10 Summer Art Programs for High School Students in New York City (NYC)
New York City is a hub of creativity and culture, making it an ideal destination for high school students eager to immerse themselves in the arts over the summer. Whether you're interested in fine arts, design, dance, or performance, NYC offers a wide array of summer programs tailored to help young artists develop their skills and explore their artistic interests.
From prestigious art institutions to hands-on workshops, these programs provide opportunities to learn from professionals, connect with like-minded peers, and experience the vibrant art scene that the city has to offer. Participating in an art summer program can also help you prepare a portfolio for college applications and show admissions officers your commitment to art.
In this blog, we'll highlight 10 summer art programs in NYC that can inspire your artistic journey.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Individual Research Program ($2,990), Premium Research & Publication Program ($5,900), the Research Fellowship ($8,900), Professor Premium Publication Program ($8,900). Financial aid available
Application Deadline: November 24, 2024 for the upcoming Winter Cohort
Program Dates: Individual Research (12 weeks) | Premium Research (16-20 weeks) | Research Fellowship (6-12 months) | Professor Premium (16-20 weeks)
Eligibility: Open to high school students anywhere in the world
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. If you’re interested in art, you can customize the program to conduct art history research.
The program pairs high-school students with PhD mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Virtual
Application Date: November 10, 2024 for the Winter cohort, and February 9, 2025 for the Spring cohort
Program Dates:
Winter seminar: December 2, 2024 onwards
Spring seminar: March 3, 2025 onwards
Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a few tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas. This is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. If you’re interested in art, you can submit an art history research proposal to the program.
Once you select a particular subject track as well as the type of research you wish to carry out, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar from a reputed university who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields under the guidance of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student, as well as detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects. Apply here!
Location: Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), New York, NY
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores and juniors in NYC
Duration/Dates: July 9 – August 16, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)Application deadline: Applications typically close in April
Stipend: $16/hour and an unlimited MetroCard for the duration of the internship
Artslife is a 6-week immersive program that integrates art and design with leadership development, museum studies, and community involvement. You will gain exposure to various museum careers, including Curatorial, Education, Development, Marketing, Visitor Services, Security, and Registrar. The program starts with a week of team building and museum orientation, followed by five weeks of collaborative projects, which may include creating art and visiting other cultural institutions. Mentorship from museum staff, local designers, and arts professionals is a key component of the experience.
Location: Five locations – Baltimore, MD | Boston, MA | New York City, NY | Philadelphia, PA | Washington, D.C.
Cost: No cost; This is a paid opportunity, but information on the exact amount is not available. You can expect around $19/hour
Application deadline: Applications typically close in March
Program Dates: June 19 – August 16, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: Juniors from participating NYC high schools who are at least 16 years old. Check the list of eligible high schools here
Bloomberg Philanthropies offers high school students in five cities the opportunity to intern with local arts and cultural organizations. This program is designed to build work readiness and includes college preparation components. As an intern, you'll participate in hands-on projects, receive mentorship, and gain experience in various aspects of arts administration, such as exhibition planning, marketing, and event coordination. The program also includes activities that help teens explore potential careers in creative industries.
The program specifics may vary slightly by location, but generally, students can expect to dedicate 30-37 hours per week to their internship. Application timelines and requirements differ based on the city where the program is offered.
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: $7,272 (tuition is $4,800, housing is $1,704, and meals are $768). Scholarships are available
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025. This year the deadlines were: February 15, 2024 (financial aid and international student deadline) | March 1, 2024 (final deadline)
Program Dates: July 7 – August 3, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: Students aged 15-18 in grades 10-12
Each year, 54 students are chosen to participate in NYU’s Summer Art Intensive, where they are grouped into three cohorts for studio classes. During the program, you will explore a variety of materials and technologies, such as textiles and laser cutting, while enhancing your portfolio and learning from industry professionals. This is a residential program, and housing in an NYU Student Residence Hall is mandatory.
NYU Art Department faculty, along with visiting artists, lead the classes and seminars. You will have the opportunity to work on diverse studio projects, tour New York City's art studios and institutions, and experiment with new artistic techniques. Course offerings include painting, digital art, and sculpture.
Location: Parsons School of Design, New York, NY
Cost: $5,145 tuition + $245 university fee + housing fees (if applicable) to be decided. Need-based tuition scholarships available
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025. Last year’s deadline was April 24, 2024 (April 1 for International students)
Program Dates: TBA for 2025. Two sessions were offered in 2024:
June 10 – 28, 2024
July 8 – 26, 2024
Eligibility: High schoolers aged 16-18
The Parsons School of Design, a prestigious institution based in New York, is known for producing influential designers like Marc Jacobs, Robert Wong, Tom Ford, Paul Rand, and Mara Hoffman. This 3-week, 3-credit, on-campus course offers you the opportunity to learn from Parsons' faculty and industry guest speakers.
One standout course is the Animation Studio, where you delve into the fundamentals of animation and storytelling, gaining skills to create graphic novels, cartoons, films, and videos. You will navigate the entire creative process—from initial concept to final product—while mastering tools like Adobe Creative Cloud.
Location: Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: $395 + additional fees
Application Deadline: Registrations open in April, and seats are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis
Program Dates: July 8 – 19, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: All students in grades 9-12
Pratt Institute’s Summer Scholars courses are crafted to be engaging, hands-on, and collaborative, offering students a rich learning environment. The courses are taught by faculty from the Schools of Art, Architecture, and Design, who emphasize project-based learning to help students develop practical skills.
In the painting course, you will have the chance to explore various painting techniques using water-based materials. You’ll delve into different processes and concepts while building a robust portfolio throughout the course. Additionally, the program offers other courses like object drawing, figure drawing, and architecture, allowing you to try a wide range of creative disciplines.
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: Commuter: $6,300 (program fees) + $175 ( equipment, facilities, field trips) | Residential: $12,449 + $175
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025. Last year’s deadlines were: February 1, 2024 (early registration deadline) | March 4, 2024 (residential program deadline) | April 1, 2024 (commuter program deadline)
Program Dates: TBA for 2025. Two sessions were offered in 2024:
June 24 – July 12, 2024 (Summer A)
July 16 – August 2, 2024 (Summer B)
Eligibility: Domestic or international students entering or enrolled in grades 11 or 12
The "Drawing: Eye and Idea" course delves into drawing by utilizing both observation and imagination to teach traditional techniques. The curriculum is a blend of studio practice, outdoor sketching, museum visits, and critiques—both individual and group. It also offers seminars that guide you in preparing your portfolio for college applications.
Assignments play a significant role in the course, with a focus on experimenting with different materials. You will explore themes like composition, the use of charcoal and pencil, wet media techniques, graphic drawing, color theory, and optical illusions. The course culminates in a group exhibition, showcasing the work created during the program.
Location: Various museums in New York, NY
Cost: $5,935 (day program) | $7,220 (residential program). Financial aid is limited but available
Application Deadline: Applications usually close in early April, although early decision and financial aid deadlines close in February-March
Program Dates: TBA for 2025. Two sessions were offered in 2024:
July 7 – 19, 2024
July 21 – August 2, 2024
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 15 years old and are in grades 10-12, and graduating seniors
Sotheby’s Institute of Art offers a unique Art History program tailored for high school students eager to delve into the world of global art and architecture. This program provides an in-depth exploration of influential masterpieces and their impact on the evolution of art through a combination of lectures, guided tours of New York City’s renowned museums, exclusive site visits, and discussions led by professionals such as art historians, museum curators, and artists.
You will study a broad spectrum of art, covering different cultures and periods, including Egyptian, pre-Columbian, Chinese dynasties, Japanese prints, Islamic art, and the Impressionist and Modernist movements. As part of the experience, you will visit iconic institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Cloisters, MoMA, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, The Frick Collection, DIA: Beacon, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Location: Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: $7,772 (commuter) | $9,687 (residential). Need-based financial aid is available for domestic students
Application Deadline: Applications will open in winter 2024-25 for summer 2025
Program Dates: TBA for 2025. Two sessions were offered in 2024:
June 30 – July 19, 2024
July 22 – August 10, 2024
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Barnard College’s Pre-College Program offers an Art, Movement, and Performance track where students can focus on art history, visual arts, or dance. For those interested in art history, the Global Modernism course, led by Barnard faculty member Nicole Coffineau, explores the evolution of modern art, modernism, and the avant-garde.
This course delves into key theoretical questions from the modernist movement, covering the period from 1789 to 1968. The curriculum is structured around four major themes:
Aesthetic Categories within Social Art Histories
Perception and Artistic Production
Formalism and Autonomy
The Role of the Mind, or the Beholder’s Share
You will attend classes three times a week, with additional time allocated for workshops, site visits, office hours, project work, and various student activities.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.