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Fall Pre-College Programs

Fall portfolio-building programs for high school students interested in art and design.

Stamps Pre-College Programs now include Fall after-school and weekend studios, events, and workshops! Our virtual and in-person programs are offered to current high school students (grades 9 – 12) interested in building new skills for their creative pursuits, improving their portfolios, and learning more about U‑M’s Stamps School of Art & Design.

Registration for Fall 2024 is now closed. Sign up to receive information about upcoming programs or register for a pre-college info session today.

Sign Up for Pre-College Info

Fall Studios

Fall Studios provide opportunities for deep dives into different areas of art & design. Faculty will lead students in learning new techniques during studio sessions, and provide lectures, demonstrations, and feedback to support covered material. 

Virtual, twice-weekly afternoon programs include Digital Photography, 2D Illustration, Digital Photography, Drawing for Artists & Designers, and 4D Animation; in-person weekend workshops include Drawing Fundamentals, Watercolor Painting, and Experiments in Print.

  • 2D Illustration (Virtual)
    Virtual Studio for grades 9-12

    Interested in illustration? 2D Illustration is an online class introducing students to fundamental visualization skills used by artists and designers when working creatively in two dimensions. Students will gain familiarity and hands-on experience with a variety of two-dimensional practices and media.

    This online class is designed to introduce content synchronously and asynchronously. This format will give students opportunities to get direct feedback from their instructor and time to build their skills and to apply new concepts. Lectures, demonstrations and slides will enhance covered material.

    2D Illustration meets online Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-6:25 pm for a total of ten sessions.

    • Modality: Virtual
    • Dates: Oct. 1-31, 2024
    • Day: Tuesdays & Thursdays
    • Time: 5-6:25 pm ET
    • Cost: $245.00

    The program fee includes instructional materials and shipping costs. Please note that we will not ship instructional materials internationally.

    Upon acceptance to the program, a $50 nonrefundable deposit will be required to confirm your attendance and reserve your space in the program. This deposit is included in the overall program fee. If you withdraw from the program after classes begin, no portion of your tuition will be refunded.

    Registration is now closed.

    Financial Assistance
    Scholarships are available to select students who have registered for the program. A limited number of full and partial awards will be provided to students who demonstrate need and merit. Students seeking financial assistance for Stamps Pre-College Studios and Events must complete the ​Financial Assistance application with the help of a parent/​guardian and provide all required materials.

  • Digital Photography (Virtual)
    Virtual Studio for grades 9-12

    Digital Photography is an online class introducing students to technical and aesthetic components of digital photography. Through assignments and critiques, students gain a basic understanding of the history and evolution of photography. Students will become familiar with both contemporary and traditional methods of photographic expression and will engage creatively with photography as a method for problem solving.

    This online class is designed to introduce content synchronously and asynchronously. This format will give students opportunities to get direct feedback from their instructor and time to build their skills and to apply new concepts. Lectures, demonstrations and slides will enhance covered material.

    Digital Photography meets online Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-6:25 pm ET for a total of ten sessions.

    • Modality: Virtual
    • Dates: Oct. 1-31, 2024
    • Day: Tuesdays & Thursdays
    • Time: 5-6:25 pm ET
    • Cost: $245.00

    The program fee includes instructional materials and shipping costs. Please note that we will not ship instructional materials internationally.

    Upon acceptance to the program, a $50 nonrefundable deposit will be required to confirm your attendance and reserve your space in the program. This deposit is included in the overall program fee. If you withdraw from the program after classes begin, no portion of your tuition will be refunded.

    Registration is now closed.

    Financial Assistance
    Scholarships are available to select students who have registered for the program. A limited number of full and partial awards will be provided to students who demonstrate need and merit. Students seeking financial assistance for Stamps Pre-College Studios and Events must complete the ​Financial Assistance application with the help of a parent/​guardian and provide all required materials.

  • Drawing for Artists & Designers (Virtual)
    Virtual Studio for grades 9-12

    The ability to draw is essential for all practicing artists and designers. In Drawing for Artists & Designers, students will learn drawing concepts fundamental to contemporary art and design practice. Students will gain knowledge and experience in a variety of approaches, ranging from observational to experimental drawing. Each class session is structured as studio time, giving students ample opportunity to build their drawing skills and apply new concepts. Lectures, demonstrations and slides will enhance covered material.

    Drawing for Artists & Designers meets online Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30-7:55 pm ET for a total of ten sessions.

    • Modality: Virtual
    • Dates: Oct. 1-31, 2024
    • Day: Tuesdays & Thursdays
    • Time: 6:30-7:55 pm ET
    • Cost: $245.00

    The program fee includes instructional materials and shipping costs. Please note that we will not ship instructional materials internationally.

    Upon acceptance to the program, a $50 nonrefundable deposit will be required to confirm your attendance and reserve your space in the program. This deposit is included in the overall program fee. If you withdraw from the program after classes begin, no portion of your tuition will be refunded.

    Registration is now closed.

    Financial Assistance
    Scholarships are available to select students who have registered for the program. A limited number of full and partial awards will be provided to students who demonstrate need and merit. Students seeking financial assistance for Stamps Pre-College Studios and Events must complete the ​Financial Assistance application with the help of a parent/​guardian and provide all required materials.

  • 4D Animation (Virtual)
    Virtual Studio for grades 9-12

    4D Animation is an online class introducing students to techniques used by artists and designers when working creatively with the fourth dimension, time. Students will learn the fundamentals of working with time by exploring basic audio, video and animation techniques that can easily be used at home to make creative work. This online class is designed to introduce content synchronously and asynchronously. This format will give students opportunities to get direct feedback from their instructor and time to build their skills and to apply new concepts. Lectures, demonstrations and slides will enhance covered material.

    4D Animation meets online Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30-7:55 pm ET for a total of ten sessions.

    • Modality: Virtual
    • Dates: Oct. 1-31, 2024
    • Day: Tuesdays & Thursdays
    • Time: 6:30-7:55 pm ET
    • Cost: $245.00

    The program fee includes instructional materials and shipping costs. Please note that we will not ship instructional materials internationally.

    Upon acceptance to the program, a $50 nonrefundable deposit will be required to confirm your attendance and reserve your space in the program. This deposit is included in the overall program fee. If you withdraw from the program after classes begin, no portion of your tuition will be refunded.

    Registration is now closed.

    Financial Assistance
    Scholarships are available to select students who have registered for the program. A limited number of full and partial awards will be provided to students who demonstrate need and merit. Students seeking financial assistance for Stamps Pre-College Studios and Events must complete the ​Financial Assistance application with the help of a parent/​guardian and provide all required materials.

  • Weekend Workshop: Drawing Fundamentals (In-Person)
    In-Person Studio for grades 9-12

    The ability to draw is essential for all practicing artists and designers. In Weekend Workshop: Drawing Fundamentals, students will learn drawing concepts fundamental to contemporary art and design practice. Students will gain knowledge and experience in a variety of approaches, ranging from observational to experimental drawing. Each class session is structured as studio time, giving students ample opportunity to build their drawing skills and apply new concepts. Lectures, demonstrations and slides will enhance covered material.

    Weekend Workshop: Drawing Fundamentals meets on Saturdays from 9:30 am-12:30 pm ET for a total of four sessions. This class will meet in-person at the Stamps School of Art & Design.

    • Modality: In-Person
    • Dates: Oct. 5-26, 2024
    • Day: Saturdays
    • Time: 9:30 am-12:30 pm ET
    • Location: Stamps School of Art & Design
    • Cost: $295.00

    The program fee includes instructional materials and shipping costs. Please note that we will not ship instructional materials internationally.

    Upon acceptance to the program, a $50 nonrefundable deposit will be required to confirm your attendance and reserve your space in the program. This deposit is included in the overall program fee. If you withdraw from the program after classes begin, no portion of your tuition will be refunded.

    Registration is now closed.

    Financial Assistance
    Scholarships are available to select students who have registered for the program. A limited number of full and partial awards will be provided to students who demonstrate need and merit. Students seeking financial assistance for Stamps Pre-College Studios and Events must complete the ​Financial Assistance application with the help of a parent/​guardian and provide all required materials.

  • Weekend Workshop: Watercolor Painting (In-Person)
    In-Person Studio for grades 9-12

    In Weekend Workshop: Watercolor Painting, students will learn concepts and techniques fundamental to watercolor painting. Students will gain experience using this material to explore composition, color and working from direct observation. Each class session is structured as studio time, giving students ample opportunity to build their watercolor painting skills. Lectures, demonstrations and slides will enhance covered material.

    Weekend Workshop: Watercolor Painting meets on Saturdays from 9:30-12:30pm for a total of four sessions. This class will meet in-person at the Stamps School of Art & Design.

    • Modality: In-Person
    • Dates: Oct. 5-26, 2024
    • Day: Saturdays
    • Time: 9:30-12:30 pm ET
    • Location: Stamps School of Art & Design
    • Cost: $295.00

    The program fee includes instructional materials and shipping costs. Please note that we will not ship instructional materials internationally.

    Upon acceptance to the program, a $50 nonrefundable deposit will be required to confirm your attendance and reserve your space in the program. This deposit is included in the overall program fee. If you withdraw from the program after classes begin, no portion of your tuition will be refunded.

    Registration is now closed.

    Financial Assistance
    Scholarships are available to select students who have registered for the program. A limited number of full and partial awards will be provided to students who demonstrate need and merit. Students seeking financial assistance for Stamps Pre-College Studios and Events must complete the ​Financial Assistance application with the help of a parent/​guardian and provide all required materials.

  • Weekend Workshop: Experiments in Print (In-Person)
    In-Person Studio for grades 9-12

    Weekend Workshop: Experiments in Print is an in-person class that introduces an expansive view on printmaking, encouraging experimentation and innovation within traditional and emerging media.

    Class demonstrations introduce making and printing images in color from a variety of surfaces and cover a range of single and multi-plate methods. Through hands-on projects, students engage print concepts such as multiplicity, serialization, and sequence. Each class session is structured as studio time, giving students ample opportunity to build skills and apply new concepts. Lectures, demonstrations and slides will enhance covered material.

    Weekend Workshop: Experiments in Print meets Saturdays from 9:30 am-12:00 pm for a total of four sessions. This class will meet in-person at the Stamps School of Art & Design

    • Modality: In-Person
    • Dates: Oct. 5-26, 2024
    • Day: Saturdays
    • Time: 9:30-12:30 pm ET
    • Location: Stamps School of Art & Design
    • Cost: $295.00

    The program fee includes instructional materials and shipping costs. Please note that we will not ship instructional materials internationally.

    Upon acceptance to the program, a $50 nonrefundable deposit will be required to confirm your attendance and reserve your space in the program. This deposit is included in the overall program fee. If you withdraw from the program after classes begin, no portion of your tuition will be refunded.

    Registration is now closed.

    Financial Assistance
    Scholarships are available to select students who have registered for the program. A limited number of full and partial awards will be provided to students who demonstrate need and merit. Students seeking financial assistance for Stamps Pre-College Studios and Events must complete the ​Financial Assistance application with the help of a parent/​guardian and provide all required materials.

Fall Events

Fall Events are single session opportunities for in-person creative practice. 

Explore the University of Michigan with our series of in-person Drawing on Campus sessions, held at four different U‑M museums on the Ann Arbor campus. Each week, participants will gain insider knowledge about a museum through a guided tour, then will practice their observational drawing skills by working directly from the museum’s collection. These programs are ideal for students with varied interests; art, botany, history, archeology, paleontology, and more. Participants are welcome to register for just one program or all four.

  • Drawing on Campus: Kelsey Museum of Archeology (In Person)
    In-Person Event for grades 9-12

    In this session of our Drawing on Campus program, you will practice drawing skills in the galleries of the Kelsey Museum of Archeology. Drawing time will be accompanied by a guided tour of the museum’s exhibitions. This program will not only help you elevate your technical skills, but will also introduce participants to 1,500 artifacts of Classical, Egyptian, and Middle Eastern archaeology on permanent display at the Kelsey.

    • Modality: In-Person
    • Date: Oct. 5, 2024
    • Day: Saturday
    • Time: 1-3:30 pm ET
    • Location: Kelsey Museum of Archeology, 434 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI.
    • Cost: $50.00 (this program fee includes instructional materials and security deposit)

    Registration is now closed.

    Financial Assistance
    Scholarships are available to select students who have registered for the program. A limited number of full and partial awards will be provided to students who demonstrate need and merit. Students seeking financial assistance for Stamps Pre-College Studios and Events must complete the ​Financial Assistance application with the help of a parent/​guardian and provide all required materials.

  • Drawing on Campus: University of Michigan Museum of Art (In Person)
    In-Person Event for grades 9-12

    In this session of our Drawing on Campus program, you will practice drawing skills in the galleries of the University of Michigan Museum of Art. Drawing time will be accompanied with a guided tour of the museum’s current exhibitions. This program will not only help you elevate your technical skills, but will also introduce participants to UMMA's rich collection of art and design, spanning prehistory to contemporary works.

    • Modality: In-Person
    • Date: October 12, 2024
    • Day: Saturday
    • Time: 1-3:30 pm ET
    • Location: University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA), 525 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI
    • Cost: $50.00 (this program fee includes instructional materials and security deposit)

    Registration is now closed.

    Financial Assistance
    Scholarships are available to select students who have registered for the program. A limited number of full and partial awards will be provided to students who demonstrate need and merit. Students seeking financial assistance for Stamps Pre-College Studios and Events must complete the ​Financial Assistance application with the help of a parent/​guardian and provide all required materials.

  • Drawing on Campus: U-M Museum of Natural History (In Person)
    In-Person Event for grades 9-12

    In this session of our Drawing on Campus program, you will practice drawing skills in the U-M Museum of Natural History. Drawing time will be accompanied with a guided tour of the museum’s exhibits and interactive spaces. This program will not only help you elevate your technical skills, but will also inspire curiosity with exhibits that explore the natural world from molecules to mastodons.

    • Modality: In-Person
    • Date: October 19, 2024
    • Day: Saturday
    • Time: 1-3:30 pm ET
    • Location: University of Michigan Museum of Natural History, 1105 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI.
    • Cost: $50.00 (this program fee includes instructional materials and security deposit)

    Registration is now closed.

    Financial Assistance
    Scholarships are available to select students who have registered for the program. A limited number of full and partial awards will be provided to students who demonstrate need and merit. Students seeking financial assistance for Stamps Pre-College Studios and Events must complete the ​Financial Assistance application with the help of a parent/​guardian and provide all required materials.

  • Drawing on Campus: Matthaei Botanical Gardens (In Person)
    In-Person Event for grades 9-12

    In this session of our Drawing on Campus program, you will practice drawing skills in the conservatory of the Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Drawing time will be accompanied with a guided tour of the plants displayed in the conservatory. This program will not only help you elevate your technical skills, but will also introduce participants to the plant diversity and biomes represented in this living museum. Perfect for an aspiring naturalist!

    • Modality: In-Person
    • Date: Oct. 26, 2024
    • Day: Saturday
    • Time: 1-3:30 pm ET
    • Location: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N. Dixboro Rd. Ann Arbor, MI
    • Cost: $50.00 (this program fee includes instructional materials and security deposit)

    Registration is now closed.

    Financial Assistance
    Scholarships are available to select students who have registered for the program. A limited number of full and partial awards will be provided to students who demonstrate need and merit. Students seeking financial assistance for Stamps Pre-College Studios and Events must complete the ​Financial Assistance application with the help of a parent/​guardian and provide all required materials.

Fall Workshops

Free, virtual Fall Workshops offer students and parents in-depth opportunities for advice on getting started with college applications and portfolios (Application Prep), and learning about the opportunities available after graduation (Career Connections).

  • Application Prep (Virtual)
    Virtual Workshop Series for grades 9-12

    Let’s get your application ready! Application Prep is a series of virtual workshops led by the Stamps Pre-College team. This program is designed to introduce students to Stamps’ Admissions standards, focusing on a variety of topics including: personal essays, portfolio preparation and overall application strategy.

    In Application Prep, Pre-College team members will walk participants through the important elements of application preparation. These workshops will help students feel confident as they press “submit” on their college application and offer strategies for how they can showcase their best work and unique perspective.

    Application Prep meets online from 5-6 pm ET on Wednesdays for a total of four sessions. All sessions are free of charge.

    • Modality: Virtual
    • Dates: Oct. 2-23, 2024
    • Days: Wednesdays
    • Time: 5-6 pm ET
    • Cost: Participation in Application Prep is free.

    Registration
    Click here to register for Application Prep.

  • Career Connections (Virtual)
    Virtual Event Series for parents and students in grades 9-12

    You’re a parent with a talented student and they have their heart set on applying to art school - how will they use an art and design degree to pursue a career in the field?

    Our Career Connections series will introduce families to a wide array of creative careers that can be attained with an art and design degree. This professional development series will demystify the art and design field and demonstrate how a Stamps degree will help your student reach their full potential after graduation.

    Recent Stamps alumni will participate in and host three virtual sessions, leading discussions on their career paths and how Stamps prepared them to succeed as professionals.

    Career Connections meets online at 6:30-7:55 pm ET on Wednesdays for a total of three sessions. All sessions are free of charge.

    Session 1: Stamps Alumni Panel
    Wednesday,     Oct. 9, 2024, 6:30-7:55 pm ET
    In this virtual panel discussion, recent Stamps graduates will discuss their creative careers, revealing how their experience at Stamps helped to prepare them for life after graduation.

    Workshop 1: The Business of Art & Design
    Wednesday,     Oct. 16, 2024, 6:30-7:55 pm ET
    In this virtual workshop, Stamps alum Katie Mongoven will introduce students to the business side of art and design. Organization and communication are vital skills that all artists use to support their professional practices. Participants will learn how artists navigate calls for exhibitions and grants, maintain a public profile through a website and social media, negotiate loan agreements and exercise financial literacy. This workshop will include time for a lecture and Q&A.

    Workshop 2: Physical Augmentation Wearables for Adaptive Human Futures
    Wednesday,     Oct. 23, 2024, 6:30-7:55 pm ET
    In this virtual workshop, Stamps alum Nicholas Tilma will task students with designing wearables that help humans adapt to a changing future through physical augmentation. This workshop will imagine a possible near-distant future scenario where humans will need to use wearables to adapt to hotter temperatures, air quality concerns and off-grid living. Participants will study examples of adaptations found in nature as well as innovative human designs. This workshop will include time for a lecture, sketching exercises, idea selection, and concept refinement before making a final diagrammed drawing. This will be a great workshop experience for aspiring product designers!

    • Modality: Virtual
    • Dates: Oct. 9-23, 2024
    • Day: Wednesdays
    • Time: 6:30-7:55 pm ET
    • Cost: Participation in Career Connections is free.


    Registration
    Click here to register for Career Connections.

Application Instructions

Registration for Fall 2024 is now closed. Sign up to receive information about upcoming programs or register for a pre-college info session today.

Financial Assistance

Scholarships are available to select students who have registered for Stamps Pre-College Programs. A limited number of full and partial awards will be provided to students who demonstrate need and merit.

Students seeking financial assistance for Stamps Pre-College Studios and Events must complete the​Financial Assistance application with the help of a parent/​guardian and provide all required materials. The Financial Assistance application must be submitted by the September 5 application deadline.

Eligibility

Fall 2024 Pre-College programs, events, and workshops are open to all current high school students in grades 9 – 12.

      Deadlines

      Registration for Fall 2024 is now closed. Sign up to receive information about upcoming programs or register for a pre-college info session today.

      Questions?

      Please contact us with any questions about our Pre-College programs.