Art Opportunities for High School Students
Art opportunities for high schoolers range from museum-based internships and youth programs (often paid, surprisingly, since museums have education budgets for this) to portfolio-based competitions and intensive summer studio programs. A portfolio is the standard application format across nearly all of them, so building one out before you start applying is worth doing early.
Museum youth programs in particular are worth checking directly on a museum's own site — they're commonly under-advertised outside the museum's own audience, despite often being paid and giving real behind-the-scenes exposure to how an institution actually runs.
Real art opportunities right now
Common questions
How big does my portfolio need to be?
It varies by program, but 8-12 strong pieces is a reasonable range to have ready — quality and range matter more than sheer quantity.
Are art internships usually paid?
More often than you'd expect — museum and gallery youth programs frequently include a stipend, unlike many other unpaid creative internships.
Do art competitions require a specific medium?
Some are medium-specific (photography, painting), others accept any visual medium — check the entry rules before assuming your medium doesn't fit.