Free Arts Programs for High School Students

Every program on this page costs $0 to attend — cost should never be the reason a strong student skips arts opportunities.

Many free programs are more selective than paid ones precisely because they are funded; treat their deadlines seriously.

205 verified programs match this page; 30 of the featured listings are completely free; 8 can be done online.

Featured programs

Browse 30+ curated programs for high school students:

• Young Playwrights Festival — Young Playwrights Inc.: Showcase your talent in this free playwriting competition for high schoolers (Grades 10-12). Develop creative skills, gain theater experience, and boo
• National High School Musical Theatre Awards (Jimmy Awards) — Broadway League: Compete in a prestigious national musical theatre competition in NYC! Showcase your talent, gain performance skills, and boost your college applicatio
• National Youth Orchestra of the USA (NYO-USA) — Carnegie Hall: Join a prestigious summer orchestra program for high school musicians in grades 10-12. Develop advanced music skills, perform at Carnegie Hall, and bo
• Davidson Fellows Scholarship - Music Category — Davidson Institute: Prestigious music scholarship recognizing high school students with exceptional compositions. Boost your college applications and showcase your creati
• National Student Poets Program — Institute of Museum and Library Services: Prestigious poetry competition for 10th-11th graders. Become a literary ambassador, gain recognition, and build creative writing skills for college an
• Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference — Freedom Forum: Join a free, all-expense-paid journalism conference in Washington, DC, for high school juniors and seniors. Build hands-on skills and boost your colle
• Windsor Festival International String Competition — Windsor Festival: A biennial UK string competition and festival for outstanding young violinists, violists and cellists at a conservatoire level.
• Virginia Film Festival — Virginia Film Festival, University of Virginia: An annual Charlottesville film festival featuring screenings, panels, and a student film competition for emerging filmmakers.
• Carnegie Hall NYO Jazz — Carnegie Hall: Join a free, elite summer jazz program for high schoolers (grades 10-12). Perform in a premier big band, tour nationally, and boost college applicatio
• Let the Peoples Sing Choral Competition — European Broadcasting Union (EBU): An international choral competition organized by the EBU for amateur choirs, featuring youth and adult ensembles from around the world.
• St Albans International Organ Competition — St Albans International Organ Festival: A prestigious international organ performance competition for young organists, held biennially in St Albans, UK.
• Queen Elisabeth Music Competition — Queen Elisabeth Competition: One of the world’s leading classical music competitions for advanced young musicians and emerging professionals.
• National PTA Reflections Program National Award — National PTA: National arts recognition through PTA in visual arts, music, literature, photography, film, and dance.
• Primrose International Viola Competition — Colburn School & American Viola Society: A leading international viola solo competition for young professional and emerging violists, honoring William Primrose.
• Why Mom Deserves a Diamond Writing Contest — Why Mom Deserves a Diamond, Inc.: A national writing contest where students write a short essay honoring their mothers for a chance to win a garnet or amethyst gemstone.
• Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition — Royal Commonwealth Society: Global essay competition for youth; annual deadline.
• Scholastic Art & Writing Awards - Gold Medal Portfolio — Alliance for Young Artists & Writers: Highest honor in Scholastic Awards for exceptional art or writing portfolios. Past winners include Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath.
• NCTE Achievement Awards in Writing — National Council of Teachers of English: National writing competition for high school juniors and seniors to showcase creativity and earn recognition. Build skills for college applications an
• Lincoln Forum Scholarship Essay Contest — The Lincoln Forum: Essay contest on Abraham Lincoln and Civil War era. Cash prizes and attendance at annual symposium. Shows historical research and writing excellence.
• Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award — Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation: An Australian operatic singing competition for emerging classical vocalists, focused on bel canto repertoire and performance.
• Commonwealth Short Film Competition — The Royal Commonwealth Society: An international short film competition for young Commonwealth citizens to explore democracy and civic engagement through filmmaking.
• Polyphony Lit Magazine — Polyphony Lit: International literary magazine for high school students featuring fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction from emerging writers worldwide.
• Toru Takemitsu Composition Award — Tokyo Opera City Cultural Foundation: An international composition prize honoring Tōru Takemitsu, awarded annually to emerging contemporary music composers.
• Long-Thibaud-Crespin International Competition — Fondation Long-Thibaud: Prestigious Paris-based international competition for young pianists, violinists, and opera singers launched by Alfred Cortot in 1943.
• Movies Askew High School Film Contest — Portland Community Media (Open Signal): Movies Askew is a Portland-based short film contest for high school students to create and showcase original work on local cable and online.
• Thomas & Evon Cooper International Competition — Oberlin Conservatory of Music: An international concerto competition for outstanding young violinists and pianists, culminating in finals with The Cleveland Orchestra.
• The Animation Show Student Film Competition — The Animation Show: A curated program and competition showcasing short animated films by emerging and independent animators worldwide.
• Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions — Metropolitan Opera: Showcase your vocal talent in this prestigious opera competition for high schoolers (grades 10-12). Gain performance skills and boost your college app
• JCamp High School Journalism — Asian American Journalists Association: Transform your passion for writing into real-world journalism skills at this free summer program. Gain hands-on experience and boost your college appl
• Sydney Eisteddfod Music Competitions — Sydney Eisteddfod: Major Sydney performing arts competition offering music performance opportunities and prizes for school-age and adult participants.

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