If you’re a high school student interested in art, summer can be more than just a break from classes; it can be a time to focus fully on creativity and self-expression. Art isn’t only about natural ability; it’s about learning techniques, experimenting with ideas, and developing your own visual voice. Art summer camps for high school students offer the space and guidance to do exactly that.

At art summer camps, learning happens through making. Imagine spending your days sketching in studio classrooms, painting with new materials, experimenting with sculpture or digital tools, and refining your work through hands-on practice. With structured workshops and creative freedom, these camps blend skill-building with artistic exploration.

Even if you already enjoy creating art on your own, a summer camp environment can push you further. You’ll work alongside other motivated students, receive feedback from experienced artists, and learn how to take creative risks.

How do you choose the right art summer camps for high school students?

It’s true that some camps prioritize recreation over artistic growth, while others may lack depth or mentorship. That’s why careful research matters. The strongest art summer camps focus on instruction, studio time, and meaningful creative development.

Across universities, art schools, and creative institutions, you’ll find camps covering disciplines such as fine art, illustration, animation, photography, fashion, and design. Whether you’re just starting out or building a portfolio for future study, these programs support students at different skill levels.

You’ll learn from experienced instructors, take part in studio critiques and workshops, and collaborate with creative peers from around the world. Along the way, you’ll refine your artistic skills, broaden your creative perspective, and gain a clearer sense of what pursuing art at the next level might look like.

To help you get started, we’ve curated a list of 15 Art Summer Camps for High School Students. They’ve been handpicked for their creative depth, mentorship, and inspiring learning environments.

15 Art Summer Camps for High School Students

1. California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA)

Cost: CA State Residents – $5,174, Out-of-State and International Students – $10,475
Program Dates: July 4th – August 1st
Location: California State Summer School for the Arts, Sacramento, CA
Eligibility: U.S. and international students currently in grades 8-12
Application Deadline: February 28th

The California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) is a four-week, intensive residential arts program for high school students, hosted annually at the California Institute of the Arts. You apply to a specific discipline and receive focused, pre-professional training through daily studio classes, assignments, and critiques.

In the Visual Arts program, students work in areas such as digital media, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture, based on their stated interests. The program emphasizes disciplined practice, contemporary art-making, and exposure to professional standards. You will gain a realistic understanding of arts-focused college programs and the demands of advanced creative study.

Why it stands out: CSSSA offers selective, discipline-specific training in a conservatory-style environment at CalArts, making it one of the most rigorous state-supported pre-college arts programs in the U.S.

2. Immerse Education’s Fine & Digital Art Summer School

Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through their bursary programme
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Location: University College London, London
Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 13-18 who are currently enrolled in middle or high school
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions

The Immerse Education Fine & Digital Art Summer School gives high school students aged 15–18 the chance to explore both traditional and digital art through one of the most academically structured art summer camps for high school students, while living and studying on campus at a leading university location. You will learn in small classes with experienced tutors, developing your skills across drawing, painting, digital design, animation, and creative techniques through hands-on workshops and project-based lessons.

You may find yourself creating a personal art portfolio, experimenting with mixed media, or presenting your work in group critiques. Alongside your studies, the programme often includes visits to galleries and cultural sites to inspire your creativity. By the end of the two-week programme, you’ll complete a personal art project, receive written feedback, and earn a certificate of completion reflecting your artistic growth and experience.

Why it stands out: It blends traditional art techniques with digital creative tools, helping you build a versatile artistic portfolio and strengthen your creative skills.

3. California College of Arts Pre-College

Cost: The total cost depends on which Pre-College track you wish to pursue
Program Dates: July 6-31
Location: California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
Eligibility: High school students who have just completed their sophomore, junior, or senior year (ages 15-18); international students are welcome to apply
Application Deadline: June 10th

CCA’s Pre-College Program is a studio-based summer experience for high school students who have completed at least their sophomore year. You will take college-level art and design courses focused on developing technical skills and producing portfolio-ready work, with options spanning painting and drawing as well as fields like comics, jewelry design, and UI/UX interaction design.

You will learn in CCA’s San Francisco campus studios alongside peers with varying experience levels, gaining exposure to the expectations and structure of an undergraduate art and design program. The program offers both residential and commuter options, and students may earn up to three transferable college credits. Overall, the experience helps participants assess their readiness for art and design majors while strengthening their portfolios for college applications.

Why it stands out: CCA Pre-College combines credit-bearing, studio-intensive coursework with access to emerging design fields, giving students early exposure to both traditional and contemporary art and design pathways.

4. SCAD Rising Star

Cost: $6,620
Program Dates: June 28th – July 24th
Location: Savannah College of Art and Design (both at its Savannah and Atlanta campuses)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors from all over the world
Application Deadline: No official application deadline

SCAD Rising Star is a four-week, college-credit summer program designed for rising high school seniors who are ready to experience university-level study in art and design. The program emphasizes skill development, conceptual thinking, and portfolio growth, making it especially relevant for students planning to apply to art and design colleges.

You receive individualized feedback from SCAD faculty and gain access to professional tools and software, including Adobe Creative Cloud, used across creative industries. By the end of the program, you leave with college credits, completed coursework, and a clearer understanding of whether a creative major and university setting align with your future plans.

Why it stands out: SCAD Rising Star offers the rare opportunity to earn transferable college credit while experiencing a full art university environment, making it especially valuable for students seriously considering art or design as a college major.

5. Summer Arts Camp at Interlochen Center for the Arts

Cost: Varies based on the session
Program Dates: Varies based on the session
Location: Interlochen Center for the Arts, Interlochen, MI
Eligibility: Camps are available for kids and youth from around the globe in multiple age ranges
Application Deadline: Priority application deadline: January 15th

You enroll in a primary arts discipline, such as creative writing, dance, film and new media, music, theatre, visual arts, or interdisciplinary arts, and spend a significant portion of each day in structured classes, rehearsals, and practice sessions led by experienced faculty. The program emphasizes skill development, artistic exploration, and regular feedback, while also giving students opportunities to perform, present, or showcase their work.

Outside of formal instruction, students participate in classic camp activities, including sports, outdoor recreation, and group events, creating a balanced daily schedule. This structure allows students to deepen their commitment to an art form while also experiencing life in a residential creative community, which can be especially helpful for those considering arts-focused high schools, conservatories, or college programs.

Why it stands out: Interlochen stands out for its ability to combine serious, discipline-specific arts training with the social and personal growth aspects of a traditional summer camp, all within a large, purpose-built arts campus that supports students across multiple creative pathways.

6. Academy of Art University Pre-College Art Experience (PCAE)

Cost: No cost
Program Dates: June 15-24
Location: Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
Eligibility: High school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors worldwide
Application Deadline: June 19th

The Pre-College Art Experience (PCAE) at the Academy of Art University is a free, two-week program that introduces high school students to college-level art and design education. You can choose one or two courses in areas such as animation, game design, fashion, fine art, photography, or filmmaking. The program mirrors an art school learning environment, combining studio-based coursework, peer critique, and guided instruction.

You’ll have the option to live on campus, engage with other aspiring artists, and conclude the experience with a final exhibition showcasing your work. PCAE is designed to help you assess your interest in pursuing art or design at the college level and understand what a creative academic pathway might look like.

Why it stands out: PCAE stands out for offering a fully free, immersive, college-level art school experience on a major creative campus, giving you direct exposure to both the academic structure and daily life of an art and design university.

7. University of Michigan Stamps Portfolio Prep

Cost: $6,000
Program Dates: Session 1: July 12-25, Session 2: July 26th – August 8th
Location: Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design, Ann Arbor, MI
Eligibility: Domestic and international students in grades 9 -11
Application Deadline: March 1st

The California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) is a four-week, pre-professional arts program for high school students, hosted at the California Institute of the Arts. Students apply to a specific discipline, such as visual arts, film, animation, music, theater, dance, or creative writing, and are placed into intensive studio-based training aligned with their stated interests. The Visual Arts track includes focused instruction in areas like digital media, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture, with assignments designed to reflect contemporary art practices.

You will work closely with faculty and visiting professionals, engage in critiques, and complete structured projects throughout the program. CSSSA provides a realistic preview of conservatory-style arts education and helps students evaluate whether pursuing formal arts training at the college level is the right path.

Why it stands out: CSSSA combines the rigor of a conservatory-style program with access to CalArts faculty, making it one of the most academically intensive state-supported arts programs for high school students.

8. University of Michigan Stamps BioDesign Studio

Cost: Fully funded
Program Dates: Schedule to be announced
Location: Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design, Ann Arbor, MI
Eligibility: Students all over the world in grades 10-12
Application Deadline: March 1st

The Stamps BioDesign Studio is a four-week summer commuter program for high school students interested in exploring the intersection of art, science, and engineering. You will work in a small cohort and engage in college-level studio and research activities focused on materials science and experimental design. You will design and fabricate 2D and 3D surface structures, study form and texture at the micro- and nano-scale using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and translate scientific observations into creative visual outcomes.

The program emphasizes hands-on experimentation, interdisciplinary thinking, and close mentorship, offering insight into how art and design function within scientific research environments. This experience can help you assess interest in interdisciplinary majors that combine art, design, science, and technology at the university level.

Why it stands out: It offers rare exposure to university-level scientific tools and research methods while framing them through an art and design lens, making it especially valuable for students considering interdisciplinary STEM + art pathways.

9. Parsons Summer Intensive Studies NYC

Cost: $5,610 plus $265 university fees
Program Dates: Session 1: June 8-26, Session 2: July 6-24
Location: Parsons’ NYC Greenwich Village campus, New York, NY
Eligibility: High school students aged 16-18; international students are welcome to apply
Application Deadline: Session 1: May 8, 2026 (April 1st for international students); Session 2: June 1, 2026 (April 1st for international students; May 8th for students applying for university housing)

Parsons Summer Intensive Studies NYC is one of the most professionally focused art summer camps for high school students, offering a three-week, three-credit program designed to prepare participants for the pace and expectations of college-level art and design study. As a participant, you enroll in a studio course within areas such as fine arts, illustration, photography, animation, graphic design, fashion design, product design, architecture, interior design, or design management.

The program emphasizes project-based learning, portfolio development, and critical feedback from Parsons faculty, while also including field trips and interactions with industry professionals. Whether residential or commuter, students experience the academic structure, expectations, and pace of a top-tier design school, helping them assess their readiness for a creative college pathway.

Why it stands out: It combines official college credit, portfolio-focused studio work, and direct exposure to Parsons’ academic environment in New York City, offering a realistic preview of art and design education at a leading institution.

10. Otis College of Art and Design Summer of Art

Cost: $2,690 – $7,315 (depending on the program type and housing)
Program Dates: July 6-31
Location: Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA
Eligibility: High school students from around the world aged 14.5 to 19
Application Deadline: June 23rd

Summer of Art is an intensive four-week pre-college program for high school students and young creatives (ages 14.5–19) interested in developing foundational and specialized skills in art and design. You will take college-level studio courses taught by practicing artists, with a core focus on drawing alongside elective specializations such as architecture, concept art, digital media, graphic design, and printmaking.

The program emphasizes hands-on studio work, structured critiques, and skill development in a professional art school environment. You will gain experience with the pace and expectations of college-level coursework while building portfolio-ready work. Full-day participants may also earn transferable college credit, offering early exposure to academic pathways in art and design.

Why it stands out: Otis Summer of Art combines rigorous studio training with portfolio development and optional transferable college credit at a top art and design college, making it a strong bridge between high school and undergraduate art education.

11. The Putney School Summer Arts

Cost: $4,025 – $10,050 (depending on sessions)
Program Dates: 1-week session: July 19-24, 3-week session: $10,050
Location: The Putney School, Putney, VT
Eligibility: High school students worldwide (each session has different age/grade conditions)
Application Deadline: Applications for the 3-Week Session close on June 1. Applications for the 1-Week Session close on July 1st

The Putney School Summer Arts is a residential arts program for high school students in grades 9–12 that emphasizes immersive creative practice in a technology-free environment. You can choose between a three-week session, a one-week intensive, or a combined four-week experience, allowing flexibility based on interest and availability.

The program focuses on artistic process rather than polished outcomes, giving students time for experimentation, reflection, and independent work. Through workshops designed for all experience levels, students explore new ideas with guidance from supportive faculty in a non-competitive setting. The experience helps students better understand their creative interests while offering insight into arts-focused educational pathways.

Why it stands out: The program’s intentional removal of digital distractions and its strong emphasis on process-driven learning create a rare environment for deep creative focus and personal artistic growth.

12. Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Art Program

Cost: 6 Weeks: Residential – $12,204, Commuter – $9,039 | 3 Weeks: Residential – $7,945, Commuter – $6,184
Program Dates: 3 Weeks: June 20th – July 11th, 6 Weeks: June 20th – August 1st
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Eligibility: Current sophomore or junior in high school from all nationalities, aged 16 years or older
Application Deadline: Early deadline: February 1st, Regular deadline: March 1st

The Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Art Program offers high school students the opportunity to study art in a rigorous college studio environment within CMU’s School of Art. Over one or two three-week sessions, you enroll in four college-level studio courses that span areas such as drawing, sculpture, animation, painting, digital photography, and printmaking. The curriculum balances technical skill-building with conceptual development, emphasizing how ideas, processes, and context shape artistic practice.

You will participate in structured critiques, workshops, portfolio development sessions, and Concept Studios that reflect CMU’s undergraduate art curriculum. By working with both traditional materials and contemporary technologies, you gain a realistic preview of what studying art at a research-focused university looks like and how conceptual thinking plays a role in advanced art education.

Why it stands out: This program mirrors Carnegie Mellon’s actual undergraduate art curriculum, giving you early exposure to concept-driven studio courses that emphasize creative process, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary exploration rather than medium alone.

13. Rhode Island School of Design Pre-College Program

Cost: Residential program: $12,495, Commuter program: $9,595
Program Dates: June 29th – July 31st
Location: Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Providence, RI
Eligibility: High school students all over the world in grades 10-12, aged 16-18
Application Deadline: Application opens November 5th

The RISD Pre-College Program is widely regarded as one of the most rigorous art summer camps for high school students, offering a five-week immersive, on-campus experience for rising juniors and seniors ready for college-level art and design study. As a participant, you follow a full-day studio curriculum similar to that of RISD undergraduates, engaging in intensive projects, critiques, and skill-building across materials and methods.

The program emphasizes experimentation, conceptual thinking, and disciplined studio practice, helping students move beyond comfort zones and refine their artistic approach. You live on campus in Providence, work with RISD faculty, and collaborate with a diverse, international cohort of highly motivated peers. By the end of the program, students leave with stronger portfolio pieces and a clearer understanding of what studying art and design at a top institution demands.

Why it stands out: RISD Pre-College closely mirrors the academic intensity, studio culture, and expectations of a RISD undergraduate education, making it one of the most realistic previews of elite art school life available to high school students.

14. Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) Pre-College Program

Cost: $2,725 – $7,700 based on weeks and type
Program Dates: 2-week sessions: July 13-24 and July 27th – August 7th | 4-week session: July 13th – August 7th
Location: Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Baltimore, MD
Eligibility: Students worldwide, aged 15-17
Application Deadline: Early application: January 5th, Final deadline April 30th

The MICA Pre-College Program is a summer intensive designed for rising high school juniors and seniors who want to experience college-level art and design education. As a participant, you follow a structured curriculum that combines studio classes, workshops, seminars, and artist talks, all taught by MICA faculty. You choose from a wide range of studio courses across 2D, 3D, digital, and interdisciplinary practices, allowing you to explore specific interests or broaden your creative skill set.

You will work alongside creatively driven peers, gaining insight into critique culture, time management, and expectations common in undergraduate art programs. By the end of the program, you leave with portfolio-ready work and a clearer understanding of whether an art or design major aligns with your college goals.

Why it stands out: MICA’s Pre-College Program closely mirrors the structure and intensity of a first-year art school experience, making it especially useful for students considering a serious commitment to art or design at the college level.

15. ASU Summer Art Camps

Cost: 4-week camp: $450, 5-week camp: $550
Program Dates: Varies based on the session/subject
Location: School of Art on ASU’s Tempe campus, Tempe, AZ, and ASU’s Natural History Collections,  Tempe, AZ
Eligibility: Students from all around the world aged 13-18
Application Deadline: Enrollment closes the Thursday before each camp begins

The ASU Summer Art Camps provide short-term immersive studio experiences. These four- and five-day camps introduce participants to a wide range of artistic practices, including painting, printmaking, animation, photography, graphic design, sculpture, and woodworking. Each camp is structured around hands-on studio work, allowing students to learn specific techniques while completing guided projects under the instruction of ASU-affiliated teaching artists.

The program is open to students of all experience levels, making it suitable for both beginners exploring art for the first time and more advanced students looking to expand their skills. You will also receive individualized feedback and work alongside peers with similar creative interests, helping them understand what studio-based learning at a university level can look like.

Why it stands out: ASU Summer Art Camps offer focused, discipline-specific exposure in a short timeframe, making them an accessible way to explore different art and design fields before committing to longer pre-college programs or an arts major.

Turning Summer Sketches Into Pathways

Immersing yourself in art over the summer helps you build more than technique. You develop discipline, curiosity, and confidence as creative practice becomes part of your daily routine.

Working alongside peers and mentors, you experience critique, collaboration, and creative problem-solving that reflect how art is studied and practiced beyond high school.

Through these art summer camps for high school students, you begin shaping your portfolio, refining your interests, and understanding which creative directions feel most aligned with your goals.

When you’re ready to explore what comes next, visit our Career Exploration blogs for guidance, insights, and practical perspectives on turning creativity into future pathways.