SUNY Purchase College: Youth and Precollege Programs in the Arts

Welcome to the Youth and Precollege Programs in the Arts at Purchase College, State University of New York! For more than 39 years, these programs have been much more than camps.

Summer students experience a rich environment full of exciting beginnings, new friends and achievements, growth and independence. They are immersed in a variety of exciting and enriching learning opportunities, such as songwriting, acting, architecture, visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, video game and app creation, voice, fashion, musical theatre, and more.

Quality Programming

Students study with accomplished artists and experienced educators who are assisted by teacher’s assistants (TAs)—undergraduates most often majoring in the program’s discipline—in programs where the student-to-staff ratio is no more than 10:1. Students are inspired by our scenic 500-acre campus and are able to experience Purchase College while enjoying an outstanding education in their areas of interest and working with other students who share a passion for the arts. Each program concludes with a performance, exhibit, reading, film screening, fashion show, or other culminating event for families and friends to showcase the skills that they have learned.

College Resources

Summer students are introduced to the impressive resources available to Purchase College undergraduates. Musicians practice in the Conservatory of Music’s practice rooms, record in the recording studios, and perform in campus performance spaces. Actors obtain specialized instruction through master classes, rehearse in actors’ studios, and perform in campus performance spaces. Filmmakers use the campus as their set and learn to edit using professional editing software. Artists make art in the Visual Arts Building—160,000 square feet of art-making opportunity. It is one of the largest facilities of its kind in the Northeast, providing students with superb studio environments, plus state-of-the-art software and hardware specifically geared to the demands of professional design and art making.

We hope that you choose Purchase College for your child’s summer experience. It is sure to create many treasured memories for your entire family.