Program Description

Idyllwild Arts Summer Program

Summer Arts Program
Idyllwild, California


		Program Description Program Overview Visit Web Site Get Free Info See Photos

For More Information, Contact
Idyllwild Arts Summer Program
P.O. Box 38
Idyllwild, California 92549
951-659-2171 Ext. 2365
Fax: 951-659-4552
http://www.idyllwildarts.org
E-mail: summer@idyllwildarts.org

Type of Program: Summer arts program
Participants: Coeducational, ages 5–adult
Enrollment: 1,850
Program Dates: July 4–August 23, 2009
Head of Program: Steven Fraider, Director

Location

Nestled at the mile-high level in the San Jacinto Mountains of southern California, the 205-acre Idyllwild Arts campus is located in one of the most spectacular natural settings in the western U.S. This tranquil site is far removed from urban distractions and offers students a unique learning environment. The campus is surrounded by 20,000 acres of protected woodland, making it a gateway for wilderness activities. Idyllwild is approximately 110 miles southeast of Los Angeles and northeast of San Diego. The village of Idyllwild supports a year-round population of approximately 2,500 in addition to many weekend and holiday visitors. The towns nearest to Idyllwild are Palm Springs, Hemet, and Banning.

Background and Philosophy

The Idyllwild Arts Foundation was incorporated in 1946 “for the purpose of promoting and advancing artistic and cultural development in Southern California and primarily for the advancement of instruction in music and the arts.” Founder Dr. Max Krone, then Dean of the Institute of the Arts at the University of Southern California, and his wife, Beatrice, envisioned a beautiful and harmonious atmosphere that would provide opportunities for a wide variety of artistic experiences to students of all ages and levels of ability. In 1950, the first students enrolled in the Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts (ISOMATA) Summer Program. Today, the mission of the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program—the name was updated by the Board of Trustees in 1995—is to provide for students of all ages and abilities the opportunity to benefit from arts instruction of the highest caliber.
Students enrolled in the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program receive intensive, hands-on arts experience in a competition-free environment that emphasizes individual growth. Students enroll in one course per session that becomes the primary focus of their participation in the Summer Program. Students are expected to attend every class meeting or rehearsal. If a student is unable or unwilling to participate fully in the program, he or she may be asked to leave the program. Students should be prepared to work hard and learn a great deal. Although many optional recreational activities are scheduled, the requirements of a student’s chosen course, whether a rehearsal, class, or lecture, always take first priority. If a student feels the need for additional help or instruction, he or she can feel comfortable about asking an instructor for more time and attention.

Program Offerings

The Summer Program consists of courses in creative writing, dance, film/video, music, theater, and visual arts. Specific course offerings are organized into art centers according to age. Courses are available to both boarding and day students.
Children’s Center (ages 5–12): The minimum boarding age is 9. Courses include Multi-Arts, a one-week day program for students ages 5–8. For students ages 9–12, there are one- and two-week programs in dance, music (piano), theater, visual arts, and creative writing. Professional artist-educators use age-appropriate materials and methods to convey the excitement and discipline necessary for accomplishment in the arts. Small classes and a low student-teacher ratio, approximately 9:1, ensure that students receive a great deal of individual attention and support. An important goal of the Children’s Center is for students to gain an enthusiasm and excitement for the arts and a basic foundation of technical knowledge.
Junior Artist’s Center (ages 11–13): Workshops include one- and two-week offerings in theater, visual arts, and creative writing. In addition, students in this age range may participate in selected Youth Arts Center music and dance courses based on experience and ability.
Youth Arts Center (ages 13–18): Courses are two weeks in length, with the exception of the Summer Theatre Festival, which is offered in two 3-week sessions. The Youth Arts Center comprises the largest segment of the Summer Program, with seventy-three weeks of course offerings in all of the visual and performing arts. Courses include art exploration, two bands, ceramics, chamber music, choir, computer animation, dance, fiction writing, filmmaking, harp, jazz, jewelry making, musical theater, two orchestras, painting and drawing, photography, piano, poetry, screenwriting, and theater.
Family Week: A one-week session is offered. Families live together and have the opportunity to explore the visual and performing arts in a relaxed setting. Adults and children choose from a variety of arts and outdoor activities. Evening events are for the whole family.

Enrollment

The Idyllwild Arts Summer Program enrolls approximately 1,800 students per summer, consisting of 350 children, 900 teenagers, 450 adult and college students, and 100 family campers. About 75 percent of students are from California, with the remaining 25 percent from the rest of the U.S. and abroad. Approximately 60 percent of summer students are women.

Daily Schedule

In general, Youth and Junior Artist students can expect to be involved in course-related activities a minimum of 6 hours per day, six days per week. Individual course schedules vary according to the needs and requirements of each discipline. Instruction begins at 9 a.m. and may continue into the evening in some programs. Children’s Center courses meet Monday through Saturday, with recreational activities for boarding students on Sundays.
Fostering respect for individuals, for the arts, and for education are the foundations upon which expectations of student behavior are based. A few policies pertaining to safe and cooperative communal living and adherence to state and federal laws, including student use of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol, along with vandalism, violence, and leaving the campus without permission, are enforced rigorously.

Extra Opportunities and Activities

A variety of evening and weekend activities, including dances, game nights, art playgrounds, pool parties, talent shows, and field games, are organized by the counseling staff and offered to students. In the Children’s Center, all boarding students participate in an extensive program of recreational activities offered each evening from 7 to 9 p.m. On weekends, longer and more extensive activities, including art projects, informal drama productions, and field games, are scheduled.

Facilities

The Idyllwild Arts campus has more than 100 buildings, including an air-conditioned concert hall, a modern library, an exhibition center, a sound stage, two recital halls, three outdoor theaters, numerous art studios, classrooms and practice rooms, an air-conditioned dining hall, a health center, a swimming pool, residence halls for faculty members and adult students, three large college-style dormitories for Youth students, and four small dormitories for Children’s Center and Junior Artist students. Students are housed with 3 or 4 roommates per room. Each room has a private bathroom with a shower.

Staff

Faculty members are dedicated artist-teachers who look forward to the challenge of working with a diverse student body. The Summer Program provides students with the opportunity to work directly with professional artists, dancers, directors, musicians, and writers who are committed to the process of arts education and to their own arts discipline. Approximately 275 faculty members participate in the Summer Program. The summer staff of 55 consists of deans, counselors, teaching assistants, lifeguards, and nurses. Students are supervised in the dormitories by resident counselors. Most counselors are college students or recent graduates with a major or strong interest in the arts. Counselor applicants are rigorously screened and interviewed.

Medical Care

Health services are administered by 3 resident nurses. There is a medical clinic in the village of Idyllwild that treats students who require the services of a physician. Idyllwild also has a pharmacy and fire department paramedics. The nearest hospital is located in Hemet, approximately 25 miles from the campus.

Costs

Fees vary by art center and by course. In 2008, the cost of a two-week Youth, Junior Artist, or Children’s Center program, including tuition, meals, housing, application fee, and lab fee, ranges from $2250 to $2450, depending on the course. The all-inclusive cost of a one-week Family Camp program ranges from $1725 for 2 people to $3650 for a group of 6. An initial deposit of $250 is required with all applications. All fees are payable in full thirty days before a program begins. Students who pay in full by March 15 receive a 10 percent discount. It is recommended that boarding students keep $25 per week in the student bank to pay for snacks, art supplies, and postcards.

Financial Aid

A significant part of the school’s mission is to provide financial aid where needed for talented young artists from diverse backgrounds. In 2007, nearly 500 students received financial aid totaling more than $500,000. All financial aid is in the form of scholarships. Scholarships are awarded based on the financial need of the student, the talent of the student in a specific discipline, and the enrollment needs of the school.

Transportation

Idyllwild is approximately 2½ hours by car from Los Angeles or San Diego. Students flying to southern California should arrange a flight to the Ontario International Airport, 75 miles from Idyllwild, or the Palm Springs Airport, 60 miles from the campus. The school offers van pick-up service to and from either airport for a fee of $100 each way. There is no public transportation to Idyllwild.

Application Timetable

Enrollment begins February 1. Inquiries are welcome anytime. Families interested in touring the campus may do so by contacting the school. Most courses maintain open enrollment. Visual arts classes are small, so early enrollment is encouraged.