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

Creative U Session Descriptions

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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!

June 9–13 Sessions

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. Visit the Denton Eateries web page for options.

Denton EatERIES

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 using the Creative U Registration Form available below. 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.

CREATIVE U 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.

After filling out your Registration Form, payments by check should be made out to the University of North Texas and mailed to the following address.

Please enter "Creative U" on your check's memo line.

UNT Onstead Institute

Attn: Kim Willis
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.

Top