Opportunity Guide I Summer, Enrichment & Activities Guide

If your child loves singing, dancing, acting, playing an instrument, composing music or painting and designing, she will find a plethora of outstanding fun and instructional programs where she can develop her talents and meet people who love what she does. Check out extracurricular arts activities, including performance opportunities, at your child’s school or at local community centers. Specialized private weekend classes and summer programs for students of all levels are sponsored by various art institutes, music festivals, universities and professional music and dance companies.

To perform at the highest levels, many arts, especially music and dance, require private lessons and enrichment. If your child likes to perform, look for audition opportunities at local fairs, festivals, community orchestras and theaters. Many professional theaters and ballet companies sponsor summer intensive programs from talented youth. A child who enjoys competing may be interested in participating in arts contests where her work can earn recognition and win awards. The best students compete, at national arts contests that offer scholarship prizes.



  1. The Asian Art Museum’s Art Speak internship offers on-the-job training and monthly stipends to seven public high school students in grades 10–12. Interns discover Asian art and cultural traditions,… Read more
  2. Summer programs offered: Summer in the City: Students take two courses of their choice over the span of four weeks. As part of the program, students both participate in admissions and career… Read more
  3. The Experiment in International Living is the nation’s most experienced and respected provider of international education and experiential learning for high school students. For 85 years, our summer… Read more
  4. Every summer, high school students from around the world come to Ringling College for an intense four-week art and design program that lets them experience a taste of college-level work and earn… Read more
  5. Teen Council is a group of 12 creative and dedicated high school students who help make our museums more welcoming and engaging for young people. The Teen Council plans and hosts events that invite D… Read more
  6. Teen Museum Council is an intensive year-long program for D.C. Metro area teens who would like a role making teen programs at the Portrait Gallery! Throughout the academic year, TMC members work on… Read more
  7. The Smithsonian Latino Center’s Young Ambassadors Program (YAP) is a national program for graduating high school seniors, fostering the next generation of Latino leaders in the arts, sciences, and… Read more
  8. Temple Summer Academy invites students entering grades 11 or 12 to experience the academics, energy, and culture of Temple University through this rigorous four-week summer program. Temple Summer… Read more
  9. The United States Naval Academy Summer Seminar is the first step in navigating your future to becoming one of our nation's next generation of leaders.   If you are currently in your junior year of… Read more
  10. Yale Young Global Scholars empowers the next generation of leaders by building a global community and designing interdisciplinary programs that foster intellectual curiosity, deepen understanding and… Read more