The Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism (ARAS) has opened applications for its 2026 Teen Summer Art Program, a free two-week intensive experience for New York City teenagers aged 14 to 17. The program will run from Monday, July 13th to Friday, July 24th, 2026.
Now in its second decade, the program (formerly known as Pioneer Teens) offers a small, intimate cohort of around eight teens an immersive introduction to the world of symbolic imagery: how symbols appear across art, religion, mythology, and culture, and how they shape our inner and outer lives in ways we often don’t notice. Over the course of two weeks, participants visit museums, galleries, and artist studios across New York City, exploring the ways that symbols permeate the art they already love. They take part in workshops across different artistic mediums, conduct their own research, and ultimately create a final project centred on a symbol that has personally resonated with them. The program begins with a collage activity on the first day, through which each teen identifies a symbol that speaks to them. That relationship between the teen and their chosen symbol, then deepens and evolves in unexpected ways over the two weeks that follow.
The program is open to all New York City teens aged 14 to 17 with an interest in art, psychology, myth, or simply a curiosity about the world. No prior experience is necessary. As much as it is an artistic programme, it is also a social one which offers a chance to meet peers from across the city and form friendships around shared passions.
Previous participants have described the experience in their own words:
“It’s a program where you can practice and enjoy different styles of art with other students who have the same passion as you.”
“A symbol can be an object or image that represents different meanings. My understanding has changed by realising symbols could have many different meanings, not just one meaning.”
“I love art, I use it as a means to express myself and explore creatively. During ARAS’s Teen Summer Program, I was challenged to consider the meaning and symbolism behind the art that I make.”
The program is completely free and applications are now open via the ARAS website. The 2025 program was generously sponsored by the New York State Council on the Arts and the Robert Lehman Foundation. Click here to apply, applications close on the 1st of May. You can also watch a short video explaining how the program works.