Visual Arts Program
Within the 4-week Visual Arts intensive at SUNY Fredonia, students have the opportunity to specialize in one 2D art form and one 3D art form. This program is specifically designed to emphasize art experiences that cannot normally be undertaken during a 45-minute school period. You will work in the studio with drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, mixed media, figure, and interdisciplinary arts under the direction of noted exhibiting artists/educators. Related activities will include drawing and painting from a live model, trips to farms and lakes in the area, and experience with art processes that include , casting, direct carving, modeling life-size objects in clay, and experimenting with a variety of printmaking techniques. Sample courses may include: Drawing, Painting, Sequential Art, Sculpture, Figure Drawing, 3D Figure Studies, Assemblage, Textiles, and Landscape, among others.
Eligibility Requirements:
Students must currently be in 8th-12th grade at the time of application in order to qualify.
Students must be full-time residents of New York State and/or attend school full-time in New York State.
Program Dates
Program Dates: July 6-August 2, 2025
Deadlines
Early decision deadline is January 12th, 2025. This is for students who want to secure their spot at NYSSSA with priority consideration.
Regular decision deadline is March 14th, 2025.
Tuition Cost
Tuition for 2025 will be $2,800. Tuition aid will be available for families making under $91,000/year Adjusted Gross Income. Tuition aid will be awarded on a sliding scale and amounts to 10-90% of the program cost. No merit scholarships are available.
In order to apply, students must:
- Click here for the School of Visual Arts application.
- Submit portfolio with your statement of intent online by emailing a Google Drive link to your portfolio to nysssa@nysed.gov. Please see the NYSSSA Visual Arts Portfolio Guide at the bottom of this page. This portfolio guide template should be used to build your portfolio. Complete instructions are included within the template.
- IMPORTANT: If opening the portfolio link directly in Google Slides, a pop up will appear and you will be prompted to make a copy before viewing and editing. Please do so and rename your portfolio as "Last Name_First Name_ Visual Arts Portfolio". You may then submit your artist statement and artwork directly into the portfolio template. If utilizing the PowerPoint link, please follow the same naming convention and directions. After completing your portfolio, please upload it to Google Drive. When complete, please email your portfolio link to nysssa@nysed.gov. Please ensure that the portfolio privacy is set to "public" or "anyone with link", so that our faculty and staff may view your work.
- PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS:
- Students must submit 8-10 samples of their work. Please do not submit more than 10 images.
- Each artwork should be labeled with student name and medium like this: FirstName_LastName_ArtworkTitle_Medium
- Only digital submissions will be accepted.
- We strongly encourage students to submit work from direct observation.
- We recommend that a self-portrait from direct observation (not a photograph) be included.
- Two views should be included for all three-dimensional work.
- We encourage students to include work from their sketchbooks.
- Photographed images of work should be clear and sized/formatted properly.
- ARTIST STATEMENT
- Please describe your ideas when creating your work and why you are interested in pursuing advanced studies in visual arts. (250 words max.)
