Explore
Signature Programs

Arts

In today’s fast-paced world, nurturing and providing space for creativity and imagination is more important than ever. Athenian's Art Program provides an avenue for all students to engage in artistic pursuits. Teachers aim to instill confidence in their student's abilities, and provide an outlet for exploration and expression. Artistic risk-taking is encouraged, and our teachers are equipped to support the growth of new and experienced artists, helping students develop their own unique voice.



Art in the Upper School

The arts are part of every student’s experience at Athenian. In the Upper School, students are required to take two years of art, including one yearlong UC-approved art course. Whether one chooses to explore the language of sound, movement, or shape and form, you will graduate Athenian with a foundation in creative-thinking, experimentation, and critique–skills that will serve you throughout your life whether or not you pursue art in college and beyond.

We offer an array of visual and performing arts classes (see sample course catalog for the full list of recent offerings). A few highlights include: band, choir, dance, drama, film, digital art, painting, and photography. Students will be introduced to all that a medium has to offer in the introductory class before moving on to in-depth personal work in the advanced courses.

Art in the Middle School

Like in the Upper School, art is part of every student’s experience. Rather than focusing on a specific form of art, our Middle School program focuses on exploring a variety of mediums, often connecting specific projects to the curriculum in social studies, science, and English. In addition to visual arts, our Middle School program includes band and chorus, as well as a variety of elective art offerings that vary from year-to-year.

All sixth graders take visual art and a music course, while seventh and eighth graders choose between music and visual arts. Theatrical performances are often integrated into English at each grade level and sometimes take place during Middle School Focus Days. The arts are a vital part of the Middle School experience.

  • Arnav G. ‘20

    Photography has helped me shape who I am and how I perceive the world. Working with my teachers has allowed me to constantly try to view the world from multiple perspectives and have a deeper understanding of the world around me.

  • Harry Q. '22

    I came to Athenian without knowing anything about dance or theater. However, after I "spontaneously" joined these classes they became some of my favorite times in a day. Dancing helped me understand movement and gesture, while working with classmates in the theater to produce something great has been one of the most unforgettable experiences I had at Athenian.

  • Izzy M. '19

    I came to Athenian’s art program with hundreds of ideas ranging all mediums of visual art, but with very little technical knowledge, or access to diverse supplies. Athenian’s art instructors provided me with extraordinary support and guidance in all of my projects, and I was able to learn a large variety in mediums, including glass carving, soldering, and printmaking. At Athenian, I began to develop an understanding of what makes compelling art, and because my teachers trusted me, I learned to trust my intuition and curiosity.

  • Matthew Y. '20

    The filmmaking program has allowed me to further explore my interest in filmmaking. I have not only learned the importance of camera angles, storytelling, and filming equipment, he also the importance of communication, vision, and perseverance. The skills that I have acquired from filmmaking also seeped into other aspects of my life. For example, I have become a better storyteller and it has helped me to entertain my friends. I am able to turn a dull moment in my life into something magical and entertaining that I can share with my friends.

  • Rosalie K. '19

    Last year, when I first started singing for the advanced ensemble, it was a jazz combo, and I became fascinated with the beauty and complexity of the genre and with the influence it has had on our society and on all modern music.
©2019 The Athenian School. All Rights Reserved.