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APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN!
Thank you for your interest in the Midwest Artist Academy—a transformative, precollege experience for young artists coming July 13-20, 2025.
This academy is open to students ages 14-18 at the time of the event. Please see below for information on application Info, tuition & fees, criteria for acceptance, scholarships & financial need, and our nondiscrimination policy. Applications are now open.
Application Info
Want to learn more about the application process? Check out this quick video featuring theatre instructor Arthur Grothe! Or scroll down for more!
Please note that the application asks for general information (name, contact information, email, phone, mailing address), lodging preference, educational information, course selection, a short answer question, and a creative sample. The details for the short answer question and creative sample can be found below. We strongly recommend applicants prepare these portions prior to completing the application as our application does not allow you to save your progress as you go.
Step 1: Short Answer Question:
In 500 words or fewer, please explain what is important for us to know about your passion for the arts. You might describe your passion for your art form, your creative development, and/or how you have collaborated with others to grow as an artist. If you like, CLICK HERE for a GoogleDoc which you can make a copy of to begin drafting your response.
Step 2: Creative Sample Guidelines:
Please submit your creative sample by following the guidelines for the course you are applying for. (Please note that a valid URL must include "http://www." followed by the remaining web address. For GoogleDocs (preferred for creative writing and visual art) please be sure to give proper viewing permissions to anyone with the link. For YouTube links (preferred for music, dance, theatre), please be sure your clip is uploaded as "Public" or "Unlisted" to ensure viewing.
Creative Writing: 10 or fewer pages of original, creative work, which may include poems or prose or a combination of both (GoogleDoc link preferred, please be sure to give viewing permissions to anyone with the link; Word document or .pdf acceptable.)
Music: Recorded submission should be comprised of no more than four minutes demonstrating your musical abilities. Ability to read music score is required. Prior composition experience is preferred but not necessary. You may perform an original composition or a published piece from the existing repertoire. (YouTube link preferred; please be sure to upload your video as "Unlisted" or "Public" to ensure viewing.)
Dance: Five minutes or fewer demonstrating your dancing abilities. Please record a dance specifically for MAA—no recital footage with arrows, etc. This recording can be indoors, outdoors, or whatever is best for you. (YouTube link preferred; please be sure to upload your video as "Unlisted" or "Public" to ensure viewing.)
Theatre: Five minutes or fewer demonstrating your acting abilities. Submissions may include monologues, scenes, or original work. Students should submit at least two contrasting pieces with a combined time of under five minutes. (YouTube link preferred; please be sure to upload your video as "Unlisted" or "Public" to ensure viewing.)
Visual Arts: Share 3-4 images of your artwork. Additionally, in 500 words or fewer, explain how you created each piece or describe the meaning you would like others to experience. (GoogleDoc link preferred; please be sure to give viewing permissions to anyone with the link; Word document or .pdf acceptable.)
Finally, the application asks you to note a potential roommate preference, and confirm your acknowledgement of photo usage and your commitment to the Academy Pledge.
Those applying for a scholarship for financial need will also be asked to complete the following: In 500 words or fewer, please explain how receiving a scholarship would help you on your journey as an artist. You may choose to explain your financial situation or you may focus on what impact you believe the Midwest Artist Academy would have on your future.
Got it? Then apply today! And if you’re interested in two different disciplines, simply apply twice to be considered for both!
Step 3: Recommendation Form (scholarship only)
In order to be considered for a scholarship, we ask that you please reach out to a teacher or mentor to complete a brief recommendation form, which should take no longer than five minutes. We will accept this form until February 1 to provide teachers and mentors additional time.
Please forward the following link to your recommender and ask them to confirm with you when it is complete: https://forms.gle/B8kat8W89DbTJK2d7
Tuition & Fees (Before February 1)
Cost: $680.00 ($340.00 w/scholarship)
This all-inclusive fee covers seven nights of dual lodging on the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus, meals, extracurricular activities, art supplies, coursework, and instruction with our talented faculty. Please consider bringing additional spending money for souvenirs, snacks, and other minor expenses.
Want the privacy of a single room? We can accommodate that! Cost: $740.00 ($370.00 w/scholarship)
Want to be a commuter and don’t need the room? We can accommodate that, too . Cost: $580 ($290.00 w/scholarship).
Please note that following February 1, 2025, prices will rise to $700.00 ($340.00 w/scholarship) for residential participants and $600.00 ($300.00 w/ scholarship) for commuters.
Payment is due following acceptance.
Criteria for Acceptance
The MAA recognizes the courage it takes for young artists to share their work. We further recognize the imperfect science of making judgments on one’s art, particularly given that our aesthetic preferences are unique to us all. To ensure an equitable process, each application will be thoroughly reviewed by one to two reviewers with expertise and/or interest in the genre to which the participant is applying. Reviewers are instructed to take a holistic and inclusive approach as they make their determinations. While the “Work Samples of Personal Art” submission will be vital to ensuring the applicant's competency within the genre, of equal importance is the applicant’s “Artist Statement,” which should reflect the young artist’s passion, promise, and commitment to collaboration and creating an inclusive environment for all. Finally, a recommendation from a teacher or mentor of your choice will also factor into the criteria for acceptance. See below for our rubric.
Please read on for more information on Scholarships & Financial Need!
Scholarships & Financial Need
The Midwest Artist Academy strives to provide opportunities for all eligible applicants. We recognize, too, the financial barrier involved in programs such as this. If you would like to be considered for a partial scholarship (total cost: 340.00 rather than the full price of 680.00)--and have a financial need--please complete a single short answer question in the application. We are grateful for the chance to accommodate as many students as we can. Scholarship priority will be given to those who indicate a financial need and whose short answer response most fully and meaningfully explores the question in the application.
Nondiscrimination Policy
The Midwest Artist Academy admits qualified students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, gender identity or expression, religion, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other status protected by applicable law, and extends to them all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The Midwest Artist Arts Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, gender identity or expression, religion, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other status protected by applicable law, in the administration of its educational, admission, financial aid, artistic, and other school-administered programs.