Chicago Academy for the Arts

To the Class of 2026: bravo. 🎓✨

This graduating class has filled our halls with creativity, courage, passion, and artistry. From the stage to the studio, the rehearsal room to the classroom, you have challenged yourselves, inspired one another, and left an undeniable mark on The Chicago Academy for the Arts.

You are actors, dancers, musicians, filmmakers, writers, and visual artists—but more importantly, you are bold thinkers, collaborators, and storytellers ready to shape the future.

Congratulations, graduates. We cannot wait to see where your artistry takes you next. 💫

When students believe in the power of access to arts education, incredible things happen. 🎭🎶🎨

Student for Student (SFS) is a student-led organization created to help ensure talented young artists can attend The Chicago Academy for the Arts, regardless of financial circumstance. Founded by Academy students in response to evolving financial assistance needs, SFS is already making an impact — with a goal of raising $20,000 to enhance financial assistance opportunities for the incoming Class of 2026-27 and future students to come.

On Sunday, May 31 from 2:00–6:00 p.m., SFS will host its inaugural fundraising event in support of student artists and the future of arts education at The Academy.

This is students supporting students. Artists uplifting artists. A community investing in the next generation of creative voices.

Every donation helps open doors for young artists with extraordinary potential. ❤️

Donate today: https://givebutter.com/c/student-for-student-2026

Surprise visit from Michael Kutza, one of the original founders of The Academy!

Michael also founded the Chicago International Film Festival and has been involved in countless iconic film projects over the years. Our students were able to pick his brain about his time in the film world and engage with the history of our school while looking forward to the future ✨

Where do arts students go after high school? Everywhere. ✨

Students from The Chicago Academy for the Arts go on to attend some of the nation’s top colleges, conservatories, and universities — pursuing futures in the arts, business, education, technology, communications, and beyond.

Because an arts education doesn’t limit potential. It expands it. 🎭🎶🎨

Read how The Academy prepares young artists for bright futures both creatively and academically in our latest blog post:

College Paths After Chicago Academy: Where Our Artists Go Next — The Chicago Academy for the Arts For many families exploring arts education, one question naturally rises to the surface: What happens after high school? At The Chicago Academy for the Arts, the answer is both inspiring and reassuring. Our students go on to attend some of the most respected colleges, conservatories, universities

Thank you to all who "obeyed the rules" and saw our Theatre Department's production of 'Lord of the Flies'!

From Theatre Chair, Ben Dicke: "William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies' is an enduring classic. Its exploration of humanity's inclination toward fractured systems that place competition above cooperation is relevant year on year, decade on decade. The Academy Theatre Department's production of Nigel William's adaptation of the novel highlighted these lurking divisions and did so in a remarkable way with stirring moments throughout.

Such themes cannot be explored in a rich and complex way without the components which our department faculty and students tirelessly foster: collaboration, goodwill, shared trust, a rising tide that lifts all. In a word: ensemble. This ensemble was extraordinary."

What happens when an “art kid” finally finds their people? 💙

For Michelle Pinski's son Ian, The Academy became more than just a school — it became a place where he could truly be himself. In our newest Parent Spotlight, Michelle shares how finding a community of like-minded artists transformed her son’s confidence, friendships, and love of learning.

“The Academy is not only a gift to Ian, it’s a gift to our entire family.”

If your child is creative, passionate, and searching for a place to belong, this story is for you.

READ MORE:

A Place to Belong: Parent Michelle Pinski on Finding The Academy — The Chicago Academy for the Arts When Michelle Pinski reflects on her son Ian’s journey to The Chicago Academy for the Arts, one word comes up again and again: belonging.

What an amazing night! 🎵

Three collaboratively-composed multi-movement genre-blending works, a cross-departmental musical theatre realization of The Truman Show, and the presentation of genre-defining works like The Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder and Claude Bolling's Suite for Violin and Jazz Trio...Without Genre 5.0 was an epic performance showcasing the creativity, virtuosity, leadership, and versatility of Music Department students.

A special thanks to our packed house of audience voters, our collaborators from the Musical Theatre Department, and our composition competition judges: John Dorhauer, Kathryn Sherman, and Veronica Kolegas.

This week, the Theatre Department had the pleasure of hosting actress Milauna Jemai Jackson for a masterclass on auditioning for TV & Film. She worked on techniques with our On Camera Acting students as they closed out the semester 🎥

One of the benefits of a city campus is access to real working professionals in our fields. The Academy is so grateful to wonderful advocates like Milauna, who take time out of their day to work with aspiring artists!

Thank you to everyone who supported our Media Arts seniors at their recent showcase! ✨

Seniors Susan Gaytan, Tess Neiman, Mila Jimenez, Gunes Goker, and Cecilia Vu Landes are pictured here with department chair, Sarah Hiatt, and former film instructor and guest moderator, Jeremy Marder. Fellow senior, Ella Archer, departed just before we snapped this picture.

Congratulations to Academy students, Maya Archer and Leni Tarver, for placing second in the Chicago High School Division of the 2026 SIFMA Foundation Stock Market Game competition! These students learned about investing and built a portfolio that landed them a top spot in the competition. 🏦