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Center for Art, Design, and Community Engagement K-12

Children stand in front of artwork they created.

The mission of Pratt’s Center for Art, Design, and Community Engagement K-12 is to increase access to instruction in art and design for children by leveraging the resources and expertise of the Institute to support school-age children, city-wide public schools, and youth-serving organizations.

Taught by our expert faculty and students our on-campus and in-school programs develop children and young peoples’ knowledge in the creative disciplines (art, design, architecture, and related fields) through hands-on studio-based learning. Our programs are carefully designed and structured to support creativity and innovation, and problem-solving and collaboration.

All programs offer undergraduate and graduate students studying art, design, architecture, and related fields opportunities in community-based education in their major while simultaneously bringing art and design classes to the K-12 community.

Our On-Campus Programs

Saturday Art School

Since 1897, Saturday Art School has offered a broad range of classes for children and teens. Students are encour­aged to explore a variety of media, techniques, and approaches. [ages 6-18]

Design Initiative For Community Empowerment (DICE)

An after-school program that introduces students to the challenges of creative thinking and problem-solving Design Initiative for Community Empowerment (DICE) offers studio classes in which students explore design disciplines such as fashion design, construction management, and architecture and urban design. [grades 9-12]

Pratt Young Scholars

Pratt Young Scholars is a need-based, three-year scholarship program that provides art and design instruction and college preparation for motivated high school students. [grades 10-12]

Summer Scholars

Summer Scholars is a two-week summer intensive program of studio classes and college preparatory classes for high school students, and high school application portfolio preparation classes for middle schoolers entering 7th or 8th grade. Classes take place online in July. [grades 7-12] 


Pratt’s K–12 programs are generously supported by the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Con Edison, The Decorators Club, Walter K. Hoerning Endowment Fund, National Endowment for the Arts, New York City Council, New York State Council on the Arts, The Hearst Foundations, The Selz Foundation, Sara Little Turnbull Foundation, The Edward and Sally Van Lier Fund of the New York Community Trust, The Irma Holland Wolstein Endowed Scholarship Fund, individual donors, and Pratt Institute.

National Endowment for the Arts Logo
Logo for the NYC Council on the Arts
Saturday Art School Student - Age 13
Saturday Art School Student – Age 13
Saturday Art School Student - Age 15
Saturday Art School Student – Age 15
Saturday Art School Student - Age 8
Saturday Art School Student – Age 8