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. Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) Summer Pre-College Art and Design Residency
    MICA's Pre-College Art and Design Residency Program is an intensive college-level experience designed to help participants make the leap from thinking like high school art students to thinking like… Read more
  2. Massachusetts College of Art and Design Pre-College Summer Studios
    Summer Studios is an intensive four-week program for the young artist who is serious about his or her work. Students from around the world come together to experience MassArt and the environment of a… Read more
  3. The Metropolitan Museum of Art High School Internships
    Calling all artists, writers, thinkers, and designers! Interested in finding out about careers in museums? Apply for a high school internship at The Met to meet experts, find mentors, make friends,… Read more
  4. Michigan State University MSU Media Summer Camps Program
    Camp programs feature content pulled right from the college curriculum, created and advised by leading faculty in the relevant content area, and led by experienced teaching assistants and college… Read more
  5. Michigan Technological University (MTU) Summer Youth Programs (SYP)
    Summer camp? Sort of... but better. Our programs aren't ordinary, and neither are our students. They build robots, perform chemical analyses, explore entrepreneurship, and explore ecosystems. They… Read more
  6. Midwest Young Artists Conservatory (MYAC) Young Music Scholars Program
    Students who play an instrument or sing in an ensemble learn discipline, focus, hard work, teamwork, and valuable life skills through the pursuit of musical excellence. Furthermore, students who… Read more
  7. Midwest Young Artists Conservatory (MYAC) Discover National Chamber Music Competition
    The annual competition is designed to provide an educational as well as a competitive experience for young chamber ensembles. The competition is open to chamber ensembles in 12th grade and younger… Read more
  8. Midwest Young Artists Conservatory (MYAC) Music Programs
    MYAC is a full-curriculum pre-college music school. At MYAC students from kindergarten through 12th grade gain an unparalleled music experience at MYAC and are exposed to orchestral, choral, and… Read more
  9. Midwest Young Artists Conservatory (MYAC) Summer Programs
    MYAC is a full-curriculum pre-college music school. Summer programs are offered in a variety of areas which may include: orchestra, vocals, jazz ensemble, flute and chamber music. See website for… Read more
  10. Midwest Young Artists Conservatory (MYAC) Walgreens National Concerto Competition
    Competition Eligibility: There are 2 Divisions: Midwest Young Artists Conservatory (MYAC) Orchestra Division* Open Division *Students in the MYAC Division must be active participants in the MYAC… Read more
  11. Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) Art and Design Classes for Kids and Teens
    Continuing Education at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design offers top-notch, relevant, and engaging art and design programming for kids, teens, and adults taught by professional working… Read more
  12. Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) Pre-College Art Summer Program for High School Students
    MCAD’s Pre-College Summer Session is an exciting and challenging 2-week, 3-credit residential studio art and design program. It is open to high school students who have completed their sophomore,… Read more
  13. Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) Pre-College Studio Intensives
    Pre-College Studio Intensives are weeklong classes for teens ages 15–18 on topics including drawing and painting, digital photography and filmmaking, animation and comic art, and graphic design and… Read more
  14. Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) Pre-College Summer Session
    MCAD’s Pre-College Summer Session is an exciting and challenging two-week, residential 3-credit residential studio art and design program. It is open to high school students who have completed their… Read more
  15. MIT INSPIRE
    MIT INSPIRE was started in 2015 with a mission: to encourage young people to seek innovative solutions to global problems through rigorous inquiry in the humanities, arts, and social science fields.… Read more
  16. MIT URBANFRAME Summer Design/Build
    Urbanframe invites youth from the US and abroad to transform the way the rest of us think about cities. Under the guidance of an architecture professor and team of graduate teaching fellows, young… Read more
  17. Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) Artslife Summer Internship Program
    Artslife is a paid summer internship program for rising sophomores and juniors in high school that combines art and design with leadership training, museum studies, and community engagement.… Read more
  18. Museum of Fine Arts Boston Teen Programs - Employment and Volunteering
    The MFA is a vibrant and engaging environment for teens! Teens develop leadership skills and learn about museum professions through the Teen Arts Council, provide valuable assistance to Museum… Read more
  19. Music Teachers National Association Competitions
    The MTNA National Student Competitions are the most successful and prestigious student competitions in the country Each year, thousands of students compete for top prizes and national recognition.… Read more
  20. Musical Theatre Works
    Musical Theatre Works (MTW) is celebrating 20 years of offering professional Broadway show experiences for young actors in San Francisco. Students come to MTW to sing, dance and act on stage, under… Read more
  21. Muskingum University Summer High School Music Theatre CAMP
    Open to talented high school students, currently enrolled in grades 9-12. Muskingum University Summer Music Theatre CAMP is an opportunity to explore and strengthen musical performance talents. CAMP… Read more
  22. National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Competitions
    National Association for Music Education (NAfME), among the world’s largest arts education organizations, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. NAfME advocates at the… Read more
  23. National Federation of Music Clubs Awards (NFMC)
    Since its founding in 1898, the NFMC has grown into one of the world’s largest music organizations with club and individual members of all ages. The NFMC is chartered by the Congress of the United… Read more
  24. National Geographic Student Expeditions
    National Geographic offers student travel programs around the world each summer that aim to inspire and educate middle school and high school students ages 13 and older. Get into the field on an… Read more
  25. National High School Institute (NHSI) at Northwestern University
    Since 1931, the National High School Institute, a nonprofit organization, has brought outstanding students to Northwestern University’s Evanston campus for intense educational experiences. Students… Read more
  26. National High School Musical Theater Awards/Jimmy Awards
    The Jimmy® Award is named in honor of James M. Nederlander, legendary Broadway theatre owner and producer. The Jimmy® Award for Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor is… Read more
  27. National History Museum Wildlife Photographer of the Year Young Competition
    Now in its fifty-third instalment, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition provides a showcase for the world’s very best nature photography. The competition is owned by the world-renowned… Read more
  28. National PTA’s Reflections Program
    For 50 years, National PTA’s Reflections program has helped students explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence and find a love for learning that… Read more
  29. National STEM Video Game Challenge
    The STEM Challenge is a game design competition, and so our judges evaluate games based on three criteria, which are equally weighted in the judging process: engaging gameplay: the extent to which… Read more
  30. National Student Leadership Conference Summer Programs
    Since 1989, the National Student Leadership Conference has invited a select group of outstanding middle school and high school students to participate in its fast-paced, high-level, interactive… Read more
  31. The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Young Associates' Program
    The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) is sponsoring its Young Associates' Program for high school students in grades 10, 11, and 12 in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area who are interested in… Read more
  32. National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Youth Fellowship Program
    The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Youth Fellowship Program is an orchestral training program for students in grades 9-12. [Younger musicians (gr. 6-8) may be considered on a special case-by-case… Read more
  33. The National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute
    Every summer, approximately 60 students (ages 15-20) from all over the United States, as well as a number of other countries, meet in Washington, D.C. at the Kennedy Center to attend the National… Read more
  34. National YoungArts Foundation
    The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) was established in 1981 by Lin and Ted Arison. YoungArts’ signature program is an application-based award for emerging artists ages 15–18 or in grades 10… Read more
  35. New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) College of Architecture and Design High School Summer Program
    The College of Architecture and Design offers residential summer programs in a state-of-the-art university setting for exceptional high school students interested in architecture, interior design,… Read more
  36. New Jersey Scholars Program
    The New Jersey Scholars Program is a tuition-free five-week summer program for students who are residents of New Jersey, United States citizens and rising seniors at the high school level in New… Read more
  37. New Victory Theater Usher Corps
    The New Victory is New York City's premier nonprofit performing arts theater devoted year-round to kids and their families and classmates The New Victory Usher Corps, created to address the urgent… Read more
  38. New York Film Academy (NYFA) Summer Camps
    Our summer and year round camps are like no other in the world. Whether you enroll in our Filmmaking, Acting for Film, Screenwriting, Broadcast Journalism, Photography, Musical Theatre, Game Design,… Read more
  39. New York State Summer School of the Arts (NYSSSA)
    Founded in 1970, the New York State Summer School of the Arts (NYSSSA) is a highly-competitive summer arts residential program funded by the New York State Education Department and student tuition.… Read more
  40. New York University (NYU) High School Programs
    6-Week, 1-Week, & Everything In Between NYU’s varied array of high school programs offer flexibility and options that can be tailored to your individual needs and schedule. Most programs are… Read more
  41. New York University (NYU) Steinhardt School's Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions Summer Programs
    NYU Steinhardt’s Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions was established in 1925. In 1968, the Department merged with the New York College of Music. Since that time, Steinhardt Music and… Read more
  42. Northern Illinois University Summer in the Arts at Northern
    NIU offers summer and academic year camps, workshops and clinics for high school students. NIU's five residential camps are offered in the fields of theatre, jazz, percussion, and visual art.… Read more
  43. Northwestern Pre-College Summer Programs
    College Prep: Experience college life at Northwestern University this summer in the College Prep Program. High school sophomores and juniors can take undergraduate courses for college credit, or… Read more
  44. Northwestern University Center for Talent Development (CTD)
    Talent Search Assessment - A research-validated program, Northwestern University’s Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS) utilizes above-grade-level testing to identify academic ability, measure… Read more
  45. Oberlin College Summer Programs
    Each year the Conservatory of Music offers a series of music and voice programs during the summer months. We offer excellent opportunities for high school and college students, teachers, accomplished… Read more
  46. Open Jar Institute Summer Intensive
    New York City's most Broadway-integrated actor training program, The Open Jar Institute provides select students intensive one-on-one training with some of Broadway's biggest stars, performers,… Read more
  47. Oregon State University (OSU) Precollege Programs
    The Office of Precollege Programs supports and oversees a wide range of youth outreach activities designed to increase college access and academic preparation for Oregon’s youth. Academic programs… Read more
  48. Parsons School of Design Pre-College Academy
    Providing diverse classes and certificate options for students in grades 3 through 12, Parsons Pre-College Academy meets Saturdays during the school year and for two weeks during the summer. Age… Read more
  49. Parsons School of Design Summer Intensive Studies
    Parsons Summer Intensive Studies: New York is a three-credit introductory-level art and design program enriched by the vast resources of New York City. This immersion in the art and design college… Read more
  50. US Performing Arts Camps
    US Performing Arts was founded in 2001 to provide the very best training in the performing arts and digital media for pre-college students ages 11-19. USPA set out to create summer programs that… Read more