Frequently Asked Questions
The New York State Summer School of the Arts (NYSSSA) is dedicated to fostering artistic excellence, cultural diversity, and academic growth through immersive, high-quality arts education. Our mission is to provide young artists from diverse backgrounds across New York State with equitable access to world-class training and mentorship in visual arts, media arts, and theatre. We strive to nurture talent, promote lifelong learning, and advance equity in education, ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed and thrive.
Our office offers both the NYSSSA In-Residency program as well as the Empire State Arts Scholarship program, serving a multitude of New York State students with the opportunity to pursue an arts education.
Have a question that isn’t answered here or on the program pages? Email us directly at nysssa@nysed.gov and we will respond within one week of receiving your email.
Summer Arts In-Residence Program FAQ
Summer In-Residence Programs FAQ
What are the dates of the summer program?
Information for the 2026 summer will be available soon.
Arts Scholarship FAQ
The intent of the scholarship program is to fill any remaining funding gaps after receiving tuition aid from the program itself. Individual grants will be issued as a percentage of the remaining tuition balance and will be dependent on family income level and financial need. Financial need is assessed using your current NYS Tax Return. If more applications are received than available funding, scholarships will be awarded based on the most financial need.
Arts programs can specialize in music, theatre, dance, creative writing, ballet, fine arts, design, and more. The selected arts program must be New York State-based.
What are the program requirements to receive a scholarship?
Students must be a New York State resident, in grades 5-12, and be attending a arts-oriented program in New York State. General after school and summer camp programs do not qualify, even if there is a day of arts education. The program must be primarily arts focused in its programming.
How much aid can I get to attend an outside program?
Scholarships are meant to fill any gaps in existing tuition aid granted to attend an arts program in New York State. Applicants may receive anywhere from 10-90% of the remaining balance.
Is there a maximum amount of scholarship I will get?
Each student may receive a maximum of $10,000 in scholarships for the year. Annual limit resets in September at the beginning of the school year.
Can I receive both a scholarship during the school year and the summer?
Yes, you may receive multiple scholarships (one per review period), as long the total of the scholarships does not exceed the maximum per year.
How are scholarship program applications evaluated?
To apply for tuition aid, you will be sent a financial disclosure form to return to the office. Additionally, you will need to submit your family's 2024 New York State Income Tax Forms and proof of applying to/being accepted into the respective summer arts program for which you require a scholarship to attend.
After reviewing family finances and confirming application status and cost with the outside program, scholarships are awarded.
Scholarships are awarded on a sliding scale and will cover anywhere from 10-90% of the program cost.
Are private lessons eligible?
Private lesson applications will be reviewed on an individual basis. Additional documents may be required.
Is there a maximum household income to qualify for a scholarship?
Household income must be under $91,000/year Adjusted Gross Income to qualify for a scholarship.
What if I have extenuating financial circumstances?
If you have extenuating financial circumstances such as sudden unemployment, larger household/dependent size, or any other special circumstances, we are happy to evaluate on a case-by-case basis. Additional documents may be required.
Do you offer merit-based scholarships?
No, we do not offer merit-based scholarships.
How are scholarship funds disbursed?
Scholarship funds are disbursed directly to the program once all paperwork has been processed. It is our hope that programs do not require families to submit payment up front to their program of choice. Our office is in touch with individual program staff and we hope that the programs will wait for scholarship funds to be paid out by New York State. However, individual program policies are not in our control.
Can I get a scholarship to more than one program?
Students will only receive tuition assistance to attend a single program in New York State per school semester/summer semester. If a student applies to multiple programs, we will evaluate those applications separately, however, the student must make a choice of which one they will be attending prior to funds being disbursed.
