High School Programs: Summer Institute Residency Programs

“Come as you are and leave being more!” –Cheryl Pope, instructor

Join us in Chicago to expand your creative talents, explore new ideas, and strengthen your commitment to the study of art and design.

Ideas matter. At SAIC, we believe meaning and making are inseparable. Our studios are laboratories, where conceptual thinking, art making, and design skills are developed and strengthened. The Early College Program (ECP) Summer Institute provides high school students the necessary creative freedom to develop a structured dialogue between ideas and process. Mirroring the methods and practices of contemporary artists and designers, students choose courses within focused disciplines, yet retain opportunities to freely explore media in order to build a strong portfolio. Students are encouraged to explore a wide variety of materials and processes to discover new ways of defining their creative practice.

Why ECP Summer Institute?

• Students who complete the ECP Summer Institute receive college credit and have the portfolio requirement of their SAIC undergraduate application waived.
• ECP Summer Institute students receive college-level instruction from SAIC’s outstanding faculty with additional support from student Teaching Assistants at a ratio of 1:5.
• Individual portfolio review sessions are available.
• Students have access to SAIC’s extensive resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago museum.