Summer Academy for High School Students

July 6 – 31, 2009

Four weeks, four disciplines – unforgettable!

The Summer Academy is the definitive program for talented and motivated high school students intent on a fine arts education.  If the visual arts are your passion and you are headed toward art school or wish to pursue an art degree in college, the Summer Academy can help you develop your artistry and skill, and make you more competitive.

BENEFITS

  • Rigorous, college-level studio courses in drawing, painting, sculpture and printmaking
  • An exceptional faculty of regular Academy instructors and professional, practicing artists who will inspire and challenge
  • Field trips to the museums and galleries of Philadelphia, New York and Washington, D.C., including the Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia Museum of Art, MoMA, P.S. 1 and the National Gallery of Art
  • Visits to artists’ studios to learn first-hand how they develop ideas, create art and build their careers 
  • In-depth information sessions on applying to art school and preparing a portfolio
  • The opportunity to earn four college-level credits
  • An exhibition of student work, complete with a reception and awards ceremony for family and friends held in Gallery 128, which features the artwork of PAFA students, faculty and alumni

Curriculum
Facilities
Schedule
Tuition
Registration

Scholarships
Residential Services:  Read more under about living onsite in Philadelphia for the duration of the program!
Transportation
Lunch
Contact Us

 

Curriculum

Spend one week immersed in each of four disciplines, guided by PAFA’s renowned faculty.

Drawing

At the Academy, observational drawing skills are the foundation of all artistic endeavors and essential for a strong portfolio.

  • Master the drawing elements of line, shape, composition, perspective, and value.
  • Work from challenging still life arrangements, the panoramic views from the Hamilton Building and portrait and life models while exploring a variety of drawing materials.
  • Visit the PAFA vaults to view rarely seen Master drawings.

Click here to download the Drawing syllabus from the 2008 Summer Academy.

Painting

  • Work directly from the still life and figure with emphasis on articulating forms in paint.
  • Learn to set up various palettes, mix colors and paint both directly and through transparent glazing and scumbling.
  • Learn indepth how to safely use artists' pigments, painting mediums, brushes, painting supports, and their preparation.
  • Visit PAFA’s museum collections to enhance studio instruction.

Click here to download the Painting syllabus from the 2008 Summer Academy.

Sculpture

Learn the fundamentals and creative possibilities of sculpture through traditional and contemporary approaches:

  • Model the figure in clay from direct observation.
  • Translate your own drawings and concepts into 3D reality.
  • Benefit from the resources of PAFA's new Sculpture Shop, including the safe use of hand tools and power tools.

Click here to download the Sculpture syllabus from the 2008 Summer Academy.

Printmaking

Utilize PAFA's state-of-the-art Print Shop to learn the fundamentals of printmaking, safely and creatively.  Use your own drawings and ideas as inspiration to make black-and-white and color prints using hand-printing and press techniques including:

  • Carved-stamp printing.
  • Collagraph to explore texture and shaped plates.
  • Monoprinting, or one-of-a-kind painterly prints and traditional etching.

Click here to download the Printmaking syllabus from the 2008 Summer Academy.

Facilities

Summer Academy classes share the same studios used by PAFA’s Certificate-, Bachelor’s- and Master’s-level students.  The Academy’s famous cast collection of antique and Renaissance sculpture, located in its Historic Landmark Building, allows students a unique learning opportunity.  PAFA’s Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building features superb drawing and painting classrooms, state-of-the-art printmaking and sculpture shops, a rooftop painting terrace, spacious student lounge, and PAFA Art Supply.

Schedule

July 6 - 31.  Classes are held Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.  Field trip days may begin earlier and/or end later.

Tuition

$2,100 for classes, field trips, museum access and art supplies.

Registration

  • Deadline:  Rolling, with admittance on a space-available basis. 
  • Register using our secure online form or call 215-972-7632.
  • Thomas Eakins Emerging Artist Scholarship application deadline is April 1 (see below).  
  • A $525 non-refundable/non-returnable deposit is required no later than May 15, with the tuition balance due by June 1.  Registrations received after June 1 must be paid in full.
  • Housing available through Julian Krinsky Camps and Programs for additional cost.  Please see Residential Services, below.
  • A portfolio (5 – 10 pieces, including several drawings) and art teacher recommendation is required for admission.  Portfolios may be submitted in any format:  actual work must include return postage; digital images in JPEG format may be mailed on CD or emailed to continuinged@pafa.edu.  Letters of recommendation may be mailed separately.  All mailed materials should be sent to the following address:

Continuing Education Programs
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
128 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA  19102

Early registration is strongly recommended.  Space is limited and a waitlist is anticipated.

Scholarships

  • Applicants who wish to be considered for a Thomas Eakins Emerging Artist Scholarship must apply by April 1.
  • Scholarships are awarded based on portfolio review and art teacher recommendation. 
  • Scholarship results will be announced after April 15.

NEW!  Top scoring Summer Academy scholarship winners who apply and are accepted to PAFA's Certificate or BFA Programs for Fall 2010, will automatically be considered for The Next Step (TNS) Scholarship.  Contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@pafa.edu or 215-972-7625 for more details.  Click here for more information on admissions. 

Residential Services

Comprehensive residential services are available through Julian Krinsky Camps and Programs.  For an additional $3,400, students will enjoy life on the beautiful University of Pennsylvania campus, and meet students in other summer programs.  Amenities include:

  • Air-conditioned housing
  • Resident counselors
  • Transportation
  • Most meals
  • Evening and weekend activities
  • Internet access

Students choosing residential services must complete their entire Summer Academy registration (including tuition) through Julian Krinsky Camps and Programs and abide by their payment schedule and refund/cancellation policy.  For more information, visit http://www.jkcp.com/pafa or call 866-TRY-JKCP (866-879-5527).

Transportation

PAFA is minutes away from SEPTA and PATCO stations.  For SEPTA information: 215-580-7800 or www.septa.org. For PATCO information: www.ridepatco.org.

Lunch

Summer Academy students may visit the Academy Café or choose from a multitude of nearby eateries, including the famous Reading Terminal Market, or bring their own.  The Student Lounge atop the Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building offers a relaxing oasis with views of the Philadelphia cityscape.

Contact Us

Questions? E-mail continuinged@pafa.edu or call 215-972-7632.

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