Summer Art Program for High School Students in Boston, MA

Young Artist Residency Program @ Art Institute of Boston:
The Young Artist Residency Program (YAR) at The Art Institute of Boston (AIB) at Lesley University in Boston, MA is designed for high school students who will be entering their junior or senior year in the Fall. This intensive summer art residency program of four weeks of classes, and art-making is designed to offer a professional art college experience while living on campus. Students live in Lesley University residence halls, minutes from Harvard Square in Cambridge and study art with college professors and graduates of AIB in our Boston studios, just across the Charles River. Discover Boston, a beautiful world-class city rich in history, the arts, nearby beaches, and consistently ranked number one in the "Big City College Towns". Weekend and evening activities are organized to highlight the historic and cultural significance of Boston through visits to galleries, museums, and artist studios.

This program is for high school students who will be entering their junior or senior year in the Fall (4-week program):

- Select a full schedule of classes from over 60 exciting course offerings in the areas of Artistry, Technology, and Professions in the Visual Arts.
- Join a thriving art college community.
- Receive 6 college credits for successful completion of courses and enrichment activities.
- Earn incentives for applying and enrolling in AIB as a college choice.
- Strengthen your portfolio and become the artist you were meant to be.
- Learn the high-tech side of art-making by gaining experience with state-of-the-art computer software and hardware.
- Students select their own courses, build their own schedules and are in classes Monday through to Friday.

Students live on the Lesley University campus, a short walk from Harvard Square in Cambridge. Summer session housing is set in traditional style residence halls with community bathrooms, living room, kitchenette for limited cooking, coin-operated laundry, and vending machines. Rooms are equipped with two single beds, two desks, two dressers, and two closets. The university has 24-hour, on-campus security. The residence halls are staffed with an on-duty live-in Summer Residence Assistant (RA). In addition, the AIB residence and YAR program is staffed with live-in AIB Mentors.

Rules and guidelines are clearly outlined in the 'Residency Handbook' and are provided in writing to students who have enrolled in the program and their parents. Attendance is checked frequently at five or more daily checkpoints to ensure that all students are present. The AIB studios are located across the Charles River in Boston and university transportation is provided to and from classes and events.

Students eat breakfast and dinner in the dining hall on the Doble Campus and lunch is provided at AIB between classes on weekdays. On weekends, meals are provided in conjunction with activities.

The co-ordinator of the Young Artist Residency program oversees a staff of an assistant co-ordinator and AIB mentors and van drivers. The program maintains a ratio of one mentor to seven students. Most mentors are upper level college students or graduates of AIB or Lesley University and have experience with teen leadership and a special interest in working with young artists. Some mentors are also educators who teach in the pre-college program.

The University Student Health Service provides YAR staff access to a nurse practitioner on an on-call basis during weekday business hours. Should the need arise, students are taken to the walk-in clinic of a nearby hospital.

The YAR program has access to an on-call professional psychology counselor, as well as a co-ordinator of disabilities services. Many security guards and AIB staff are trained in CPR. The fitness center is located on the Doble Campus adjacent to the residence halls.