Discover Maine Media’s summer programs for high school students.
The Summer Academy at Maine Media cultivates the next generation of artists through expert learning opportunities. Surrounded by peers who share your passion, be guided by working artists who encourage your creativity as they instruct you in the latest skills and techniques and help you create portfolio-level work.
A gateway for the study of lens-based art forms, book arts and design and visual storytelling, the Summer Academy at Maine Media prepares you for deeper personal and academic pursuits as you embark on a career in the media or book arts. And it all happens on the beautiful coast of Maine.
Scholarships are also available. For more information, please view our Young Artist Scholarships page.
If you have any questions about the program, don’t hesitate to call 877-577-7700, email [email protected], view our Frequently Asked Questions or request info using our online form.
Tom Ryan June 26 – July 7, 2023
This workshop is for teens who are interested in filmmaking and want to explore their creative curiosity, as well as gain a solid foundation in the processes and techniques of the art form.
Terri Lea Smith June 26 – July 7, 2023
This workshop is for teenage photographers wanting to explore and excel in digital photography. Learn the technical capabilities of digital camera functions, file management, Adobe Lightroom, printing, and image editing.
Daniel Kraus July 10 – 21, 2023
This advanced photography workshop builds on the foundation of Digital Photography and embraces photographic vision while addressing the multitude of technical digital approaches.
Renée Dennison July 24 – August 4, 2023
This two-week program is designed for high school students between the ages of 16 and 18 who are about to prepare their college portfolio submissions. Students will learn their own creative process, and create a group of photographs that will impress college admissions boards and the art world alike.
Anna Low July 24 – August 4, 2023
Use your creative voice & build on your artistic skills to make your own book or zine & bring it to life with your own artwork, images, & writing.
Share the 2023 Maine Media Summer Academy Program:
Our Summer Academy program is comprised of 3 workshops in each area of photography and filmmaking and includes a new Book Arts & Design offering. Each workshop is 2-weeks in length and may be taken independently, or combined into 4-6-weeks for a full immersion, pre-college experience. Special pricing is available for students taking more than 1 workshop. View the program.
Be inspired by other students who share your passion from around the country and the world. Start new friendships and network with your peers.
Maine Media instructors are talented industry professionals as well as experienced educators, and each works with a teaching assistant, providing additional support for their class. Students are given the opportunity to get out in the field and enjoy a hands-on experience with industry standard gear, software and expert guidance.
We are located in coastal Maine, a sought-after summer holiday destination. Students attending the Summer Academy learn in remarkable locations and embark upon fun field trips to the beautiful lakes, mountains, forests, and islands that Maine has to offer. Weekend activities may include swimming, canoeing, bowling, movies, island trips, and hiking.
Whether you are wanting to learn new skills or produce content for your scholastic portfolio, our workshops give you the tools, knowledge, and hands-on experience that will help you build portfolio pieces for your college application, personal and business portfolio.
The Summer Academy program at Maine Media has been at the forefront of young artists’ education since its inception over 36 years ago, providing a creative platform for teenagers to pursue their careers in the media arts industry. The longevity and success of the program are testaments to the caliber of instruction and learning outcomes it generates.
Our young artists have gone on to become award-winning filmmakers and photographers and others have credited the program for helping them create work that has gained them admission to elite filmmaking and photography programs. A lot of students that have taken our workshops are now working professionals. View Alumni Success Stories.
Photo by Amanda Piela
Lucas Kachadorian wrote and directed ‘The Walkman’ during the 2022 Film School workshop, in downtown Camden, Maine (just a stones throw away from campus).
Adam Dinjian completed the Scholastic Portfolio Development workshop, creating some amazing work that has since been used as a portfolio piece to apply for colleges and snag 2nd place in the 2022 Zeiss Precision Image Competition.
Documentary Filmmaker, Cinematographer, Producer & Director
Advanced Young Filmmakers, 2009
Young Documentary Filmmakers, 2008
Luke Lorentzen is an Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker and a graduate of Stanford University’s department of Art and Art History. His most recent film, Midnight Family, tells the story of a family-run ambulance business in Mexico City. The film has won over 35 awards from film festivals and organizations around the world including a Special Jury Award for Cinematography at the Sundance Film Festival, Best Editing from the International Documentary Association, and the Golden Frog for Best Documentary from Camerimage. Midnight Family was shortlisted for the 2020 Best Documentary Oscar and was a New York Times ‘Critics’ Pick’.
“Maine Media is where I made my first documentary. It was a life-changing week of intense and focused work with an incredible group of mentors and fellow budding filmmakers.”
Luke’s other work as a director and cinematographer includes the Netflix original series, Last Chance U, which won an Emmy for Outstanding Serialized Sports Documentary. With Kellen Quinn, Luke is a co-founder of Hedgehog Films. His interest in the documentary form was sparked in his teens when he took a workshop for young artists at Maine Media Workshops. He currently lives in San Francisco.
Watch the trailer to Luke’s documentary film Midnight Family.
Midnight Family has won over 35 awards.
Have a question? Want more information? Ask us!
The Summer Academy is for teens aged between 14-18 who want to learn new skills, get hands-on experience, and produce content for their scholastic portfolio or pursue a career in photography, filmmaking or book arts & design. Many of our Academy students have utilized their time at Maine Media to create the stepping stones needed to become successful artists.
Each workshop runs for 2 weeks, is capped at $3995 USD, and includes accommodation, access to campus amenities, transportation once the workshop has begun, meals (including a lobster dinner!), Resident Advisors, Teacher’s Assistants, and tuition. There are also Young Artist scholarships available.
Students can take advantage of our special pricing which is available for students taking more than one workshop. Email [email protected] for more information.
We recommend students have access to $150 over the two-week period for incidentals, snacks, movies, field trips etc. You can view the Summer Academy workshops currently on offer here.
Yes! Maine Media offers numerous scholarships for potential Academy students. Please view the Young Artist scholarships page to learn more about their purpose, opportunities, and application process.
Students may request a transcript to be sent to their high school for possible credit by emailing [email protected].
The Summer Academy is located at Maine Media’s campus: 70 Camden Street, Rockport, Maine 04856. Detailed travel information is included in the student acceptance packet. Please find an overview of travel options below and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any travel questions – we’re here to help.
If You Drive:
Getting to Rockport is relatively easy. Rockport is halfway up the Maine coast – easy to find – just off Route 1, 80 miles north of Portland, between Camden and Rockland. By car, Rockport is less than a two-hour drive from Portland, less than four hours from Boston, eight hours from New York and Montreal.
If You Fly:
Delta, Jet Blue, American, Southwest, Frontier, Cape Air, Elite and United all service Portland Jetport (PWM) with several flights daily. We recommend flying through Portland Jetport, then renting a car or catching a bus.
Bangor International Airport (BGR) is another option, though flight options are often fewer and more expensive. The drive time from Bangor to Rockport is similar to Portland, under two hours.
Cape Air offers frequent commuter flights each day between Boston’s Logan Airport and the nearby Knox County Airport (RKD), just 20 minutes from Maine Media. Taxis are available to drive you to Rockport.
Rental Cars:
All the major rental agencies have a presence at the Portland Jetport. Avis, Budget and Enterprise are available in Rockland.
If You Take the Bus:
Rockport is served by Concord Coachlines with daily summer service to Camden/Rockport from both Boston and Portland. Be sure to book the Maine Coastal Route into CAMDEN / ROCKPORT (not Rockland!). Please visit Concord Coachline’s website for up-to-date information or call 1.800.639.3317.
If You Take the Train:
AMTRAK currently operates between Boston’s North Station and Portland. From Portland, you can then connect to Concord Coachlines (see above), though scheduling can be difficult.
Yes! During their stay, Resident Advisors (RAs) supervise the students when not in class and help make group decisions about weekend activities, including swimming, bowling, movies, and hiking. There are many awesome activities to do in the midcoast of Maine during the summer!
Yes! During the week, all meals are provided and taken together in the dining facilities directly across the street. Weekend meals are taken in the local economy and transported by the RA’s – or sometimes do cookouts. This cost is included in the tuition package. Parents may indicate any special dietary needs upon registration.
Students also have access to snacks and drinks throughout the day when on campus.
A lobster dinner is served (there are other choices) on the last Friday night of each workshop, and all Maine Media students gather for an evening presentation of highlights from the week’s work. Parents are welcome to attend, and meal tickets may be purchased in the Registration Office on-campus or by emailing [email protected].
Everything here is informal, just focus on what makes you comfortable and ready to make work! Note that we provide each student with a list of what to bring in our comprehensive acceptance packet. We recommend bringing appropriate layers (In May, June, and September the days are usually cool with chilly evenings. The days in July and August are usually pretty warm), sunscreen, closed-toe shoes, a bathing suit, laptop, medicines (please see acceptance packet for more details on bringing medicines).
Some workshops will have special gear lists–we usually send those out about two weeks before the start of a workshop. If you ever have questions about what to bring, just ask!
Check-in is on Sunday, between 3 and 6 PM and departure is on Saturday morning once the workshop has finished. This and more comprehensive information is provided in each student’s acceptance packet.
