional Educational Service District show, and selected pieces advance to the statewide Superintendent's show, where award recipients receive a $200 cash award and trophy.
📍 Regional ESD shows and Olympia, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Des Moines Art Center
Teen Arts Academy and Teen Clay Academy
Motivated high-school artists participate in a nine-month program of instructor-led studio classes, independent work, critiques, museum discussions, guest artists, and college-portfolio development. Art Center materials describe the academies as free.
📍 IA🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Frist Art Museum
Teen Arts Action Group (TAAG)
A teen leadership program for ages 15-18 who collaborate with Frist educators and professional artists to plan teen programming such as Teen ArtLabs and the Teen Fall Festival, while developing leadership and professional skills; service hours count toward school requirements.
📍 Nashville, TN📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Detroit Institute of Arts
Teen Arts Council
Twelve high-school students serve as DIA employees, work with museum staff, and design cultural and creative programming for Metro Detroit teens.
📍 MI🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Saint Louis Art Museum
Teen Arts Council
Ages 14–18 advise the museum on teen programming, plan an annual juried teen art exhibition, attend workshops and field trips, and meet every other week from September through May. Members receive a $200 stipend each semester for full attendance.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Seattle Art Museum
Teen Arts Group (TAG) at Seattle Art Museum
An intensive program for high school-aged youth interested in leadership and community who learn how the museum works behind the scenes, lead tours, plan Teen Night Out and make their own art.
📍 Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Anchorage Museum
Teen Climate Communicators
Teens meet weekly with museum staff and guest presenters to investigate climate change, create short-term projects, and collaboratively develop a public exhibition about climate action. Participants receive documented volunteer hours and a certificate.
📍 AK🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
J. Paul Getty Museum
Teen Gallery Guides @ Getty
Teens research artworks, learn museum-education techniques, work with art professionals and lead gallery experiences for school groups and general visitors at the Getty Center or Getty Villa.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 10–11
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
Walters Art Museum
Teen Lab
Free teen-focused workshop series offering hands-on art experiences; the fall 2026 series includes multi-session printmaking and pattern-design work.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Montana State University
Teen Movie Making Intensive: Story to Screen
Students develop, shoot and edit a narrative short film while learning visual storytelling, production and on-set collaboration.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
J.F. Mazur Fine Art Studio
Teen Studio (Young Artists Workshop)
A weekly drawing, painting, and printmaking studio class for middle and high school students, taught in small groups of up to 10 students.
📍 Santa Fe, NM📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UTSA Community Art Program (PACE)
Teen Studio Intensive
A full-academic-year visual arts program for high school students with twice-weekly studio classes, portfolio review and instruction by professional artists at 300 Augusta in San Antonio.
📍 San Antonio, TX📅 August🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Teen Stylin' Fashion Program at VMFA
A free, 12-week fashion program for teens in grades 6-12 in which participants learn from professional designers and create garments inspired by VMFA's collection, showcased in a juried runway exhibition; an independent-study option serves students statewide.
📍 Richmond, VA (statewide independent study option)📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum
Teen Takeover Contest
North Dakota teens submit an original artistic creation plus a short written explanation inspired by state history and museum collections.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Walters Art Museum
Teen Takeover: Spirit Realm
WAMTAC teens take over the museum with teen-designed art activities, games, interpretation, and programming inspired by the museum collection. The 2026 event is free.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Teen/Artist Project
An eight-month program for sixteen high school students who meet three hours every Sunday at the Modern for workshops with visiting artists, gallery discussions and studio projects, ending with an exhibition. Free for accepted students.
📍 Fort Worth, TX📅 August🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Sheridan School District
The Art of Humanity
Students examine human history through art, culture and sociology while learning artistic techniques and constructing a creative timeline of art history.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 9–10
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
Mississippi School of the Arts
The Phoenix Literary Journal
Mississippi School of the Arts students may submit poetry, fiction, memoir, essays, visual art, photography, and collaborative work each spring for publication. Senior Literary Arts students manage submissions, layout, and production.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
The Cooper Union
The Saturday Program
A free, 55-year-old program offering NYC public high schoolers weekly Saturday studio classes in architecture, drawing, graphic design, media production, painting, and sculpture, with portfolio development for college art and architecture programs.
📍 New York, NY📅 September🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
The Science of Sketching
Art-and-science program using museum specimens, live animals and architectural subjects to teach observational drawing.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Institute for the Creative Arts
Through the Lens
Students study exposure, composition, lighting, portraiture, landscape filming and visual storytelling while producing a portfolio of original photography and film work.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Las Cruces Public Schools Foundation
Tombaugh Gallery Visual & Graphic Arts Scholarship
$500 scholarship for an LCPS senior pursuing visual or graphic arts at NMSU or Doña Ana Community College.
📍 NM🎓 Grade 12
Selective
City of Austin Parks and Recreation
Totally Cool Totally Art (TCTA)
Free arts classes for Austin youth in grades 6-12 taught by professional artists in painting, film, theatre, sculpture and more at Austin recreation centers, plus summer film and theatre camps.
📍 Austin, TX📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA)
Trey LaBostrie Visual Arts Scholarship
A scholarship for Louisiana high school seniors (and college students) who submit original artwork -- paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, digital art, short films, or music videos -- with an artist statement addressing grief, healing, or joy.
📍 Statewide, LA📅 October🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Temple University
Tyler Portfolio Bootcamp
Portfolio development for art/design applicants.
📍 PA🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
Temple University
Tyler Pre-College Summer Studios
Intensive visual-art studio work.
📍 PA🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Moderate
UNC Asheville
UNC Asheville Pre-College Summer Programs
One-week residential academic intensives include creative writing, ceramics, music, film scoring, engineering and mechatronics, geology, meteorology, pre-med, ecology, game design/AI and wildlife science.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
UNCSA Summer Intensives
Conservatory-style summer intensives for high school students in visual arts, music, filmmaking, and animation, taught by UNCSA faculty and guest artists with hands-on studio instruction.
📍 Winston-Salem, NC📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art / UNLV
UNLV NextGen Curators
Two-week program combining art curation, storytelling, basic coding, 3D/VR tools and public speaking as students create a virtual museum exhibition. The 2026 fee was $450.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
UT Austin Department of Radio-Television-Film
UT Austin Film and Media Camps
Summer camps for high school students in screenwriting, cinematography, filmmaking, 2D animation, advanced filmmaking, and post-production, plus a virtual DIY filmmaking course. Sessions run one to three weeks.
📍 Austin, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UT Austin College of Fine Arts (School of Design and Creative Technologies)
UT Austin Summer Design and Creative Technology Camps
Week-long camps on the UT campus for grades 8-12 in game design, product design, 3D modeling, 3D animation, printmaking and immersive light-and-sound experiences, taught by UT faculty.
📍 Austin, TX📅 Varies🎓 Grades 8–12
Highly Selective
Springville Museum of Art
Utah All-State High School Art Show
A juried statewide exhibition of the best high school artwork in Utah, with each student allowed up to two pieces submitted through their school art department. Awards include cash prizes, a Utah State Senate Visual Arts Award and selection for a statewide traveling show.
📍 Springville Museum of Art, Springville, UT📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Tennessee Knoxville College of Architecture + Design
UTK Summer Design Camp
A week-long design camp for high school students exploring color, pattern, space, form, and composition through 2D and 3D analog and digital techniques, plus design theory, history, technology, and professional practice. No prior design experience required.
📍 Knoxville, TN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UVA School of Architecture
UVA Design Discovery Youth Summer Program
A six-day summer program for rising 10th-12th graders with design/build workshops, an architecture firm visit, a construction site tour and a public showcase.
📍 Charlottesville, VA📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Vermont Professional and Continuing Education
UVM Pre-College Courses (for-credit)
High school sophomores through seniors take for-credit UVM courses online or on campus in fields including psychology, economics, political science, history, philosophy, art history, film studies, music and English.
📍 Burlington, VT📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Wyoming Department of Visual Arts
UW High School Art Intensive
A two-day event introducing Wyoming high school students to UW Visual Arts faculty and facilities through short lectures and specialized workshops in drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, metalsmithing, sculpture, art education and visual communication design.
📍 Laramie, WY📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UW-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts, Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres
UWM Film Summer Camp
A week-long day camp (optional overnight housing) for ages 14-18 with hands-on workshops in storytelling and screenwriting, cinematography and lighting, and editing led by practicing artists and UWM professors.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UW-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts
UWM Peck School of the Arts "Day in the Life" Preview Days
Hands-on preview days for high school students ages 14-18 to experience a day as an Art and Design, Theatre, Dance, Film and Animation, or Music major, with workshops and classes.
📍 Milwaukee, WI📅 Varies🎓 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📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts
VCUarts Summer Pre-College Program
A three-week summer program in which rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors take one non-credit course with VCUarts faculty to build portfolio work or prepare for auditions.
📍 Richmond, VA📅 February🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Brattleboro Museum & Art Center
Vermont Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Vermont regional affiliate of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for grades 7-12, with entries in 27 art and writing categories and Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mention awards exhibited at BMAC.
📍 Brattleboro, VT📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Virginia Department of Education
Virginia Summer Residential Governor's School for the Visual and Performing Arts
A month-long residential arts program for gifted Virginia students in Visual Art, Dance, Theatre, Instrumental Music and Vocal Music, selected through a statewide audition and portfolio adjudication.
📍 Virginia (host campus varies)📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Virginia Tech School of Architecture + Design
Virginia Tech Explore Architecture Summer Program
A one-week summer studio for students in grades 9-12 in Blacksburg (day or overnight) or a shorter virtual session, with students working in the school's shared studio space.
📍 Blacksburg, VA📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Kansas State University School of Music, Theatre, and Dance
Visual & Performing Arts Academy
Rising grades 9–12 choose tracks including musical theatre, performance theatre, choir, visual arts, dance, or technical theatre/audio production and finish with a showcase.
📍 KS🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Jacksonville State University
Visual Art — Gamecock Arts & Sciences Program
Students explore techniques including printmaking, collage, digital illustration, and collaborative artmaking.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
SC Governor's School for the Arts & Humanities
Visual Arts — Summer
Summer visual arts program.
📍 SC🎓 Grade 9
Moderate
Purchase College, SUNY
Visual Arts Institute
Intensive studio-art experience emphasizing portfolio development and multiple media.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Kennedy Center
VSA Emerging Young Artists Program
Awards for young artists with disabilities; cash and exhibition at the Kennedy Center.
📍 Online📅 Fall🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Walker Art Center
Walker Art Center Teen Arts Council (WACTAC)
A paid, year-round position for 11th and 12th graders from across the Twin Cities who meet weekly during the school year to connect with contemporary art and artists and help create new ways for other teens to experience the Walker.
📍 Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Walters Art Museum
Walters Art Museum Teen Advisory Council (WAMTAC)
Teens receive paid professional museum experience, collaborate with museum staff, advise on projects, and design programming for other teens.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Washington University in St. Louis, Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts
WashU Sam Fox School Pre-College Programs
Two summer pre-college programs for high schoolers -- Portfolio Plus (studio art) and the Architecture Discovery Program -- let students develop fundamental art, design, and architecture skills while producing work in a real studio for college credit.
📍 Washington University in St. Louis, Sam Fox School, St. Louis, MO📅 December🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Belmont University (Watkins College of Art)
Watkins Teen Art & Design Program
A week-long program for teens to cultivate technical skills in art and design, choosing two studio courses plus seminars led by industry professionals, with access to a figure-drawing studio, photography lighting studio, and fabrication lab with 3D printers and laser cutters.
📍 Nashville, TN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
West Virginia Department of Tourism / The Culture Center and State Museum
West Virginia Congressional Art Competition
A statewide high school art competition in which students submit original two-dimensional artwork; each congressional district winner's piece hangs at the U.S. Capitol for a year.
📍 The Culture Center, Charleston, WV📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia / West Virginia State Bar Women in the Profession Committee
West Virginia Law Day Contest
Statewide contest where K-12 students submit posters, essays, digital art, poems or original songs on the annual Law Day theme, with winners honored at the Supreme Court.
📍 Charleston, WV📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
WVU School of Art and Design
West Virginia Mountaineer Short Film Festival
An annual international competitive short film festival at West Virginia University with a Student Works (High School) category for films up to 15 minutes.
📍 West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly 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
Indiana Wesleyan University
Wildcat Summer Academy
A residential college-preview program for high schoolers with academic camps in Art+Design, Engineering, Esports, Forensic Science, Music Therapy, Nursing, Social Work, and Teaching.
📍 Marion, IN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Wonderworks Houston / University of Houston
Wonderworks: From the Ground Up (Architecture)
A comprehensive introduction to architecture with lectures on architectural history and theory, hands-on studio work, and field trips to significant buildings. Students design small-scale structures like cafes and galleries using physical models rather than computer programs.
📍 Houston, TX📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Wonderworks Houston / University of Houston
Wonderworks: Moving Pictures (Filmmaking)
An introduction to filmmaking covering production, editing, screenwriting, and cinema analysis, where students collaborate on short narrative projects using digital technology. Includes daily film screenings with faculty discussion.
📍 Houston, TX📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
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
WVU School of Art and Design
WVU Visual Arts Summer Academy (Residential Camp)
A residential summer camp for grades 8-12 where students choose studio workshops such as painting, drawing, printmaking, digital art, photography, ceramics and fashion, taught by WVU faculty.
📍 West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Wyoming Student Conservation Stamp Art Competition
Wyoming K-12 students draw or paint the featured species (the western tiger salamander for the 2028 stamp) in a Wyoming habitat, judged on biological accuracy, composition and technical skill. Cash awards go to first through third place in each grade group, including grades 9-12.
📍 Wyoming (online or mailed submission)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NextGen InterArts Foundation (listed via Idaho Commission on the Arts)
XC Creative Art Contest
An international, cross-disciplinary art competition for students in grades 6-12, promoted to Idaho students through the state arts commission, celebrating originality across a range of visual art mediums.
📍 Online submission (exhibition in Manhattan, NY for winners)📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Young Musicians & Artists (hosted at Willamette University)
YMA: Young Musicians & Artists
A two-week residential summer arts camp on the Willamette University campus offering tracks in music, visual art, theatre, and writing for creative students aged 10 through the summer after high school graduation.
📍 Salem, OR📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Frist Art Museum
Young Tennessee Artists Exhibition
An annual juried exhibition showcasing artwork by Tennessee high school students in AP and IB studio art programs; jurors reviewed nearly 600 entries and selected works by 33 student artists for the 2026 show.
📍 Nashville, TN📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Young Writers Project
Young Writers Project
Free online community based in Burlington where teen writers and visual artists post work, answer weekly challenges and are published in The Voice and local media.
📍 Online (Burlington, VT)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
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📅 Annual — 2027 dates not yet announced🎓 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 Showcase: New York City
Opportunity for YoungArts award winners to showcase their talents in New York City.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
National YoungArts
YoungArts Theater
National recognition program for theater artists 15-18.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 October🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
George Mason University Mason Community Arts Academy
Your Story on Stage: Devised Theater Intensive (Mason Community Arts Academy)
An art, writing and acting camp for middle and high school students that builds an original devised theater piece culminating in a premiere performance.
📍 Fairfax, VA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
The Andy Warhol Museum
Youth Arts Council
Year-long youth leadership experience creating public programs and learning museum practice.
📍 PA🎓 Eligibility not confirmed
Selective
Arts Ed NJ / Teen Arts New Jersey partners
Youth Arts Initiative Workshops
Teen Arts New Jersey's Youth Arts Initiative: the free TANJ Youth Arts Festival on Oct 18, 2026 (10am-4pm, Asbury Park), plus Arts High courses for grades 9-12 and the annual Creative Change Makers open call.
📍 NJ🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Youth in Focus
Youth in Focus Creative Career Cohort
17-week in-person photography and career-readiness program in Seattle for BIPOC students ages 15-19 (sophomores through seniors) with technical photo skills, commercial projects, mock interviews and a portfolio.
📍 Youth in Focus office, Seattle, WA📅 November🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Wing Luke Museum
YouthCAN (Wing Luke Museum)
The museum's free afterschool arts program for high school students, where teens work with teaching artists to explore identity and culture and produce creative work for a group exhibit in the Frank Fujii Youth Gallery.
📍 Wing Luke Museum, Chinatown-International District, Seattle, WA📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective

Visual Arts programs for high schoolers.

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