Visual Arts programs for high schoolers.
48 programs indexed in visual arts. 30 are free or pay a stipend. 10 prioritize under-resourced or underrepresented students. This page updates whenever we add a new visual arts program.
All visual arts programs
- SelectiveArkansas State University / Arkansas Department of EducationArkansas 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🎓 11 - ModerateBennington CollegeBennington July Program
Two-week residential program for writers and visual artists in grades 10-12.
📍 Bennington, VT⏱ 2 weeks📅 Spring🎓 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveBlue Marble ReviewBlue Marble Review
Online literary journal of writing and art by teens worldwide.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveBow Seat Ocean Awareness ProgramsBow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest
Creative arts contest on ocean and climate themes; visual art, film, poetry, music.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 June🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveBow Seat Ocean Awareness ProgramsBow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest
Annual creative contest for teens combining art, writing, film, and music with environmental advocacy.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Spring🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 - ModerateCSSSA FoundationCalifornia 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🎓 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveUS HouseCongressional Art Competition
Nationwide art contest with winning art displayed in the US Capitol.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Annual📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveCooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design MuseumCooper Hewitt Summer Design Institute
Free design programs and workshops for NYC HS students.
📍 New York, NY⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveGoogleDoodle for Google
Annual K-12 art contest with college scholarships.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 Spring🎓 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveGoogleDoodle for Google Contest
Annual K-12 art contest where winners' doodles appear on the Google homepage.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Spring🎓 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 - ModerateInterlochenInterlochen Arts Camp
Renowned summer arts camp across music, theater, dance, visual arts, writing, film.
📍 Interlochen, MI⏱ 1-6 weeks📅 January🎓 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveInterlochen Center for the ArtsInterlochen Arts Camp: One-Week Intensives
One-week intensive arts programs for high school students in various disciplines.
📍 Interlochen, Michigan⏱ 📅 🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveInterlochen Center for the ArtsInterlochen Arts Camp: Visual Arts Programs (High School)
High school visual arts summer programs.
📍 Interlochen, Michigan⏱ 📅 🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - ModerateInterlochen Center for the ArtsInterlochen 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🎓 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveJack Kent Cooke FoundationJack 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🎓 7 - SelectiveKenyon ReviewKenyon 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)🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - ModerateMaryland Institute College of ArtMICA Pre-College
Four-week residential art program in Baltimore.
📍 Baltimore, MD⏱ 4 weeks📅 May🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - ModerateMaryland Institute College of ArtMICA Pre-College Studio Residency
Four-week residential studio program for rising 11th-12th graders.
📍 Baltimore, MD⏱ 4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 11, 12 - SelectiveMuseum of Modern ArtMoMA Teen Apprentice
Paid teen apprenticeship in arts curation, design, and education at MoMA.
📍 NY⏱ Summer + school year📅 April🎓 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveMuseum of Modern ArtMoMA Teen Programs
Free teen programs at the Museum of Modern Art.
📍 New York, NY⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveYoungArtsNational YoungArts Foundation Competition
National arts competition for ages 15-18 across 10 disciplines; finalists receive cash and YoungArts Week.
📍 Miami, FL⏱ Self-paced📅 Fall🎓 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveYoungArtsNational YoungArts Photography
Photography track of the YoungArts national competition.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 October🎓 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveYoungArtsNational YoungArts Week
Week-long master classes and performances in Miami for YoungArts winners across 10 disciplines.
📍 Miami, FL⏱ 1 week📅 Fall🎓 10, 11, 12 - ModerateNYFANew York Film Academy Summer
Summer film, acting, photography, and animation camps.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ 1-4 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - ModerateOtis CollegeOtis College Summer of Art
Four-week pre-college art and design program.
📍 Los Angeles, CA⏱ 4 weeks📅 May🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - ModerateOtis College of Art and DesignOtis Summer of Art
Four-week pre-college program in fine art, design, fashion, and animation in LA.
📍 Los Angeles, CA⏱ 4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 10, 11, 12 - ModerateParsons / The New SchoolParsons Pre-College Academy
Online and in-person pre-college art and design courses.
📍 New York, NY⏱ 4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 10, 11, 12 - ModerateParsons / The New SchoolParsons Pre-College Academy
Saturday and summer art and design classes.
📍 New York, NY⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - ModeratePratt InstitutePratt Pre-College
Four-week residential program in art, design, architecture, writing.
📍 Brooklyn, NY⏱ 4 weeks📅 April🎓 10, 11, 12 - ModeratePratt InstitutePratt Pre-College
Four-week summer college experience in art, design, and architecture.
📍 Brooklyn, NY⏱ 4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 10, 11, 12 - ModerateRhode Island School of DesignRISD Pre-College
Six-week intensive at the top art and design school.
📍 Providence, RI⏱ 6 weeks📅 February🎓 10, 11, 12 - ModerateRhode Island School of DesignRISD Pre-College Program
Six-week intensive pre-college program for rising 11th and 12th graders in art and design.
📍 Providence, RI⏱ 6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 11, 12 - ModerateSchool of the Art Institute of ChicagoSAIC Early College Program
Intensive summer studio program for high schoolers earning college credit.
📍 Chicago, IL⏱ 4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveSouth Carolina Governor's SchoolSC Governor's School Summer Programs
Free arts and STEM intensives for top SC students.
📍 SC⏱ 3 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 9, 10, 11 - ModerateAlliance for Young Artists & WritersScholastic Art & Writing Awards
Longest-running recognition program for creative teens in the US; 28 categories.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 December🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveAlliance for Young Artists & WritersScholastic 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)🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - ModerateSAICSchool of the Art Institute Early College
Summer art and design intensives for high schoolers.
📍 Chicago, IL⏱ 1-4 weeks📅 April🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveSmithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian Youth Engagement
Internships across Smithsonian museums and research centers.
📍 Washington, DC⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveStone SoupStone Soup Magazine
Magazine of writing and art by children and teens up to age 14.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 - SelectiveThe Young Authors FoundationTeen Ink
An award-winning monthly print and online magazine by and for teens.
📍 Online / Jersey City, NJ⏱ N/A📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveThe Daphne ReviewThe Daphne Review
An independent literary journal specifically for middle and high school writers and artists.
📍 Online⏱ N/A📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveThe Lumiere ReviewThe Lumiere Review
A highly regarded literary journal for high school aged creators of poetry, prose, and art.
📍 Online⏱ N/A📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveVansVans Custom Culture Art Competition
National high school art competition to design custom Vans shoes for cash and supply grants.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveWhitney MuseumWhitney Museum Youth Insights
Paid teen programs and internships at the Whitney.
📍 New York, NY⏱ Academic year📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveNational YoungArts FoundationYoungArts
Free national arts competition. Winners receive cash awards, mentorship, and the chance to perform at YoungArts Week in Miami.
📍 Miami + regional⏱ 1 week📅 October🎓 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveNational YoungArts FoundationYoungArts Awards
National competition in writing, visual arts, design, music, theater, film for 15-18 year olds.
📍 Miami, FL⏱ Year-round📅 October🎓 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveNational Foundation for the Advancement of ArtistsYoungArts 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⏱ N/A📅 December 1🎓 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveNational YoungArtsYoungArts Theater
National recognition program for theater artists 15-18.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 October🎓 10, 11, 12