Early College Program
JUMPSTART
CHANGE.
What if four weeks studying art could change the rest of your life? If you’re a rising high school junior or senior, you can participate in an immersive program that’ll jumpstart your college journey.
Workshops, thought-provoking discussions and site visits are all part of this learning experience—plus three (3) earned credits in Art History and Curatorial Studies.
A Co-Educational, Sponsored Program
for Junior and Senior High School Students
The Early College Program in Art History and Curatorial Studies is a co-educational program at Spelman College designed to encourage rising junior and senior high school students of color to pursue undergraduate studies in art history and curatorial studies. Prior art history or museum experience is not required, however, students should demonstrate a curiosity about how art and visual culture is created; about museums as spaces for cultivating art appreciation; and about the role of curators who shape how art is experienced by the public.
During the four-week, fully-funded program, students attend lectures, complete projects, participate in workshops and engage in discussions at Spelman College, the Atlanta University Center, and the High Museum of Art while making site visits to other locations in Atlanta and around the region.
After successful completion of the program, rising juniors and seniors in high school will receive a Spelman College transcript verifying that they have earned three (3) credits in Art History and Curatorial Studies.
Summer 2024 Dates
Program Dates
June 21 – July 19
Application Opens
February 1
Application Deadline
April 1
Students complete the Ways of Seeing: Art History, Curating, and Museums course for three (3) undergraduate credits in art history and curatorial studies to be applied towards undergraduate course work in the art history major or curatorial studies minor in the AUC Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective. Modeled on several courses offered to Spelman undergraduate students studying in the Department of Art & Visual Culture, the course introduces the discipline of art history and surveys African American and Western art. Students are introduced to museums and other sites that art may be exhibited including archives and libraries. They learn how curators and other professionals interpret art and other objects entrusted to their care. The changing demands of museum audiences is explored further. Additionally, the matter of diversity in the profession and within the collections and institutions is carefully analyzed to determine how difference, in a broad sense is reflected and shaped by art and museums. Over the month, students prepare to be art historians and/or curators by completing exhibition projects drawn from the High Museum’s collection.
Reading assignments are drawn from several college-level textbooks. Supplementary texts like Sylvan Barnet’s “A Short Guide to Writing About Art” are utilized alongside peer-reviewed websites such as smarthistory.org.
ELIGIBILITY
- Please Note: This is a Co-Educational, Sponsored Program.
This program is for rising juniors and seniors in high school.
Applicants must complete the Early College Program: Art History & Curatorial Studies Application, and submit all application materials by the deadline.
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
- Early College Program Art History & Curatorial Studies Application (please use the “Application Resources” document for FAQs and helpful information) Note: this packet is complete but needs the link for guidance counselor submission so it will be sent once that info. is available.
- Early College Program Art History & Curatorial Studies Teacher Recommendation Form
- Early College Program Art History & Curatorial Studies Guidance Counselor Form
- Notifications begin in April
PROGRAM FEES
All students accepted into the Early College Program receive full scholarships that cover room and board, books, activity fees and field trip transportation costs.
The Early College Program in Art History and Curatorial Studies is made possible by the generosity of the Alice L. Walton Foundation.
Participating families will be responsible for travel costs to Spelman College and the return trip home.
ADMISSION POLICY
Spelman College
Spelman College, a Historically Black College whose missions is to serve high-achieving Black women, will consider for admission women students including students who consistently live and self-identify as women, regardless of their gender assignment at birth. Spelman does not admit male students, including students who self-identify and live consistently as men, regardless of gender assignment at birth. If a woman is admitted and transitions to male while a student at Spelman, the College will permit that student to continue to matriculate at and graduate from Spelman.
Application to a high school pre-college summer program is not an application for admission to the degree programs of Spelman College. No promises are made regarding admission to the first-year class. Parents/guardians must give their permission for students to participate in summer programs and activities.