Creating Pathways to the Arts with Prep for Prep/Sotheby’s Art Academy

“I came here to learn something new, to explore a new medium and explore different facets of the art world. I thought being an artist was the only way I could connect with art but now because of the program I have many more options.” - High School Participant 

Now in its fifth year, the Prep for Prep/Sotheby’s Art Academy combines the academic rigor of Prep’s programs with art creation and career exploration in the visual arts. Over four weeks,9th- and 10th-grade students delved into art creation covering watercolors, sculptures, and photojournalism, learned about art curation, critique, and funding from practitioners in the field, and considered the accessibility of private art galleries and public museums. One of the most engaging components of the virtual course this year was a debate on the significance of monuments and the role of youth activism in the arts. Weaving together art history with politics and current events, students examined a series of high profile removals of Confederate statues and presented cases for and against the hypothetical removal of a New York City monument. Exposure to arts and art careers helped broaden our students’ understanding of the fields. One participant commented, “I looked at my environment in a new way when I went out after class. I noticed different architecture and stopped to take photos of what I considered public art.”

This summer, Prep also introduced elements of branding, business, and entrepreneurship to the arts program. Turner Duckworth, a brand identity and packaging design agency, led a series of workshops on logos and naming, visual identity systems, and pitching brands. The workshops were a tremendous help for the art students’ capstone presentations, where they astounded the audience with their creatively curated art museums. Students took on the roles of the museum director, curator, and more. Students shared their visions for museums that will house unique and classic collections of film, artwork themed around the Seven Deadly Sins, and a dedicated space to explore conspiracy theories. Included among their plans were sketches of the museums’ buildings, admissions pricing models, and educational and community components. Parents, staff, and friends in the virtual audience enthusiastically applauded the students’ work, with Prep’s CEO Ruth Jurgensen commenting, “I’d love to visit any one of those museums!” 

This program was made possible by the dedication of our Art Academy instructors, Sinclair Spratley and Bill Appleton, and teaching assistant Genesis Azor (XXXIV). We are grateful for the time and expertise of our guest speakers who shared insights on different pathways to arts professions and led workshops for our students. 

Established in conjunction with the Prep in Arts alumni affinity group and underwritten by Sotheby’s, Prep’s Art Academy combines four weeks of art history, engagement with arts professionals, art creation, and career exploration. Its goal is to welcome students into art sectors that have historically lacked opportunities for people of color. For example, a 2019 study published in the Public Library of Science found that 85% of artists represented at major art museum collections in the U.S. are white; 87% are men. A 2015 Andrew Mellon Foundation study of curators, educators, conservators, and museum leadership revealed that only 4% of staff identify as African American, 6% as Asian, and 3% as Hispanic. Through Prep’s art academy, students explore different pathways to the arts and arts leadership roles. The knowledge and networks they develop throughout the program also help to create a foundation for future internships in the field.