If art history interests you, art research programs are a great way to explore the subject further. These programs offer hands-on projects, faculty mentorship, and access to professional studios and resources, allowing you to refine your artistic practice while gaining research experience.
You might use science to figure out what’s in the paint, dig into history to learn its story, or try tech to fix faded colors. These programs put you in labs, museums, or studios, where you can explore art way beyond just staring at it. You could also check out a painting’s hidden layers with tools like infrared imaging or learn how to keep sculptures from crumbling.
If this sounds like something you’d want to explore, here are 15 art research programs for high school students!
15 Art Research Programs for High School Students
1. Teen Gallery Guides at The Getty Center Museum
The Getty Museum Teen Gallery Guide program is a paid summer internship where you’ll train to lead guided tours of the Getty Center’s collection for K-12 visitors. You’ll receive in-depth training that teaches you how to analyze artworks from an art historical perspective, deepening your understanding of styles, techniques, and contexts.
Beyond that, you’ll develop strong public speaking skills as you curate and lead tours, using storytelling to bring artwork to life. Your responsibilities will include designing engaging presentations, interpreting historical narratives, and adapting your approach for diverse audiences, from young children to teens.
Location: Getty Center Museum, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: None. Stipend: $2,300
Program Dates: May 3 – August 2
Application Deadline: March 5
Eligibility: Open to rising juniors and seniors in LA County within 25 miles of the Getty Center, age 16+ by program start. Applicants from East LA/Boyle Heights are encouraged. Not open to past Getty teen program participants.
2. Otis College of Art and Design Summer of Art
Otis College of Art and Design’s Summer of Art is an intensive program for students 15 and older, focusing on research-based approaches to art and design. You’ll work with practicing artists who will guide you through disciplines like drawing, architecture, concept art, digital media, graphic design, and printmaking.
Your days will be filled with hands-on projects where you’ll master technical skills like perspective, composition, and color theory, while also exploring advanced concepts like visual storytelling and material experimentation. You’ll analyze historical and contemporary art movements, connect them to your work, and build a professional-quality portfolio through independent projects.
Location: Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Varies (See program site for details)
Program Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: June 23
Eligibility: Open to high school students aged 15 and older.
3. Design Immersion Days
At Design Immersion Days, hosted by the Southern California Institute of Architecture, you’ll spend four weeks exploring the world of design and architecture through a research-focused lens. You’ll work on both traditional techniques like drawing and model-building and cutting-edge digital tools, including 3D modeling, 3D printing, and augmented reality.
A major highlight is the urban design research component, where you’ll study Los Angeles’ cityscape, analyzing how spaces are organized and how the built environment shapes daily life. You’ll approach these topics from multiple angles, blending art, architecture, and technology to create projects.
Location: Southern California Institute of Architecture, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $3,350. Need-based financial aid is available.
Program Dates: June 16 – July 11
Application Deadline: June 6
Eligibility: Open to high school students interested in architecture and design.
4. Museum of Fine Arts STEAM Team
The STEAM Team Fellowship at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston offers you a year-long, paid opportunity to work behind the scenes at a top-tier museum. You’ll dive into tasks like conservation, archival research, or exhibition planning, all while being mentored by museum professionals.
You’ll also visit local organizations and artists who blend science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM), giving you a broad perspective on how these fields intersect. Through these experiences, you’ll develop research skills like analyzing artifacts or historical documents.
Location: Boston, MA
Cost: A stipend of $15 per hour is paid!
Program Dates: 12-month program (follows the academic year)
Application Deadline: Applications open in February
Eligibility: Rising sophomores can apply!
5. Northeastern University’s Accelerate Pre-College Programs: Design & the Modern Makerspace
In Northeastern University’s Design & the Modern Makerspace course, you’ll spend two weeks exploring design thinking and digital fabrication in a cutting-edge setting. You’ll learn to use tools like laser cutters and 3D printers, applying them to traditional crafts such as printing, textiles, and jewelry making. Through technical workshops, guest lectures, and research, you’ll investigate how design and technology shape contemporary art practices.
Location: Boston, MA
Cost: $6,895 (need-based financial aid available)
Program Dates: July 6 – 18
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors by program start
6. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research.
Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar 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.
The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
Location: Virtual
Cost: You can get the exact cost by raising an interest form here. Full financial aid is available.
Application Deadlines: Priority: March 23; Regular I: April 20; Regular II: May 18
Program Dates: The summer cohort starts June 16. Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply at least four 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 couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
7. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
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.
The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. 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 choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: 100% Financial aid available.
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June – August), Fall (September – December), Winter (December – February), and Spring (March – June).
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Eligibility: Open to current high school students with a minimum 3.3 unweighted GPA; no prior experience required.
8. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University is a seven-week, fully funded opportunity where you’ll team up with a professor to tackle a research project. If art history is your thing, you might explore art movements, analyze visual elements, or dive into historical contexts using museum archives and academic resources. You’ll also attend seminars and field trips that broaden your perspective while working on your writing and presentation skills.
Location: Texas Tech University
Cost: None
Program Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 17 (tentative, based on previous year)
Eligibility: Must be at least 17 by program start and set to graduate within two years. Open to international students.
9. UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program
The Research Mentorship Program (RMP) at UC Santa Barbara is a six-week summer program where you conduct research with university researchers. You can choose from topics including Media, Arts & Technology. You will work with a mentor, either a graduate student, postdoctoral researcher, or faculty member to complete a research project.
You will spend 35-40 hours per week on research, take two research courses, and earn 8 university credits. By the end of the program, you will write a technical research paper and present your findings at a symposium.
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost: $12,474 (Residential), $5,175 (Commuter)
Program Dates: July 31 – August 2 (tentative, based on previous year)
Application Deadline: March 17 (tentative, based on previous year)
Eligibility: 10th–11th grade high school students with a weighted GPA of 3.8
10. Summer High School Internship Program at The Met
The Met High School Internship Program is a paid opportunity for 10th and 11th graders or students pursuing a High School Equivalency degree in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut. You will research artworks, analyze historical and cultural contexts, and explore museum curation and conservation.
You will work with museum professionals in research, conservation, and education, gaining experience in archival research, exhibition planning, and object analysis. The program includes hands-on projects, mentorship, and access to museum collections.
Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Cost: None. This is a paid internship with a stipend equal to New York State’s minimum wage.
Program Dates: Bootcamp: July 2; Departmental Placement: July 7 – August 8 (10–20 hours per week); Final Event: August 8.
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: Open to 10th and 11th graders or students pursuing a High School Equivalency degree who live in or attend school in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut.
11. Sotheby’s Summer Institute for High School Students
The Sotheby’s Summer Institute is a two-week program in New York City where you explore art history, gallery management, and museum operations. You will research artworks, study market trends, and analyze historical and cultural contexts through guided sessions with industry experts. You will visit museums, galleries, auction houses, and artist studios, gaining hands-on experience in curation and collection management.
Location: New York City
Cost: $6,990 (Tuition, Room, and Board), $275 Materials Fee
Program Dates: Session 1: July 6–18; Session 2: July 20–August 1
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders and graduating seniors, at least 15 years old by program start date.
12. Parsons Pre-College Art & Design Intensive
The Parsons Pre-College Art & Design Intensive is a three-week, three-credit program at Parsons’ Greenwich Village campus for high school students. You will work on project-based assignments, visit museums and galleries, and join discussions on art, design, and fashion with professionals.
With a Monday–Friday schedule, you will develop technical and conceptual skills through studio work and critiques. The program includes extracurricular activities exploring New York’s creative scene, preparing you for college-level art and design studies.
Location: Parsons’ NYC Greenwich Village campus
Cost: $5,400 plus $255 university fee
Program Dates: Session 1: June 9–27 Session 2: July 7–25
Application Deadline: Session 1: May 1, Session 2: June 1
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–18.
13. NYU High School Summer Art Intensive
The NYU High School Summer Art Intensive is a four-week program for students aged 15–18, focusing on art research and studio practice. You will work with various materials and techniques, visit museums and galleries, and study artist studios to understand creative processes. You will stay at the NYU Student Residence Hall, with easy access to the East Village studio.
Location: New York University, East Village, Manhattan
Cost: $7,360 (includes housing)
Program Dates: July 6 – August 2
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: All high school students can apply!
14. Summer Programs at the School of the Arts
The Columbia University School of the Arts Summer Program offers courses in art history, visual arts, and writing on its New York City campus. You will study art research methods, archival analysis, exhibition curation, and critical writing, learning from graduate faculty and guest artists.
The program includes museum and gallery visits, artist lectures, and hands-on archival research. You will develop skills in evaluating primary sources, analyzing artistic movements, and writing research-based critiques. Some courses have open enrollment, while others have limited spots filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Location: Columbia University
Cost: $2,574 Per Point (Credit)
Program Dates: May 26–August 15
Application Deadline: April 17
Eligibility: All high school students can apply!
15. Tufts University Pre-College Art Programs
The SMFA Studio Art Intensive is a three-week summer program at Tufts University’s School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA), designed to help you develop your artistic skills in a hands-on environment. You will take foundation classes in drawing and painting, sculpture/3D, and animation, learning from experienced artists and educators.
The curriculum encourages experimentation with new materials and techniques while refining your approach to art. You’ll also visit renowned Boston museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, gaining inspiration from diverse art forms.
Location: School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University, Boston, MA
Cost: $5,400 plus $255 university fee
Program Dates: Session 1: June 9–27; Session 2: July 7–25
Application Deadline: Session 1: May 1; Session 2: June 1
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–18
Image source: Tufts University
