Summer Art Intensive

Pre-college Summer Art Program NYC

Through highly structured projects, this intensive summer pre-college art program prepares students to apply to top art school's undergraduate programs. All participants select a two-day studio concentration, devoting the rest of the week to intensive drawing instruction and the study of contemporary art issues. Portfolio preparation classes, taught by a specialized faculty of working artists, are combined with visits to major museums and gallery districts, engaging students with the vast cultural resources of New York City. Guest Artists in Residence will offer a close-up view of professional practice in action. The Cooper Union Summer Art Intensive culminates with a student exhibition, a publication of art and writings, and a public animation screening with a reception in Cooper’s Great Hall. 

Courses | Instructors | Special Events | Apply | Schedule | News & Blog | Artist Residency | Scholarships & Financial Aid

The Summer Art Intensive will include:

Learn how to apply here

Learn how to apply for a The Jeff and Paula Gural Merit Scholarships for NYC Public High School Students. 

Follow us on      Write to us here, call us at 212.353.4202 and join our mailing list here for updates and more information.

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.