If art history interests you, summer programs are a great way to explore the subject further. You’ll have the chance to learn, discover, and meet other students who share your interests. Whether you’re considering a career in the arts or just curious, these programs can help you grow and gain more knowledge.
We’ve made it easier for you by putting together a list of 12 art history summer programs for high school students!
12 Art History Summer Programs for High School Students
Location: Virtual
Cost: Reach out here for details on tuition and information about need-based financial aid.
Application Deadline: Spring 2025: February 16, 2025; Summer 2025: February 16 (early), March 23 (priority), April 20 (regular-I), May 18 (regular-II)!
Program Dates: Spring 2025: March 3, 2025; Summer 2025: June 16, 2025! Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 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 few tracks require formal prerequisites, which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as history, data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! It is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research!
Once you select a particular subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar (from a top university) who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields, under the guidance of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and college applications. Apply here!
Subjects Offered: STEM, Humanities, Social Sciences
Location: Remote
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum GPA of 3.3
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The Winter Cohort II application deadline is December 29, 2024!
Program Dates: Summer: June - August, Fall: September - December, Winter: December - February, Spring: March - June.
Cost: $2,990 (12 weeks); $5,900 (16-20 weeks); $8,900 (6-12 months). Financial aid available
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program allows students to work with a Ph.D. or post-doctoral researcher from a leading university on an independent research project. By the end of the program, participants produce a college-level academic paper. The history track (that you can then tailor to an art history project) is a suitable option you can opt for, although the program also provides the choice of customizing your research topic if none of the options match your field of interest.
Location: Spelman College, Atlanta, GA
Eligibility: Open to rising high school juniors and seniors.
Application Deadline: Typically in April.
Program Dates: June 21 - July 19, 2025 (Tentative, based on 2024’s dates)
Cost: Free. Full scholarships cover tuition, room and board, field trips, books, and all related program expenses.
The Art History and Curatorial Studies Early College Program at Spelman College introduces you to visual culture, art, and museum studies. You’ll participate in lectures, workshops, discussions, and site visits to art institutions in Atlanta. The program includes the Ways of Seeing: Art History, Curating, and Museums course, earning 3 undergraduate credits. You’ll explore African American and Western art and learn how museums, archives, and libraries present and preserve these works.
Location: High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA
Eligibility: Open to rising high school juniors and seniors.
Application Deadline: Typically in March.
Program Dates: One year, starting with an 8-week summer intensive.
Cost: Free. Students receive a monthly stipend (amount unspecified).
The High Museum of Art’s Teen Team Program gives you the chance to explore art, history, and museum operations up close. Over the year, you’ll gain hands-on experience in museum practices, learn how a major cultural institution is maintained, and develop valuable professional and civic skills. During the 8-week summer intensive, you’ll work on an art history project and receive personalized mentorship from museum professionals. Throughout the year, you’ll help with events like Teen Nights and public programs, while gaining expertise in the museum’s collections.
Location: California State Summer School for the Arts, Sacramento, CA
Eligibility: Open to students currently in grades 8–12
Application Deadline: February 28, 2025
Dates: July 5 – August 1, 2025
Cost: $4,830. Need-based scholarships are available for California residents. Explore financial aid options here.
The Visual Arts Program at CSSSA lets you explore contemporary art-making through hands-on studio practice and theory. You can take classes in ceramics, digital media, acrylic painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture.
Core classes like figure drawing, design, and the “Arts and Culture” seminar include lectures, guest artist sessions, and cultural discussions. The program also features field trips to museums and galleries, workshops by visiting artists, and evening studio access for personal projects.
Location: Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, Queens, NY
Eligibility: Open to NYC Department of Education public school students entering grades 8–12. Admission is selective and requires both an application and a virtual audition. Students may apply to only one studio.
Application Deadline:
Student Application: February 11, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program).
Virtual Audition Submission: February 12, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program).
Dates: July 8 – August 2, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program).
Cost: Free.
The Summer Arts Institute, hosted by the NYCDOE, is a free four-week program for NYC public school students with intermediate to advanced art skills. Held at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Queens, it lets you focus on an art discipline of your choice. You’ll do studio work, join workshops with professional artists, get technical training, and participate in rehearsals, performances, and career exploration. The program also includes field trips to arts venues, helping you explore how art history shapes modern practices.
Location: New York City, NY
Eligibility: Open to high school students aged 15 and older in grades 10–12, including graduating seniors.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in early April, with early decision and financial aid deadlines in February–March.
Dates: Session 1: July 6 – July 18, 2025; Session 2: July 20 – August 1, 2025
Cost: $5,660 (day program) | $6,990 (residential program). Limited financial aid is available.
If you want to explore iconic artworks and architecture, Sotheby’s Institute of Art’s Art History program offers lectures, museum tours, site visits, and talks with art historians, curators, and scholars. You will learn about Egyptian art, pre-Columbian art, Chinese dynasties, Japanese prints, Islamic art, and movements like Impressionism and Modernism. The program also includes discussions on art markets, collecting practices, and the influence of historical art on contemporary works, providing a broad understanding of art's role in different cultures and periods.
Location: Brown University campus, Providence, RI
Eligibility: Open to high school students aged 14–18.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until spots are filled.
Dates: July 15 – July 26 (2 weeks)
Cost: $5,256 (Residential) | $4,076 (Commuter)
Brown University’s Pre-College program, Female Forces – Hidden Histories of Art + Design, focuses on exploring art and design history through a gender-based perspective. You’ll examine overlooked gender narratives in art by combining research, reflective journaling, and hands-on activities.
Visits to the RISD Museum of Art and special collections will help you study paintings, objects, and media, uncovering trends in artistic expression. The course also highlights the historical and creative contributions of women in art and design, offering a deeper understanding of their role in shaping the field.
Location: Rose Hill Campus, Fordham University, Bronx, NY
Eligibility: Open to all high school students.
Application Deadline: Applications close in May. However, if housing is required, the deadline is April.
Dates: July 21 – July 31, 2025
Cost: $2,715 (Commuter) | $3,665 (Residential) (These are 2024 rates. The 2025 rates are yet to be announced)
Fordham University’s New York Exploration of Art History program introduces high school students to art history through hands-on learning in New York City. Based at Fordham’s Rose Hill Campus in the Bronx, the program uses museums and galleries as learning spaces.
You’ll study art from Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Africa, focusing on cultural and historical contexts. Classes at The Met and other major museums will help you build visual literacy and critical thinking skills. The program includes writing workshops, observation exercises, and research activities to deepen your understanding of art and its creators throughout history.
Location: Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, NY
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
Application Deadline: April 15, 2025.
Dates: TBA Cost: Residential Tuition: $10,171; Commuter Tuition: $8,160
Barnard College’s Art, Movement, and Performance program invites high school students to study art history, visual arts, and dance. The Global Modernism course focuses on modern art, modernism, and avant-garde movements. You’ll learn from faculty member Nicole Coffineau.
Throughout the program, you’ll explore topics like aesthetic categories, formalism, perception, and the role of the viewer in art. Readings and visual analysis will help you understand the history of modern art from different viewpoints.
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.