Dear 9th Grade Summer Visual Arts Students and Families,

Welcome to the Governor’s School’s Visual Arts summer program! We are thrilled to have you join us for this exciting opportunity to explore your creativity, develop your artistic skills, and connect with fellow students who share your passion for the arts. Our program is designed to be both engaging and inspiring, providing you with a supportive environment to grow as an artist and push your creative boundaries.

Throughout the program, you will experience full and active days, working closely with experienced instructors across a variety of visual arts disciplines. This year, all students will take studio classes in ceramics, drawing, photography, and sculpture, each lasting about 1.5 hours with breaks or meals in between. In addition to these core classes, you’ll have a shorter daily course focused on compositional principles and discussing art. Across all your classes, you’ll experiment with different techniques, explore various artistic mediums, and learn about influential artists—all while honing your own unique artistic voice.

Our program fosters a culture of respect, hard work, creativity, and connection. Since students come from all over South Carolina, we ask that everyone embrace and celebrate the diversity of perspectives and backgrounds in the classroom. This is an art-intensive program, and we expect students to be dedicated and engaged in their projects. You will be working with professional artists in real art school studios—so be prepared to work hard and challenge yourself. Creativity thrives on perseverance, and growth comes from embracing feedback, revising your work, and trying again. We encourage you to connect not only with your peers but also with the creative process itself—after all, that’s why we’re here!

You do not need to bring any art supplies or tools—we have everything you’ll need. However, please bring clothes that can get messy and wear closed-toed shoes (sandals or Crocs are not permitted in the studios).

Beyond your time in the studio, you’ll have opportunities to engage with the broader school community during evening activities. If you’d like, feel free to bring different clothes for these events, which may include on-campus activities or trips with the residential life team.

By the end of the program, we hope you’ll leave not only with stronger artistic skills but also with a deeper appreciation for the power of art to inspire, communicate, and transform. We can’t wait to welcome you this summer for an incredible week of creativity and connection!

Sincerely,

Zachariah Inks

Visual Arts Summer Program Chair