Teen art classes currently enrolling for:
New this year! We are offering full-day classes.
Our specialized, full day classes for teens are taught by working artists and qualified instructors. High School students at the Danforth Art School will be challenged to develop high level skill with materials and to communicate ideas through their artwork.
Summer Arts 2026: Give Me Space!
Click here to read about the 5-week offerings for teens, pricing, and schedules for 2026 Summer Arts at the Danforth Art School!
Classes for teens are designed for students who are in or about to enter Grades 9-12. There are supplies required for our teen classes; please see list in class description.
New this year! Take advantage of a 10% discount on Summer Arts classes by purchasing a Danforth Museum Membership here
Learn the fundamentals of sculpture, exploring how shape becomes form. Students begin to understand how to create work with structural integrity that activates space in dynamic and surprising ways. Students will explore hand-built ceramics, building with wood, reed, plaster, wire, cardboard, found objects and more! This is a great class for those who enjoy imagining and building things, or are considering a future in architecture, industrial design or engineering. There will be time for sketching in the museum and learning about various prominent sculptors for inspiration.
Supply list for this class will be available soon.
Register For ClassesBring your fashion ideas to life! Learn how to draw the traditional fashion figure, explore garment shapes and style lines, and even practice draping fabric on a scale mannequin. Attendants will learn techniques for rendering fabrics, textures, patterns and details, while creating a mood board and well-presented fashion collection. HS Fashion Design & Illustration Supply List
Register For ClassesLearn to see and draw the human form. Students will practice drawing portraits and full-body figures from a live model. Explore drawing, gesture, anatomy, and expression while developing observation skills and personal style. With a focus on experimenting and improving your drawing abilities, this class is appropriate for beginners and experienced artists alike. HS Portrait & Figure Studies Supply List
Register For ClassesUse color, line, and composition to develop strong and visual ideas and refine your artistic style through painting fundamentals and a variety of printmaking techniques. Whether you are building a portfolio or just looking to try something new, you will learn to mix vibrant colors, create compelling compositions, carve your own relief prints, produce one-of-a-kind monotypes, and explore creative mixed-media approaches.
Supply list for this class will be available soon.
Register For ClassesCalling all tabletop gamer artists! If you like the art of Dungeons and Dragons, Magic the Gathering, Warhammer, Masks, Shadowrun, etc. this exciting class will teach you how to draw and paint fantasy and science fiction art. Artist educator Zach Shiff can help you capture what you’re envisioning in your mind’s eye when you play your fantasy game of choice. In this class you’ll learn how to: create a character, pose them in a dramatic way, and paint a background setting to give them depth. By the end of the week, you will have a portfolio of sketched and finished artworks demonstrating your vivid imaginations. HS Fantasy Art Illustration Supply List
Register For ClassesDanforth Assistantship Program
Apply for the 2026/27 cohort here.
This year-round leadership program for teens provides valuable experience in educational functions at the Danforth Art School and the Danforth Art Museum.
Danforth Assistants serve the art school by helping with overall program facilitation during Summer Arts, our highly popular summer program for children, as well as school vacation week workshops and scheduled events which take place year-round. Assisting at the school includes working directly with children, providing support for teachers, preparation of materials and studio spaces, organization of supplies, and various administrative tasks. Danforth Assistants serve the museum by providing tours of the exhibitions to children during Summer Arts and providing support during public programming such as Drop Into Art and other events.
We typically welcome several Assistants back each year, which allows us to place roughly 15 new leaders every Spring.
Placement in the Danforth Assistantship Program provides many benefits upon successful participation in the program*. These include a modest stipend, one free class during the Fall, Winter or Spring sessions, valuable leadership experience, individualized mentorship and important references for college transcripts.
Danforth accepts applications from responsible, reliable, and energetic teens currently enrolled in or entering high school or college. Successful participation is considered to be:
- Attendance at a mandatory four-session training course taking place on Saturdays during the spring, which will provide the necessary training for summer programming and service in the museum
- Completing at least four weeks of service during Summer Arts
- Serving at three public events at the Danforth over the following year as well as 2 days during School Vacation Weeks in February or April
- Submitting an agreement which outlines understanding of expectations and a commitment to work on agreed upon dates
Summer Arts Teens FAQ
In most cases, teen students are required to bring their own supplies. The list of art supplies needed for each class is available as a PDF next to each class description.
If you need to cancel a registration, you can always call or email us and we will issue you a refund, minus a $25 cancellation fee, as long as it is at least 2 weeks prior to the classes start date. If the cancellation occurs within two weeks of the classes start date, no refund will be issued.
Please see our student behavior expectations here.
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