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 workshops 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 workshops 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 workshops
that will explore graphic design, papermaking, printmaking, jewelry and enameling,
fashion design or photography.
Applications open in mid-January — spots are limited. Apply early to secure your spot
in this exciting summer opportunity!
Eligibility
Rising high school sophomores, juniors, seniors and 2025 high school graduates are eligible to apply.
2025 Program
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. for lunch, to continue to work
on their art and design projects, or to explore campus. We will have some scheduled
optional activities including tours of the CVAD facilities, 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 Summer 2025 Precollegiate Workshops
Discover the Art of Creativity and Design in These Exciting Workshops!
Immerse yourself in hands-on workshops 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!
Printmaking in Public Spaces
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 artists like Swoon and
Kill Joy, craft intricate drypoint broadsides, and design vibrant risograph zines.
Turn your artistic ideas into projects that make an impact in the public sphere! Limit:
18 students.
Collagraph Couture
Studio Art: Printmaking + Wearable Art — Unleash your inner surface 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. Limit: 18 students.
From Pulp to Press to Paper
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! Limit: 18 students.
In the Mouth of the Dragon: The Art of Enameling and Jewelry
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. Limit: 12 students.
Designing Your Own Monogram: Your Initial Introduction to Type
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. Limit: 18 students.
Design Your Dream Gig Poster
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. Limit: 18 students.
Upcycling Garments: Sustainable Fashion Design
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.
Limit: 18 students.
Pinhole Cameras and Cyanotype Printing
Studio Art: Photography — Step back in time with this fascinating photography class! Build your own pinhole
camera, create photo negatives, and use the cyanotype printing process to turn them
into stunning blue-toned prints. Perfect for anyone who loves experimenting with alternative
photography. 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
- Jimmy Johns
- Crooked Crust
- Brooklyn Dawgs
- D. P. Dough
- Chipotle
- Slap Burger Bar
- Oriental Garden
- Layne’s Chicken Fingers
On the UNT Campus
- Einsteins Bagels (in the Art Building)
- Chick-fil-a
- Burger King
- Krispy Krunchy Chicken
- Campus Chat Courtyard
Tuition: $200 per Workshop
Due to the underwriting of a generous donor, workshops are offered to all students
at a deeply discounted rate of $200 per workshop.
Payment Options
Online payment options coming soon.
Deadline to Apply
May 2 for Session 1; May 9 for Session 2.
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.
Application Form
Coming soon.