6 Colorful Gap Year Ideas for Artists

Everyone has an inner artist waiting to come out and create. Whether art is your passion or a hobby, there is no better way to spark creativity than to travel to a far away land and surround yourself with new experiences. Travel opens your eyes, and inspiration lies around every corner in the forms of new scenery, new people, and new cultural experiences.

person holding powdered paint in their hands

Have you heard of Holi? It’s basically an artist’s dream!

So if you’re lacking inspiration or seeking something new to get those juices flowing, why not explore gap year ideas for artists? For you, that may mean traveling to Italy to live amongst the remnants of the Renaissance, nestling into Spanish foothills to look for inspiration similar to Picasso's, or surrounding yourself with music and dance in Brazil, the birthplace of Samba.

No matter your artistic interest, taking a gap year could be the best way to nurture your creativity and feed your soul.

6 opportunities to take an art gap year

Why not let the world be your muse with an art gap year abroad! From art and design gap years, to creative writing and photography gap year programs, there are endless opportunities to travel the world creatively. Here is our roundup of the best programs and gap year ideas for artists!

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1.

Filipinos love to dance. Why not join them? Volunteer for the Visayans takes you to rural areas outside of Tacloban City for dance, art, and design gap years. You can combine your skill sets in volunteer placements for social welfare and community development, but most importantly, you’ll use those creative talents.

Teach children to express themselves, gain confidence, and have fun while teaching dance lessons, or help develop promotional videos and online content for social media. No matter what type of volunteer work you choose, you’ll be able to make a difference, get creative, and build your portfolio.

  • Where? Tacloban, Philippines
  • Focus? Creative writing, performing arts
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2.

If you fancy yourself a musician, this is the program for you! This one-of-a-kind program in Uganda brings international volunteers from around the world to the town of Mbarara. You’ll be able to share your passion for music with the local community while spending time facilitating group or one-on-one music lessons—you might even get to assist with community performances!

If the stage feels like home for you, and you want to bring fun and joy to a small community, you’ll definitely want to consider this experience for your gap year.

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3.

If you’re looking for the ultimate creative writing gap year, the High Desert Center is your place. Nestled into the mountains of Colorado, this writing retreat has you writing every day and sleeping under the stars every night. High Desert Center challenges participants to write 50,000 words in one month in a creative atmosphere. The goal is rapid production of a first draft, making it the perfect place for aspiring authors.

Here you’ll join a community of inspirational and like-minded writers who can feed off of each others’ creative juices, participating in writing workshops, nature walks, baking homemade bread, and getting creative in every aspect of everyday life.

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4.

Are you a theater lover looking for gap year ideas for artists? Consider musical theater training with Performing Arts Abroad! This program will definitely involve more structure than a typical gap year, but it’s an excellent choice if you want to pursue the performing arts when you arrive back home (or in your next destination!).

During your time in London, you’ll be taking classes at the Dominion Theatre, which are scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with a break for lunch. But don’t worry—there are plenty of fun excursions built into the program too!

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5.

As an artist, you probably appreciate the exhibition of art almost as much as creating the art itself. During this internship with the Institute for Global Studies, you’ll learn a ton about what goes on in museums and galleries.

You’ll be able to assist with setting up exhibits, computer modeling, writing for museum websites, and more. If it’s been a dream of yours to work in a museum at home or abroad someday but aren’t sure exactly what it will entail, get your feet wet with this program!

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6.

The fine arts aren’t for everyone. Some artists find their passion in local and folk art! This truly unique experience with Arcos Journeys Abroad is amazing in what it offers for artists in general, but even more so for artists who have an interest in Mexico specifically.

During your time in Oaxaca, you’ll get to work closely with local artists to learn more about traditional art in the region. You’ll also get to meet and work with indigenous villages for an even more intimate look at the folk art traditions of weaving and alebrije. (P.S. It’s a good idea to have basic knowledge of Spanish for this one!)

Get creative with gap years for artists!

person painting on a community wall

Your creativity knows no bounds—not even international borders!

Getting out of your comfort zone is the best way to spark creativity. Are you ready to take the leap with one of these awesome gap year ideas for artists? Whether you’re a photographer, writer, painter, or musician, there are endless opportunities to take your talents to new corners of the world.

With an art gap year abroad, you’ll gain new inspiration, hone your skills, and maybe even discover a new facet to your creativity. Embrace that artist within! What are you waiting for?

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