Fine Art Painting
Spend the day with a painter in their studio and gallery. Watch the artist paint in front of you, learn how a single work can carry a message about the world, and pick up a brush yourself.
Creative Pathways Art & Design Program
Designed for international high school students, Creative Pathways is an experiential program for students who are thinking about a career in art and design.
Students spend a full day in each of five different fields of art. At every studio they meet the artist, see their place of work and observe them at work, then create work of their own under the artist's supervision. It's a true opportunity to see what it's like to be an artist and designer.
Disciplines include:
- Fine Art Painting
- Sculpture
- Jewelry Design
- Fashion Design
- Product Design
Groups will always be accompanied by Friends for Asia staff who will help supervise the course and translate where necessary. This program is conducted in English, and complete participation is necessary for all students.
Program Highlights
Five Disciplines in Five Days
A full day in each of five creative fields: fine art painting, sculpture, jewelry design, fashion design, and product design, each in a different working studio.
Learn from Working Artists
Meet professional artists and designers in their own studios, watch them at work, and hear how they built their careers and businesses.
Hands-On Studio Time
Every studio day is hands-on. After observing, students create work of their own under the supervision of the artist.
Conducted in English
The program runs in English, with bilingual Friends for Asia coordinators supervising and translating for the group throughout the week.
Five Days, Five Studios
Each day of the program is spent with a different artist or designer, in their own place of work.
Sculpture
Visit a working sculpture studio where figures are carved from blocks of marble. See how a piece moves from block to finished form, then try carving with the sculptor's tools.
Jewelry Design
Follow a piece of jewelry from design to casting, polishing, finishing, and packaging in a working jewelry workshop, and try the bench work alongside the craftspeople.
Fashion Design
Meet a professional fashion designer in her studio, see the pieces she is working on, hear how she built her business, and cut your own pattern pieces from her stencils.
Product Design
Meet a product designer and see how everyday objects are designed, prototyped, and made, from first idea to finished product.
Available Creative Pathways Week Sessions
To learn more about project details such as itinerary or accommodations, please select one of the sessions below:
Places are limited. If you're interested in joining a waitlist or being notified about future sessions, please contact us here.
Participation Fees
| Session | Price per student | Dates (1 week) |
|---|---|---|
| No sessions available | ||
Project Fees Include:
- Airport pick up and drop off (if applicable)
- Shared Hotel Accommodation, based upon gender
- All transportation during program in safe, professionally driven vans
- All meals
- Orientation Day
- 24 hour Onsite Bilingual Coordinator Support
- Five hands-on studio days with professional artists and designers
Project Fee Does Not Include:
- Travel to/from Home and Bangkok (airfare, train tickets, etc.)
- International Medical Insurance
Important Information for Prospective Participants
Student Qualifications
- Participation age for this program is 14-18, male, female, non-binary students are all welcome.
- All participating students will need a reference letter (or email) from a current or previous teacher or school representative.
- Students need to speak and understand English fluently (English is the language of communication for the program).
- Students should have an interest in following art or design as a career in the future.
Program Coordination and Supervision
Friends for Asia has been hosting students and international volunteers and interns in our Bangkok and Chiang Mai programs since 2007. Our bilingual coordinating staff will be on hand to translate for student groups at the studios when needed and will accompany the group 24 hours a day.
During the program, the group will visit open air markets and shopping centers. At these times students will be free to walk and shop in small groups without programming staff directly at their side. During these moments students will be required to follow our rules of conduct, outlined in our terms and conditions agreement.
Meals and Dining
We eat at good places, because food in Thailand is plentiful and delicious!
We like to take students to a variety of different restaurants and cafes to allow them to relax, talk about what they saw and made in the studios, and enjoy the lovely ambiance of the unique places we take them. We want to make sure that all students eat well, sleep well, and are prepared well for the program.
Vegetarian, vegan, and students with other special dietary needs can be accommodated during the program. Let us know about any dietary requirements when signing up.
Strict Rules of Student Engagement
We have a strictly enforced set of rules for all attendees, outlined in our terms and conditions agreement. These include regulations against student possession and usage of tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis products, along with rules banning male and female students from visiting each other's rooms.
Breaking our terms and conditions rules will result in immediate administrative separation from the program. These items are reviewed and discussed during orientation. We want all students to have a successful program.