PAFA Youth & Family Programs

America's First Art School Opens Its Studios to Kids

The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA), founded in 1805, is the oldest art museum and school in the United States. Its Center for Art Education runs extensive youth and family programs out of the landmark Broad Street campus.

Classes and Camps

Serious training across the full K-12 range. Options include:
- Summer Art Camp for ages 5-14 (half/full-day)
- Saturday Studio Art Classes for middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12), portfolio-focused
- Teen & Pre-College Programs (15+) with summer intensives, studio classes, youth leadership
- Free monthly Family Art Days and Family Art Festival

What's Included

• Classes held in PAFA's historic Frank Furness-designed studios
• Instruction from working artists and MFA graduate students
• Gallery access to the PAFA permanent collection
• Scholarships available for qualified students

Experience

The most prestigious art training an elementary or high schooler can access in Philadelphia. The Pre-College track is a legitimate pipeline for serious teen artists applying to RISD, SVA, and Cooper Union. Few programs in the country can match classes literally held inside a 220-year-old art academy.