USA Programs In The Arts

The creatively inclined can pursue numerous forms of artistic expression in the US—the bohemian quarters of New York City and San Francisco, as well as the wide-open spaces of the American interior, offer all types of artistic opportunities.

Chautauqua Institution, P.O. Box 28, Chautauqua, NY 14722 (☎800-836-ARTS/2782; www.chautauqua-inst.org). A National Historic Landmark that offers intensive summer programs in art, dance, music, and theater for talented students. Programs range 2-7 weeks. Need- and talent-based scholarships available.
New York Foundation for the Arts, 155 Ave. of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10013 (☎212-366-6900; www.nyfa.org). From dance to music to visual arts, NYFA provides a national database of resources in the arts, including listings of current job and internship openings and schedules for art events. The “For Artists” link on the website posts audition notices, calls for entry, and information about workshops.
National Association of Schools of Theatre, 11250 Roger Bacon Dr., Ste. 21, Reston, VA 20190 (☎703-437-0700; http://nast.arts-accredit.org). Supplies a list of accredited degree- and non-degree-granting institutions in the US that offer theater programs.
Santa Fe Art Institute, P.O. Box 24044, Santa Fe, NM 87502 (☎505-424-5050; www.sfai.org). A world-class artistic center, the Santa Fe Art Institute offers 1-week workshops ($900 includes residency and tuition) and allows participants to learn from professional resident artists. Need-based scholarships are available.
Summer Theater, Box 727, Saxtons River, VT 05154 (www.summertheater.com). Each year, small local theaters throughout the country put out a series of dramatic productions, including musicals, comedy, drama, and opera. Tickets are affordable, and many young and talented actors get their first experiences on the stage. For audition and performance information, contact the individual summer theaters listed on the website.

Film

Indiewire.com, 304 Hudson St., 6th fl., New York, NY 10013 (☎212-675-3908; www.indiewire.com). Explore the student and independent film scene in the US while you get the low-down on upcoming film festivals, lectures, and symposia. Classifieds list paid and unpaid positions for actors, crew, writers, and producers; you can also meet and find collaborators for your own projects.
New York Film Academy (NYFA), 100 E. 17th St., New York, NY 10003 (☎212-674-4300; www.nyfa.com). NYFA allows would-be actors, filmmakers, and screenwriters the chance to hone their skills on studio sets in several cities. Program lengths vary from 1 week to 1 year, and include classes in acting, screenwriting, digital imaging, filmmaking, comedy, and 3D animation. Programs cost $1500-25,000.
University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television, Summer Program Enrollment Office, 850 W. 34th St., Los Angeles, CA 90089 (☎213-740-1742; www.uscsum-merfilm.com). Boasting an alumni list that includes Star Wars mastermind George Lucas, screenwriter John Milius (Apocalypse Now), and producer Laura Ziskin (Spiderman), the world-renowned film school offers summer workshops with classes in writing, digital imaging, directing, and producing. University housing is available, as are classes for students who have already logged some hours (or years) in the industry. Students also have access to free seminars, workshops, and screenings.

Poetry

Writer’s Colonies allow writers to pursue writing projects without distraction. Residencies range from 1 week to several months; some programs include workshops and conferences. Costs generally cover room and board, though fellowships are occasionally available. A directory of several writer’s colonies is available at www.poewar.com/articles/colonies.htm; for a more comprehensive listing of artist’s retreats, try Artist’s Communities: A Directory of Residencies in the United States that Offer Time and Space for Creativity, by Tricia Snell (Allworth Press 2000).
Poets and Writers, Inc., 72 Spring St., Ste. 301, New York, NY 10012 (☎212-226-3586; www.pw.org). Provides links to writing programs at universities in the US as well as an extensive list of conferences and residencies for writers.
Poetry Slam Incorporated, 11462 East Ln., Whitmore Lake, MI 48189 (☎810-231-5435; www.poetryslam.com). All across the country, poets perform 3-5min. of their work in cafes and bars, and are judged by audience members on performance and writing ability. Poetry Slam Inc. compiles a massive list of these venues; most have at least 1 night per week devoted to slams or readings. Admission prices range from free to a small cover charge; you may have to sign up in advance to perform.

Architecture And Design

Arcosanti, HC74, P.O. Box 4136, Mayer, AZ 86333 (☎928-632-7135; www.ar-cosanti.org). Founded by Frank Lloyd Wright’s disciple Paolo Soleri (who still lives here), Arcosanti is a community 70 mi. north of Phoenix based on Soleri’s theory of “arcology”—the symbiotic relationship between architecture and ecology. It hosts 1-week ($485) and 5-week ($1175) workshops in which participants help expand the settlement while learning about Soleri’s project and developing their skills at construction and planning. An all-expenses-paid 3-month internship is available for those with some prior architectural background after they have completed the 5-week workshop.
Ecological Design Institute, P.O. Box 989, Sausalito, CA 94966 (☎415-332-5806; www.ecodesign.org). Integrating technology and nature into their vision of green design, EDI promotes education for sustainability, highlighting design projects along the West Coast that practice these principles. Their website has a list of institutions in the US that offer workshops and classes in ecologically friendly design and construction.