7 Free Art Programs For High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Nov 11, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: Jan 15
Summer programs at top universities can boost college applications for high school students pursuing the humanities or arts. Many institutions offer these programs for free or will financial aid, removing financial barriers and allowing you to build advanced art skills without the burden of high costs. Participating in these prestigious programs provides hands-on experience and strengthens your college applications by demonstrating a commitment to art.
These programs are often highly selective, offering you the chance to work with leading artists and like-minded peers, gaining skills that will set you apart in future college admissions and career pursuits. We've compiled a list of 7 art programs for high school students, all either free or with full financial aid. Some even provide stipends, further enhancing their accessibility. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
1. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation - Art Track
Cost: The program is fully funded!
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility:
You must be currently enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall.
Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation stands as a non-profit research program tailored for gifted students from low-income backgrounds. Stemming from the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, renowned for its extensive one-on-one research opportunities for high school students, the foundation provides the same access to independent research experiences at zero cost.
The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In the flagship program, talented high-school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can apply here!
This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper.
2. City Art Lab
Location: City College of New York, New York, NY
Eligibility: High school students
Application Deadline: TBA. Stay updated on the latest dates here
Dates: Once a week between mid-February and end of May
Cost: Free
City Art Lab, presented by CCNY’s Art Education Program, offers a free after-school arts experience for teens. Taking place on the CCNY campus, this program allows young artists to explore new materials and techniques with practicing artists while connecting with like-minded peers from across New York City. You will also gain insight into college life, collaborate with graduate students who are training to become educators, and build a portfolio. The program includes all materials and culminates in an exhibition showcasing your work.
Led by CCNY Art Education graduate students, City Art Lab meets once a week from mid-February to the end of May. This community-based arts project provides an enriching environment for high school students to enhance their portfolios and gain valuable hands-on experience in the arts.
Location: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Newark
Eligibility: Young women and gender-expansive youth who are enrolled in high school and live in New York City or Newark
Application Deadline: Summer Institute will open in Spring
Dates: July 5 – August 15
Cost: Free. All students are eligible to receive a stipend at the end of the summer based on their participation
The Sadie Nash Leadership Program offers an empowering summer experience for self-identified young women and gender-expansive youth attending high school in New York or Newark, NJ. This program fosters leadership potential through a supportive community of peers, where you will engage in critical exploration of your identity and societal issues. You will take courses on topics such as social justice, identity, and activism while attending workshops and field trips that enhance your learning experience.
Among the classes offered, "Creating Change: Art and Activism in America" focuses on multidisciplinary art practices that inspire social change through various forms of expression. Through this course, you will not only sharpen your critical thinking skills but also learn how multidisciplinary art practices address social change, including performance, poetry, storytelling, and public art. You will have the opportunity to meet accomplished leaders who will serve as mentors. To learn more about the Sadie Nash Summer Institute, check out our full guide here.
Location: California State Summer School for the Arts, Sacramento, CA
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in grades 8 through 12
Application Deadline: Applications will open in early November
Dates: July 5 – August 1
Cost: $4,830; scholarships are available and awarded on a need-based basis, though only to California residents. Visit this website to check out financial aid packages
The Visual Arts Program at CSSSA offers a comprehensive approach to contemporary art-making, emphasizing critical thinking, problem-solving, historical context, and hands-on studio practice. You can enroll in studio classes such as ceramics, digital media, painting (acrylic only), photography, printmaking, and sculpture. All students also participate in core classes like figure drawing, design, and the seminar course “Arts and Culture,” which includes lectures and guest artist sessions. In addition to regular classes, the program offers workshops by visiting artists, museum and gallery field trips, and evening studio access for completing projects or pursuing personal work.
Specialized courses allow you to dive into distinct art forms. The Painting course emphasizes color theory, composition, and various painting techniques using high-quality acrylics on different surfaces. In Printmaking, you will experiment with materials like linoleum, plexi, and woodcuts, exploring both traditional and innovative print techniques. The Sculpture course covers scale, form, contemporary materials, and personal narrative, with discussions and slide lectures to deepen understanding. Ceramics focuses on hand-building, glazing, and firing, along with ceramic history, encouraging you to experiment and explore clay as a fine art medium. To learn more about this program, check out our full guide here.
Program Dates: TBA. Three sessions were offered in the past:
Session A: Virtual (June 24 – July 6)
Session B: In-person/Mandatory Housing (July 7 – 20)
In-person/Commuter (July 22 – August 2)
Eligibility: Students in 9th-12th grade in Spring
Application Deadline: June 1
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: California students in grades 9–11 in the spring may qualify for UCLA’s need- and merit-based Summer Scholars Support scholarship. Applicants must be 15 by June 24 and limited full and partial awards are available
The UCLA Department of Art's Summer Art Institute offers high school students three sessions, including two in-person and one virtual. You can choose from various specializations and engage in daily studio work, artist lectures, group critiques, and one-on-one meetings with faculty. This rigorous two-week program exposes you to diverse media and contemporary practices through both UCLA faculty and visiting artist presentations. You can enroll in one or more sessions and should be prepared for an intensive studio-based curriculum.
Specialized courses include Drawing, which emphasizes observational and imaginative techniques, and Painting, which combines color theory, composition, and concept exploration. In Photography, you will dive into digital and darkroom methods, requiring a DSLR camera, while Sculpture offers an introduction to contemporary and historical sculptural techniques within UCLA’s sculpture lab. Additionally, the Video Art & Experimental Animation course guides you through moving-image art forms, covering video creation, animation, and performance. Each class includes critiques and discussions, helping you expand your conceptual understanding, refine your technical skills, and develop as an artist.
Location: Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, Queens NY
Eligibility: All NYC Department of Education Public School students entering Grades 8 through 12. However, admission to the Summer Arts Institute is by application and audition. Students may apply and audition for only ONE studio
Application Deadline:
Student Application Deadline: February 11
Virtual Audition Submission Deadline: February 12
Dates: July 8 – August 2
Cost: Free
The Summer Arts Institute is a free, four-week arts program available to New York City Department of Education public school students entering grades 8 through 12. Held at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, Queens, the Institute is managed by the NYCDOE’s Office of Arts and Special Projects, offering an intensive arts experience.
You can choose to major in dance, theater, instrumental music, orchestral strings, vocal music, film, or visual arts, focusing on intermediate to advanced levels of study. The program includes studio work and professional artist-led sessions, helping you refine technical skills and artistic expression in your chosen field. With time set aside for rehearsals, performances, arts venue visits, and career exploration, the Institute culminates in an exhibition and performance that showcases your achievements.
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY
Eligibility: Applicants must be in grades 10 or 11, or two to three years from graduating high school or obtaining a High School Equivalency degree, and must reside or attend school in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut as of the application deadline
Application Deadline: March 8
Dates: June 22 – August 9
Cost: Free, paid internship
The Met High School Internship Program offers high schoolers a chance to connect with art, museums, and creative professionals while developing essential professional skills. As an intern, you will build networks and gain valuable work experience in a renowned cultural institution. Open to students from diverse backgrounds, the program is ideal for those interested in various fields within art, including editorial, marketing, social media, education, scientific research, and conservation.
You will work closely with museum professionals in small cohorts, enabling you to explore the intersections between your personal interests and potential career paths. To foster diversity within the arts, students from historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. A stipend, aligned with New York State minimum wage law, is provided upon completion, and accommodations for the application process are available upon request at highschoolinterns@metmuseum.org.
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.