Best Art and Writing Summer Programs for High Schoolers 2021

Creative Writing

Iowa Young Writers’ Studio
Program Dates: Session 1 — June 13th – 26th, Session 2 — July 11th – 24th
Application Deadline: February 7th, 2021 (passed)
Cost: $575 per session (financial aid available)
International Students: Yes

Kenyon Review Young Writers Online
Program Dates: Words and Wonders — June 13-18;  Observation Meets Imagination* Words and Wonders — June 27-July 2; Writing Across Worlds — July 12-17; Writing Across Worlds — July 26-31*
Application Deadline: March 1st, 2021
Cost: $995 per week-long course (financial aid available)
International Students: Yes

Emerson College – Creative Writers Pre-College Program
Program Dates: Virtual — July 2nd – August 7th
Application Deadline: March 1st, 2021
Cost: Credit Tuition – $4,310, Non-Credit Tuition – $3,531
International Students: Yes

Adroit Journal – Summer Mentorship Program
Program Dates: June 21st to August 2nd
Application Deadline: March 22nd, 2021
Cost: $295
International Students: Yes

Journalism

Walter Cronkite School of Journalism – Summer Journalism Institute
Program Dates: Early June 2021
Application Deadline: TBD
Cost: Free
International Students: 

Asian American Journalists Association – JCamp
Program Dates: TBD 2021
Application Deadline: TBD 2021
Cost: Free
International Students: Yes

Princeton Summer Journalism Program
Program Dates: Mid-June to Early August
Application Deadline: February 22nd, 2021
Cost: Free
International Students: No

Visual Arts

Interlochen Center for the Arts – Visual Arts High School Summer Program
Program Dates: 1 week programs from June 19th – June 25th, 3-week programs from June 26th – July 17th
Application Deadline: January 14th, 2021 for programs that require audition/portfolio; rolling admissions otherwise
Cost: 1-week programs – $1,625, 3-week programs – $6,250 (financial aid available)
International Students: Yes

Otis College of Art and Design – Summer of Art Online
Program Dates: Virtual – July 6th – July 30th (2x/week or 3x/week or full 5x/week programs, 4 weeks)
Application Deadline: Scholarship deadline – April 2nd, 2021; Deadline for Early Enrollment (EE) discount – April 30th, 2021
Cost: 5x/week program – $2,800 ($2,700 for EE), 3x/week program – $1,800 ($1,700 for EE), 2x/week program – $1,000
International Students: Yes

These programs are all pretty competitive, though not on the level of the top overall summer programs.  They are some of the best experiences you can have for each of the fields listed.

For creative writing, Iowa’s Young Writers’ Studio is one of the best. Iowa is known to have some of the best creative writing programs in the country and their summer program from high school students is no different. They offer 2 two-week sessions that are reasonably priced for an online setting. Kenyon Review Young Writers Online is also a great program that offers themed week-long programs that are a little more expensive. If you’re looking for a more involved program, look to Emerson College’s Creative Writers Pre-College Program, though it will come with a higher price tag. The Adroit Summer Mentorship Program boasts a lot of success from their alumni in admissions and publications. But overall, it deserves a spot on this list because of the value in the price and length of the program. Overall, the creative writing experience won’t lose too much in the virtual format compared to some of the other programs, as much of the value in the experience is getting feedback/edits on your writing through Google Docs. For these programs, expect to submit some of your own creative writing pieces in the admissions process to demonstrate your passion for the craft. 

For journalism, the Walter Cronkite Program is a great experience. Students there focus on broadcast and digital journalism through students hands-on experiences from reporting to production to camera work. Participants get to work in Arizona State’s state-of-the-art broadcast facilities as well as tour local newsroom for the actual experience. JCamp was founded to address the shortage of diversity in the media, emphasizing multicultural perspectives. Students there participate in workshops, field trips, and hands-on instruction from professional journalists in a variety of areas, including writing, photography, broadcasting, and more. Princeton’s Summer Journalism Program is for talented current juniors from low-income households. Students similarly participate in workshops and lectures, tour leading news outlets, cover real events in preparation for the publication of their own newspaper. One of the best aspects of PSJP is the mentorship that students receive from staff after they return home.

For visual arts, Interlochen and Otis as some of the best experiences. This is certainly debatable, as art itself is quite subjective, but these programs are respected by their peers. Interlochen has programs not just in visual arts, but performing arts, creative writing, and music as well. Otis has a number of programs that culminate in a final exhibition. Visual arts programs overall are tricky because I don’t really know how they will translate in a virtual format. Add in the price tag for these programs, and you really need to evaluate the overall value of the program. Just as in real-life, visual arts is a pursuit that is easiest to accommodate if your family has the means to support the interest.