Pre-College Art Programs: Why Summer Art Programs are Worth the Investment

Summer Art Programs are Worth It

Art programs offer more than a creative outlet or a fun activity for kids — they provide real, tangible benefits that help adolescents thrive in high school, college, and beyond. Participation in teen art classes can reduce stress, enhance focus, memory, and problem-solving, and foster a growth mindset. Summer art programs, in particular, offer a fun and engaging way to bridge the gap between school years, keeping students motivated and connected to a learning environment.

For students who are serious about building a future in the arts, summer programs can be a meaningful step toward college and a creative career. These programs offer an intentional, collaborative setting where teens can develop a critical eye for their own work and learn to exchange feedback thoughtfully. Working toward project goals also encourages purposeful creation, often resulting in standout pieces for their artist portfolio.

Online courses and residential summer camps are just two options to have a fulfilling and enriching arts summer. A wide range of U.S. and global organizations, colleges, and universities offer art programs, opening up a world of opportunities for aspiring artists.

What is a pre-college summer program?

Interested in getting a taste of college life before graduating from high school? Pre-college programs are your ticket to an incredible summer of learning, growth, and insight into your future educational and career goals. These short-term academic programs, often hosted by colleges and universities, introduce teens to college-level courses and instruction. Many pre-college art programs integrate a typical classroom setting with hands-on learning and mentorship and include unique opportunities for participants to visit museums, see shows, and meet with local artists and businesses.

Pre-college summer programs vary from one week to several months and may be offered online, in person, or in a hybrid format. In addition to taking pre-college classes, students attending in-person arts programs hosted by colleges and universities experience living and learning on a college campus. Those enrolled in a residential summer arts program get to live in the dorms, use the arts facilities, and work with faculty in the college’s art department. Many programs also culminate in final performances or exhibitions that are open to the public, giving students an opportunity to showcase their work.

Some pre-college summer programs award students college credit, though many do not. But the true value of a pre-college arts program isn’t in earning credit or getting a head start on your college courses. It’s in honing your craft, building a body of work for your portfolio, and gaining confidence in yourself as a student and an artist.

What can you learn at a summer art program?

Summer art programs cover diverse fields, from the performing and visual arts to design. You can explore these and other disciplines at a summer arts program:

• Animation
• Architecture
• Ceramics
• Dance
• Drawing
• Fashion design
• Filmmaking
• Game design
• Illustration
• Music
• Musical Theatre
• Painting
• Photography
• Sculpture
• Sound design

Unlike casual teen art classes, where you may only pay for arts supplies or basic instruction, pre-college art programs include a comprehensive classroom experience to advance your technical skills and creative instincts. Critiques, portfolio reviews, and faculty feedback are often central to the learning experience, as is peer discussion and collaboration.

Beyond advancing your knowledge of the craft, participating in an arts summer program also develops soft skills, including time management, interpersonal communication, public speaking, and creative confidence. Depending on the program’s focus and duration, you may also gain access to career development opportunities, including guest speakers, artist talks, and professional panels. This early exposure to creative careers can help you imagine what a future working in the arts might entail.

Art programs geared toward high school juniors and seniors may also offer guidance on applying to art schools. Visual arts students may work closely with instructors to develop meaningful pieces for a portfolio they can use for college applications. Performing arts students enrolled in pre-college programs typically get audition practice and advice on selecting material that best showcases their strengths.

How long is a typical art program?

Typical summer art programs run between 2-6 weeks, although they can vary in length. Some programs are short and intensive, like UCLA’s two-week Summer Art Institute. Others last much longer, such as The Aspen Music Festival and School's eight-week summer music immersion program. Plenty of summer art programs also offer flexible programming, with options to enroll in shorter (1-2 week) sessions or longer (4-8 week) sessions.

Versatile short-term arts camps can easily fit with other summer activities, classes, and family trips. However, the shorter nature of these programs means they’re often introductory-level, providing more of an overview of a specific field or a sampling of many different artistic mediums. Longer programs allow you to work on more advanced projects, benefit from deeper portfolio and skill development, and increase your time with instructors and peers.

The program lengths aren’t all that varied; daily time commitment can also differ. Residential programs tend to be more involved, with classes, studio time, rehearsals, and performances (whether those you’re putting on or going to see) starting at 8 or 9 a.m. and continuing well into the evening. Online arts programs, on the other hand, may be offered asynchronously, allowing you to choose when and how long you work each day.  

Do colleges have summer art programs?

Yes! Pre-college classes aren’t reserved for students interested in business or STEM. Plenty of colleges and universities, whether dedicated arts schools or those with liberal arts and other focuses, in the U.S. (and the world!) offer summer art programs. 

Attending a college-hosted program exposes you to that school’s faculty, facilities, and overall culture, helping inform your decision about which college you might like to attend for your undergraduate degree. Though not guaranteed, participating in a college’s pre-college program may also give you a slight edge in the admissions process.

U.S. pre-college art programs

Here are just a few examples of the many summer art camps hosted by U.S. colleges and universities:

Northwestern University’s National High School Institute Cherubs Program:

This prestigious summer arts program offers five-week intensives in theatre arts and film & video, plus shorter online classes in playwriting and television writing.

Johns Hopkins’s Specialty Summer Programs at The Peabody Preparatory

Johns Hopkins hosts week-long intensives in strings, piano, guitar, and music production, plus month-long sessions in dance.

Rhode Island School of Design’s Pre-College Summer Residential Immersive

For five weeks, students live and learn on RISD’s campus in Providence, RI, taking studio courses in majors like animation, ceramics, furniture design, illustration, interior design, printmaking, and textile design.

UCLA’s Film & Television Emerging Filmmakers

UCLA offers a variety of one- to three-week programs for young filmmakers in cinematography, digital filmmaking, media parks, and TV writing. This is a great opportunity for local LA students and those interested in virtual arts programs.

Savannah College of Art and Design’s Pre-College Programs

High school seniors can spend four weeks living and learning on SCAD’s campus, taking college-level courses in everything from sewing and animation to architecture and graphic design. SCAD also offers one-week intensives for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.

Florida State University’s Jazz Ensemble Camp

This week-long program runs daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with classes and rehearsals covering jazz history, fundamentals, and improvisation. Students also connect with FSU’s Music Admissions team and perform in two concerts for friends and family.

NYU’s Summer Institute of Music Production Technology

This six-week summer arts camp covers one of two core topics: Fundamentals of Music Technology and Computer Music Synthesis. Students attend class twice a week and, if accepted to NYU’s Music Technology program, can earn credit toward their degree.

Boston University’s Visual Arts Summer Institute

Boston locals interested in fine arts can spend four weeks in this commuter arts program practicing painting, sculpture, and printmaking on BU’s campus while still living at home.

Colorado State University’s Summer Voice Intensive

Voice majors looking for shorter programs can take part in this one-week masterclass, which includes faculty-led lessons, performance opportunities, and practical advice for preparing college auditions.

Carnegie Mellon’s Pre-College Art Program

With three- and six-week options, students take either four or eight studio classes in drawing, sculpture, painting, photography (and more), attend weekly workshops, and receive one-on-one portfolio reviews from CMU School of Art faculty.

Pre-college art programs abroad

If you’re less interested in “art camps near me” and more interested in art programs abroad, check out these international schools that host summer art programs:

British American Drama Academy’s Midsummer Conservatory Program

If you’re an actor interested in Shakespeare, consider this 3-week intensive covering acting, voice, and movement, as well as cultural studies and period dance.

Paris College of Art’s Summer Art Programs

Students can choose from three unique two-week sessions: street style fashion photography, drawing fundamentals, or drawing with a focus on developing portfolio-ready work.

Polimoda’s Pre-College program in Design, Production & Business

In Florence, Italy, students spend two weeks immersed in fashion design, production, and business with hands-on courses and field trips to local production houses.

Alberta University of the Arts’s Summer Pre-College Program

This four-week intensive in Canada provides students with studio experience in drawing and design, with the goal of developing their artistic sensibilities and portfolio for college admissions.

Many independent organizations, such as Arcos Journeys Abroad and CIEE Global Navigator, also coordinate a range of summer art programs in countries like Spain, Mexico, Argentina, England, Japan, Italy, France, and the Czech Republic. These programs typically blend art with cultural immersion, encouraging exploration of another country’s language, architecture, food, or artistic influences.

5 benefits of doing a summer art program

Still not convinced a summer arts program is for you? Here are five reasons to enroll in a pre-college arts program:

1. Skill advancement. Few activities help you grow as an artist more than fully immersing yourself in your craft. The best arts programs blend instruction with hands-on practice, rehearsal, and constructive feedback to help you strengthen your skills from every angle.
2. Portfolio development. Planning to apply to art school someday? You’ll need a strong portfolio showcasing your best work. Many arts programs are designed with a goal of guiding you through building and refining a standout portfolio.
3. Creative community and mentorship. These programs offer you a valuable chance to connect with peers who share your passion and faculty who can provide meaningful guidance. Working in this type of collaborative environment can push your creativity further and drive your artistic and personal growth. 
4. Increased confidence and clarity. For many, art is more than a hobby — it’s a calling. By the end of a summer arts program, you might have developed a stronger sense of your identity as an artist and greater clarity about how you want art to shape your future.
5. Exposure to art school life. Unsure if art school is the right path after graduating from high school? A pre-college arts program gives you a real taste of college life. It’s the perfect opportunity to get on campus, meet with faculty, and see what college-level classes and facilities are actually like.

How to choose an art program

Ready to explore all the summer art program possibilities? Kick off your creative journey with these four easy steps.

Step 1: Pick your passion

Finding the right summer art camp starts with zeroing in on your interests. There are art programs in every kind of artistic discipline imaginable — acting, musical performance, sculpture, filmmaking, sound design, drawing, painting, photography, game design, graphic design, printmaking, you name it! You can also find programs featuring art history or arts and culture, as well as programs that combine studying the arts with learning or practicing a foreign language.

Step 2: Find the right fit for your skill level

Beyond deciding on your area of study and focus, you’ll also need to be realistic about finding art programs appropriate to your skill level. For instance, some teen art classes are geared toward beginners and are suitable for anyone. Other art programs are specifically geared toward more advanced students with a stronger background and skill level in their chosen discipline. More advanced, and therefore more selective, programs may require you to submit an audition or sample of your work as part of the admissions process.

Step 3: Choose your ideal setting

Next, consider program location (and any required housing and travel). For instance, if you live in the Midwest but want to attend a program in New York City, consider the logistics: how you’ll get there, where you’ll live, and what it’ll be like to be away from home for several weeks. If you’re feeling really adventurous, maybe you want to study abroad! Look for accredited art programs and verify the language of instruction (English or a foreign language). Before committing to a program away from home, confirm the housing and meal arrangements.

While traveling somewhere new can be exciting, staying close to home has its benefits: you get to keep up with friends, save on expensive travel, and have the option of enrolling in commuter-only courses. To focus your search on local opportunities, try looking up “art camps near me.” Plenty of online summer planning resources (including Teen Life’s summer program listings) let you search by location, too.

Step 4: Decide on a commitment level

Committing to a week-long arts camp is much simpler than dedicating half your summer to a pre-college arts program, so be sure to weigh the pros and cons before applying. Consider both the program’s length and the daily time commitment. Do you want to spend 12 hours a day exploring your discipline, or would you rather dedicate just a few hours to your art and have plenty of time left for other activities? Choosing the right program means finding the balance that fits your goals and lifestyle, so pick what feels right for you!

Art program benefits: Takeaways

Whether you're looking to build your portfolio, explore a specific medium, or sample college-level instruction, summer art programs offer valuable opportunities to develop your artistic skills and your point of view as an artist.

If you’re still on the fence about attending an arts summer program, remember:

• Pre-college art programs go beyond traditional teen art classes, offering more focused, rigorous instruction and helping you develop technical skills and creative vision.
• Summer art programs are incredibly varied, differing in length, subject matter, teaching style, and intensity. From short workshops to multi-week immersives, there’s something for nearly every schedule, interest, and skill level.
• Many colleges host summer programs, which can give you a feel for that school’s campus life and faculty teaching styles. Plus, creating strong portfolio pieces during these programs can strengthen your college application and set you apart in the admissions process, wherever you apply.
• Choosing the right program depends on a mix of personal and practical factors, such as academic interests, desired level of involvement, cost, location, and housing.

Attending a summer program can boost your confidence and independence, preparing you for the demands of college-level study and life away from home.