Cleveland Institute of Art launches summer art program for eighth-grade students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2026

CLEVELAND—The Cleveland Institute of Art announces Pre-College Prep, an immersive weeklong summer program designed for motivated eighth-grade students (rising into ninth grade) who are eager to get a head start on their creative journey by learning from CIA faculty and creating in CIA studios.

Pre-College Prep students will build essential skills in observational drawing, strengthening their ability to see, analyze and translate the world around them. Observational drawing classes will include walking field trips to the Cleveland Museum of Art and Cleveland Botanical Garden.

Students will also explore mixed media, experimenting with materials and developing their personal approach to making. Painting, printmaking and illustration will be the focus of these classes.

"We've heard from more and more families that their soon-to-be high school students are passionate about art and have dreams of going to art school, but they aren't quite ready for the rigor and demands of CIA's Pre-College program. We're excited to launch a program tailored specifically for these kids to join us this summer at CIA," says Crystal L. Johnson, EdD, Assistant Vice President of Admissions + Continuing Education at CIA. "Pre-College Prep will give them a taste of what Pre-College is like and provide them with opportunities to explore various types of art, to experience some of University Circle's cultural institutions, and to create pieces to kickstart their portfolios."

Applications for Pre-College Prep open Friday, May 1. The weeklong program will take place June 22–26 on CIA's main campus (11610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland) and culminate in an exhibition of work created during the Pre-College Prep for students' families.

Pre-College Prep is a non-residential program, which means students must live within commuting distance. Class days will last from 9am to 4pm and consist of two three-hour studio sessions and a one-hour lunch break. Tuition is $500, which includes all supplies.

Exceptional Pre-College Prep students may also be recommended by their Pre-College Prep instructor to advance directly into CIA's two-week summer Pre-College program, which is designed for rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors and offers an opportunity to earn college credit. Tuition from Pre-College Prep would be credited as a scholarship toward their Pre-College tuition. Pre-College sessions take place July 5–17 and July 19–31 at CIA.

Interested students and families can learn more about Pre-College Prep or start the application process by visiting cia.edu/pre-college-prep.

Contact

Cleveland Institute of Art
Michael C. Butz, Director of College Communications + External Relations
mcbutz@cia.edu / 216.421.7404

Cleveland Institute of Art

The Cleveland Institute of Art is a private, nonprofit college of art and design that has been the training ground for countless students who have gone on to make important contributions to the fields of creativity and innovation since it opened in 1882 as the Western Reserve School of Design for Women. Its students have designed internationally recognized products, their artwork has been exhibited in major museums and private collections around the world, and their entertainment media has been enjoyed by audiences and game players for generations. It enrolls about 550 students nationally and internationally and has a faculty of about 100 full-time and adjunct members, all of whom are practicing artists, designers and scholars.