As fall rolls around, many Atherton students find themselves applying to a myriad of different schools and scholarships. Academic opportunities are not the only options open to high schoolers, though. Since 1987, Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA) has allowed young Kentucky artists to immerse themselves within their respective artforms. The summer program consists of three weeks of intensive study under the guidance of professional artists and educators.
On October 24, 2024, applicant guides were released. Interested sophomores and juniors can begin the application process to attend GSA as a part of one of nine disciplines: Creative Writing, Dance, Design, Drama, Film + Photography, Instrumental Music, Musical Theatre, Visual Art, or Vocal Music. Those accepted will be invited to one of the two three week sessions hosted on campus at University of Kentucky in the summer of 2025.
One of the focuses of the program is to help students flourish within their disciplines, helping them make discoveries about themselves and their futures.
“It helped me realize that my Plan A could actually succeed, I could actually succeed in my artform,” Emmalynne Harrity, a junior at Atherton, said to explain how GSA benefitted her artistic growth. Harrity explained that the exposure to experienced faculty and college associates opened her eyes to the world of opportunities ahead of her as a film and photography student, “That helped me realize that I have a lot of options even just in Kentucky. You don’t really hear Kentucky as being an ‘art state’, but there are so many good colleges out there.”
Apart from the educational resources that GSA offers, the welcoming and passionate community it fosters makes the program like no other.
“I think the best part of the GSA experience was the fact that everybody wanted to be there and everyone loved art as much as I did. I made so many good friends there and it was cool to love your art as much as the other people there,” Harrity stated on the program as a whole.
With the support of her friends and faculty, Harrity felt empowered to create, despite the intensity of the program. Even though Harrity enjoyed her experience at GSA, she does offer words of warning regarding the workload, “they are long, long days.”
Attending a program such as GSA demands a lot of dedication. Those interested must prepare to dedicate themselves to their work.
“If you don’t love your artform, I wouldn’t say that GSA is the program for you, but also if you’re wanting to love your artform, then maybe it is,” said Harrity.
For those interested in applying, Harrity offers words of encouragement and advice: “The worst thing that happens is they say no, but you gain the experience of applying with your artform. That’s all art is, is applying and hoping you succeed.”
