University of North Texas 
Creative U: The Premier Precollegiate Art and Design Experience in North Texas
High school students, get a head start on your creative future!
High school students are invited to apply to Creative U for this summer’s precollegiate sessions at the top-ranked College of Visual Arts and Design at the University of North Texas. Located in Denton, Texas, at the northern edge of the Dallas-Fort Worth region, CVAD is a nationally ranked college for aspiring artists and designers.
Creative U offers participants the opportunity to experience college-level sessions in art and design taught by the same faculty and instructors who teach college courses within CVAD’s 238,000-square-foot building boasting an array of cutting-edge resources and equipment. Previous artmaking experience is not required; students of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend. Come get a glimpse of college life and discover your potential in art and design!
This non-residential program invites rising sophomores, juniors, seniors and 2025
high school graduates to engage in creative artmaking and user-focused design practices.
Students will participate in activities designed by CVAD faculty that foster visual
problem-solving, critical thinking, and skills-based making. Choose from sessions
that will explore graphic design, papermaking, printmaking, jewelry making and enameling,
fashion design or photography.
Eligibility
Rising high school sophomores, juniors, seniors and 2025 high school graduates are eligible to apply.
2025 Program Information
Each weekly experience offers a menu of two morning sessions and two afternoon sessions
from which participants can select the creative experiences that most interest them.
Students will be able to choose a single session across the two weeks, only Summer
Experience Week 1, or Summer Experience Week 2, or both Summer Experiences.
June 2–6: Summer Experience Week 1
Morning Sessions, 9–11:30 a.m.
- Designing Your Own Monogram: An Initial Introduction to Type (15 seats available)
- From Pulp to Press to Paper (15 seats available)
Afternoon Sessions, 1–3:30 p.m.
- Printmaking in Public Spaces (15 seats available)
- Collagraph Couture (15 seats available)
June 9–13: Summer Experience Week 2
Morning Sessions, 9–11:30 a.m.
- Design Your Dream Gig Poster (18 seats available)
- In the Mouth of the Dragon: The Art of Enameling and Jewelry (12 seats available)
Participants will be free between 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. to have lunch, work on their art
and design projects, or explore campus. We will have some scheduled optional activities
including tours of the Art Building, the UNT campus, the UNT Libraries Rare Book Room,
as well as opportunities to meet with the CVAD College Recruiter.
Afternoon Sessions, 1–3:30 p.m.
- Upcycling Your First Garment with Design Process (15 seats available)
- Pinhole Cameras and Cyanotype Printing (15 seats available)
Creative U Session Descriptions
Discover the Art of Creativity and Design in these Exciting Sessions!
Immerse yourself in hands-on sessions that bring art, design, and sustainability to life! From creating stunning murals and wearable prints to upcycling old garments into trendy fashion items, these courses are perfect for anyone who loves to express their creativity. Whether you're into crafting unique jewelry, designing gig posters, exploring alternative photography techniques, or making handmade paper from recycled materials, there's something for everyone. Learn skills like printmaking, typography, and enameling while exploring your personal style and leaving your artistic mark on the world. Join us and turn your creative ideas into reality!
June 2–6 Sessions
Designing Your Own Monogram: Your Initial Introduction to Type
June 2–6, 9–11:30 a.m.
Graphic Design — Express yourself with this fun typography class! Create your own personalized monogram
while learning the basics of typography and lettering. Combine letters in unique and
creative ways to design a symbol that represents you.
From Pulp to Press to Paper
June 2–6, 9–11:30 a.m.
Art + Sustainability — Get your hands dirty (in the best way!) as you turn old newspapers and plants into
gorgeous handmade paper. This eco-friendly class will teach you how to honor nature
while crafting one-of-a-kind sheets of paper. Perfect for anyone who loves sustainability
and hands-on creativity!
Printmaking in Public Spaces
June 2–6, 9–11:30 a.m.
Studio Art: Printmaking — Dive into the exciting world of public art through printmaking! In this course,
you'll create stunning linocuts for murals inspired by bold contemporary artists like Swoon and Kill Joy, and craft intricate drypoint broadsides. Turn your artistic ideas into projects
that make an impact in the public sphere!
Collagraph Couture
June 2–6, 1–3:30 p.m.
Fashion Design — Unleash your inner fashion designer by blending printmaking with wearable art! Learn
how to make one-of-a-kind movement-ready pieces using the unique collagraph technique.
From designing to printing, you'll create wearable works of art that combine history,
creativity, and style.
June 9–13 Sessions
Design Your Dream Gig Poster
June 9–13, 9–11:30 a.m.
Graphic Design — Calling all music fans! Design a custom promotional poster for your favorite band
or musician. Learn the fundamentals of graphic design, image-making, and typography
while creating a poster that's as bold and unique as your music taste.
In the Mouth of the Dragon: The Art of Enameling
June 9–13, 9–11:30 p.m.
Metalsmithing & Jewelry — Add a pop of color to your life with this jewelry-making adventure! Discover the
ancient art of enameling as you fuse vibrant glass onto copper to create beautiful,
wearable pieces. Learn basic metalsmithing, pattern stenciling, and drawing techniques
to make your jewelry truly stand out.
Upcycling Garments: Sustainable Fashion Design
June 9–13, 9–11:30 a.m.
Fashion Design + Sustainability — Turn old clothes into something fresh and fabulous! Explore fashion design through
fun hands-on activities like mood boarding, sketching, and upcycling. Transform an
old shirt into a stylish new bag, skirt, or top while embracing creativity and sustainability. NOTE: Students are asked to bring one old denim item and one old T-shirt from their wardrobe.
Limit: 18 students.
Magic of Alternative Photography: The Cyanotype Process
June 9–13, 1–3:30 p.m.
Studio Art: Photography — Discover one of the oldest and coolest ways to make images! In this workshop,
you’ll learn how to create photograms inspired by Man Ray, design giant tapestry murals,
and finally make your own cyanotype prints using a digital negative process. Get ready
to explore your creativity and bring your ideas to life in a fun, hands-on environment!
Limit: 18 students.
Non-Residential Summer Experience
As the CVAD Precollegiate Summer Experience does not provide on-campus residential
options, we invite those from out of the area to spend a week in the vibrant arts
city of Denton — Discover Denton! Here is a list of possible hotels.
- Hilton Garden Inn Denton
- Courtyard by Marriott Denton
- Best Western Plus Denton Inn & Suites
- La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Denton
- Hampton Inn & Suites Denton
- Comfort Suites Denton
- Days Inn by Wyndham Denton
- Super 8 by Wyndham Denton
- Motel 6 Denton
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Denton
Lunch Possibilities
Lunch is not included in the session fees, but CVAD has many options on campus and
within a five-minute walking distance of the Art Building.
Five-minute walk
In the University Union
- Chick-fil-a
- Burger King
- Krispy Krunchy Chicken
- Campus Chat Courtyard
Tuition, Registration, Payment Options
Tuition: $200 per Session
Due to underwriting from a generous corporate donor, the 2025 sessions are offered
to all students at a deeply discounted rate of $200 per session, instead of their actual cost of $450 per session.
Registration
Please register online - form coming soon. Should you have questions, please email CreativeU@unt.edu or call 940-565-4606.
Tuition Payment Options
By Check or Credit Card.
Option 1: Pay in full.
Pay in full upon registration with a check or credit card. Instructions are in the
Registration Form.
Option 2: Split-Payment Option
Split-Payment by Check
- Pay 50% of the tuition by check immediately upon registration to hold your place in your selected sessions.
- Pay the remaining 50% of the tuition by mailing your check to arrive no later than April 2, 2025.
Please enter "Creative U" on your check's memo line.
UNT Onstead Institute
Attn: Kim Willis
1155 Union Circle #305100
Denton, TX 76203-5017
1155 Union Circle #305100
Denton, TX 76203-5017
Split-Payment by Credit Card
- Pay 50% of the tuition by credit card immediately upon registration to hold your place in your selected sessions.
- Pay the remaining 50% of the tuition by credit card using the Registration Form to arrive no later than April 2, 2025.
Refunds, Cancellations
- Cancellations received by April 18, 2025, will receive a 100% refund, less a $50 deposit processing fee.
- Cancellations received between April 19 and May 16, 2025, will receive a 50% refund, less a $50 deposit processing fee.
- No refunds on or after May 17, 2025.
- Questions? Contact CreativeU@unt.edu or call 940-565-4606.