GIF of teal square with ten flashing white dots centered on the left and the words Summer High School Studio Art Intensive in yellow and the words Since 2014 in white centered on the right.

summer intensive for teens

Applications for the 2025 cohort open in February

The Summer Intensive for Teens (SIFT) offers Houston area high school students ages 14-17 an accessible, tuition-free studio art program. The program includes 4.5 weeks of intensive studio art training, mentorship, group critiques, site visits, and one-on-one meetings with local curators and artists. Participants collaborate on a mural project, which is installed on the exterior of the ALH building. Additionally, students pursue independent art projects showcased in a 4-week culminating exhibition, actively contributing to its preparation and installation. 

Aiming to introduce students to new mediums, classes consist of 6 hours of coursework each day in a wide range of topics, including technical sketching, collage, textiles, performance art, bookbinding, laser cutting, costume design, watercolor, relief printmaking, ceramics, realism, and digital media. Led by established artists and educators, projects go beyond techniques traditionally taught in high school art classes, teaching students the practical skills they need to develop as artists. Students also hear from guest speakers from a cross-section of the arts, including practicing artists, curators, and arts administrators, who provide insight into the art world. 

In addition to immersive studio instruction, the program is focused on professional development and expanding students’ views of a career in the arts and what that includes beyond working alone in a studio. Students take regular field trips to nearly a dozen different art spaces, meeting with key personnel to observe the work of various working artist professionals.

Students work with SIFT program staff throughout the program to brainstorm and conceptualize a theme for their exhibition, drawing on what they have learned during the program. This process transforms art from a subject learned in school into a professional endeavor where students are involved as co-creators and treated as individuals with much to contribute. 

Each year, students work together to design and create a mural that is installed on the exterior of the ALH building. Under the mentorship of a local muralist, they navigate the entire mural-making journey, from conceptualization to realization. This endeavor serves as a vehicle for budding artists to grasp the power of art in fostering communication, connection, and community-building, leaving behind a meaningful legacy in the process.

Following the initial 4.5 weeks of studio classes, mural work, and field trips, students transition to working remotely to create artwork for their exhibition. During this period, SIFT program staff offer office hours, allowing students to schedule individual meetings via Zoom, phone, or in person. These meetings offer support in crafting artist statements, feedback on exhibition artwork and installation, and assistance in photographically documenting their work. Throughout the month, students adhere to specific deadlines for submitting exhibition artwork information, completing artist statements, and delivering their artwork. Toward the end of the month, students finalize their work and collaborate with SIFT Program staff to strategize artwork installation and placement within the gallery space.

The culminating SIFT exhibition will be installed and exhibited in ALH's Front Gallery for 4 weeks in August. The exhibition commences with an opening reception providing students a platform to deliver artist talks to families and friends.

ALH Summer Intensive Mural Projects

Since 2019, each Summer Intensive cohort has collaborated with a local muralist to design and paint a mural in a highly visible public space in Houston. Each cohort focuses on a theme that is relevant to their class and spends time in research and development before executing their design. Check out all of the Summer Intensive Mural Projects here.

2025 Program Information

Applications for the 2025 cohort open in February

Applications will be accepted online through the Submittable platform. The application asks students to respond to essay format questions as well as provide images of work samples. Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee. Notifications will be sent via email in the week following the application deadline.

An Online Q&A Session will be provided prior to the deadline

 

2025 Program Dates

Monday June 9, 2025 - Wednesday July 9, 2025

Program sessions take place Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM.

This program is limited to 16 students. Participants must be able to commit to attending in-person for the full duration of the program and submitting works for the summer exhibition.

Tuition - $2500 The program is subsidized by grants.

Since 2018, ALH has provided full scholarships to all students in the cohort which have been supported through dedicated fundraising efforts to ensure more equitable access to arts education for talented young artists in the Greater Houston area.

Contact

E-mail our Community Engagement Manager, Mehek Ahmed, at mehek@artleaguehouston.org or call Art League Houston at 713-523-9530