Summer Academy is an intense college-level art program. This rigorous experience is modeled after PAFA's own world renowned, undergraduate first-year arts curriculum.
Students will master essential drawing skills in the Foundations of Drawing course. Students build on this foundation by choosing to explore a range of other skills, including sculpture, printmaking, oil painting, illustration and animation.
Students gain additional artistic and professional development experience with critique sessions (affectionately known as ‘crit’) and behind the scenes tours of PAFA and other Philadelphia art spaces.

Summer Academy participants have the opportunity to:

• Get expert guidance from leading artists among PAFA's stellar faculty
• Get a head start on preparing a portfolio for applying to college
• Earn 4.0 college credits
• Participate in an exhibition in PAFA's world-class art museum
• Earn a merit-based scholarship for Summer Academy and become eligible for a Next Step Scholarship to PAFA if they enroll in the BFA program

Students benefit from one-on-one portfolio reviews with the school's admissions staff. Summer Academy alumni who are accepted to PAFA's BFA program are eligible for a $4000 Next Step Scholarship ($1000 per year).

High school students who are seriously excited about art- from those who just completed their Freshman year to recently graduated Seniors.