Philadelphia has long been known for its strong creative culture, with historic museums, public art spaces, and community studios that make the city a natural setting for artistic growth. For high school students interested in the visual arts, summer programs here offer a chance to explore creative techniques and deepen their understanding of the field in a hands-on way.
These programs often focus on building technical and conceptual skills through drawing, painting, design, and digital media. Many also include opportunities for mentorship, critiques, and portfolio development, helping students understand what it’s like to work in professional or academic art environments.
Whether you take part in a pre-college program at a local university, a studio-based workshop, or a local art internship, you’ll have the space to experiment, refine your style, and learn from experienced artists without having to spend a ton on travel and housing.
To help you explore your options, we’ve put together a list of 13 summer art programs for high school students in Philadelphia.
1. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA): Summer Academy
Location: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $4,680; Partial scholarships available
Dates: June 23 – July 18
Application Deadline: Not mentioned
Eligibility: Philadelphia high school students
At PAFA’s Summer Academy, you’ll spend four weeks on campus building a foundation in studio art and exploring specialized areas such as painting, sculpture, illustration, printmaking, or digital media. All students begin with intensive drawing instruction, then select three additional areas to pursue in more depth. Classes involve demonstrations, hands-on studio practice, and critiques that help you evaluate your progress. Fridays are set aside for group critiques, museum visits, and free studio time. You’ll also earn four college credits for completing the program, and your work will be exhibited in PAFA’s museum galleries.
2. Moore College: Summer Art & Design Institute
Location: Moore College of Art & Design, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $6,535; Limited highly competitive scholarships available
Dates: July 6 – August 1
Application Deadline: May 1 (regular tuition deadline); June 1 (extended tuition deadline)
Eligibility: Young women & nonbinary students in grades 10-12
Moore College’s Summer Art & Design Institute (SADI) is a four-week residential program in Philadelphia where you can study one of many tracks, including illustration, painting, animation, photography, and graphic design. The program includes three college credits along with the chance to live in Moore’s residence halls, experience campus life, and explore the surrounding city. Your coursework combines studio time with structured critiques and field trips to museums and galleries, helping you see how your work connects to the larger art world. After completion of the program, students who later attend Moore for a BFA are eligible for a $2,500 (typically) annual scholarship.
3. Tyler School of Art and Architecture: Temple Pre-College Programs
Location: Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Varies by program; Scholarships available for select programs
Dates: Varies; 2-4 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10-12
The Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University runs pre-college summer programs that let you experience real studio courses while learning from professional artists and designers. You can enroll in two-week workshops that cover subjects ranging from painting and printmaking to architecture and design. For rising juniors and seniors preparing applications, the Portfolio Bootcamp provides intensive training in observational drawing and the creation of finished pieces for college portfolios. Temple also offers the Creative Scholars Program, a scholarship-based track for Philadelphia public and charter school students, which includes museum visits, workshops, and studio courses. Whether you are building a portfolio or exploring new materials, these programs give you direct experience with college-level art study.
4. Drexel University Pre-College: Design, Arts, and Media Summer Institutes
Location: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Varies by program; Starting at $500
Dates: Multiple short intensives and 1-2-week sessions in July
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: Rising high-school juniors/seniors (age minimums apply for certain programs)
At Drexel University’s Summer Institutes, you can explore fields like interior design, fashion design, graphic design, industrial design, and photography while working directly with Drexel faculty in campus studios and labs. You’ll engage in studio work, lectures, and field trips that connect your learning to Philadelphia’s creative industries. Depending on your track, you might practice fashion illustration, experiment with digital modeling and 3D printing, or develop skills in darkroom and digital photography.
5. Penn Summer Prep Program
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (residential and online modules)
Cost: $5,949; Scholarships available for Philly students
Dates: July 5 – July 19
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Current 9th-11th grade students with a minimum 3.5 high school GPA
The Penn Summer Prep Program gives you the chance to experience Ivy League academics in a two-week, non-credit format where you choose two intensive modules. For art-focused students, one option is Fine Art Photography and Critical Thinking, a course that teaches you both the technical side of image-making and the broader questions about what makes photography an art form. You’ll explore composition, lighting, and digital editing tools while also discussing topics such as the role of artificial intelligence in art. Class sessions are paired with assignments outside of the studio, encouraging you to refine both your technique and your ability to think critically about images. At the end of the program, you’ll earn a certificate of completion.
6. Mural Arts Career Connected Learning (C2L-PHL) Program
Location: Citywide (Mural Arts offices and neighborhood project sites across Philadelphia)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Stipend provided
Dates: Typically runs several weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Not mentioned
Eligibility: Philadelphia-based students aged 14-18
During the Mural Arts C2L-PHL program, you’ll work with professional artists on projects that include drawing, painting, photography, and large-scale murals while also learning about the day-to-day realities of being an artist. In addition to studio and project work, the program incorporates mentoring and professional development so that you gain career awareness alongside creative skills. The experience is designed to help you build a portfolio while also exploring possible pathways in art-related careers.
7. ArtWell Philadelphia: Youth Programs
Location: Throughout Greater Philadelphia (school, library, community sites)
Cost: Typically free or deeply subsidized (through partnerships)
Dates: During the school year and summer; Exact schedules vary by partner site
Application Deadline: Varies by partner and session
Eligibility: Youth of all ages, including high school students in Philadelphia-area schools or partner organizations
As a participant, you’ll engage in projects that encourage self-expression, identity exploration, and collaboration with your peers. The programs are led by artist-educators who focus on linking artistic process with social-emotional growth, helping you develop communication and literacy skills through creativity. Each summer, ArtWell runs workshops that may include painting, mixed media, or community-based artmaking, often shaped by the students’ own interests and voices.
8. The Young Artist Program (YAP): Visual Art & Social Justice
Location: Crane Arts Building, Northern Liberties, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Free
Dates: Multiple sessions available from June – September
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: BIPOC LGBTQ+ youth ages 14-25 in Philadelphia
YAP is a free collective based in Philadelphia’s Crane Arts Building that supports BIPOC LGBTQ+ youth ages through visual art and social justice. During the summer, you can participate in multi-day intensives that involve collaborative projects, exhibitions, and workshops focused on art as a form of activism and community building. Activities range from studio work and skill-sharing to gallery visits and public showcases, with an emphasis on connecting art to social issues. The program creates opportunities for you to experiment with different media while also engaging in discussions about identity, equity, and collective action.
9. SAIC: Early College Program Online Summer Institute
Location: Online
Cost: $1,848 (half-day course); $3,696 (full-day course)
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: November 1 – March 1
Eligibility: High school students who have completed their sophomore year and are between the ages of 15-18
During this program, you’ll take college-level courses in areas such as drawing, painting, animation, architecture, fashion, and graphic design, all led by SAIC faculty. The program is designed to help you explore different media while also giving you one-on-one time with instructors for mentorship and feedback. Because it’s online, you’ll also get to collaborate with students from all over the world in critiques and discussions. At the end of the program, you’ll walk away with new projects for your portfolio and even the chance to earn college credit.
10. RISD’s Advanced Program Online
Location: Online
Cost: $5,520 for the full program (you can also enroll for specific courses, as detailed here)
Dates: Summer Session 1: June 14 – July 12; Summer Session 2: July 13 – August 10
Application Deadline: Summer Session 1: June 12; Summer Session 2: July 10
Eligibility: Students in grades 10-12 who are at least 15-18 years old
During the Rhode Island School of Design’s Advanced Program Online, you’ll begin with a fundamentals course that covers essential skills like drawing and design before moving on to a featured topic, such as illustration or printmaking, that lets you focus on one medium in depth. The program also includes a course on visual and critical language, where you’ll practice analyzing and discussing art. Classes are taught through a mix of live sessions and independent work, so you’ll get both direct interaction with faculty and time to develop projects at your own pace.
11. Cornell’s Art Summer Program for High School Students
Location: Online
Cost: $1,840 per credit
Dates: Varies by course (June – August)
Application Deadline: May – June
Eligibility: High school students
Cornell’s Art Summer Program lets you explore fine arts through credit-bearing studio courses offered both online and in person. Options include painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, and even experimental areas like sound and performance art. As a student, you’ll receive close guidance from faculty while working on projects that challenge you to think critically and creatively. The program is designed not just to teach technique, but also to help you develop a more sustainable and personal artistic practice.
12. UPenn Summer’s Pre-College Online Program: Impressionism
Location: Online
Cost: $8,248 – $13,448; Scholarships may be available
Dates: July 3 – August 8
Application Deadline: April 27 (rolling until full)
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors; International students can apply as well
Through the University of Pennsylvania’s Pre-College Online Program, you can take actual undergraduate courses and earn credits before you finish high school. One of the available options is a course on Impressionism, where you’ll study artists like Monet, Cézanne, and Gauguin while also looking at the cultural and social changes that shaped their work. The class explores how this movement redefined the role of color, light, and modern life in painting, and you’ll gain insight into how it influenced later art movements.
13. MoMA’s free Massive Open Online Courses
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Dates: Available year-round; self-paced
Application Deadline: Open enrolment
Eligibility: Anyone with an interest in the arts can apply
If you’re looking for a flexible way to study art without the cost, the Museum of Modern Art’s free online courses on Coursera might be a good fit. The selection covers a wide range of topics, from “Modern Art and Ideas” and “Fashion as Design” to “Seeing Through Photographs” and “Reimagining Blackness and Architecture.” Each course includes video lectures from museum curators and artists, readings, and interactive assignments, plus the opportunity to join discussions with learners worldwide. Along the way, you’ll also get a closer look at MoMA’s collection and exhibitions while developing your understanding of art history and practice.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – Cornell University