Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA)

GSA 2026 Updates and Application

The GSA provides students a unique opportunity to enhance and build artistic skills in creative writing, dance, digital literacy, instrumental music, painting and drawing, theater, and vocal performance. The program provides an inclusive community for all artists.

Governor Gaston Caperton established the GSA in 1994. The first GSA occurred at Fairmont State University, housing 63 accomplished and growing young artists studying dance, instrumental music, theater, and the visual arts. In 1998, the GSA broadened the curriculum to include vocal music. Creative writing was added to the curriculum in 2003, and digital media in 2008. Previous hosts of the GSA include Fairmont State University, Marshall University, West Liberty University, Davis & Elkins College, and West Virginia Wesleyan College.

Current 10th grade students are eligible for the GSA. Auditions and portfolios are reviewed for admittance. The summer 2026 session will be at the West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, West Virginia.

Where

The 2026 Governor's School for the Arts (GSA) will be hosted on West Virginia Wesleyan College's campus.

When

The GSA will take place on Sunday, June 21-Saturday, July 11, 2026.

Apply for the 2026 GSA Program

Download flyer

School & County Information

The GSA requires high school and county boards of education to actively recruit and assist students during the application window. The school counselor should not be the only individual involved in recruitment. Please use the flyer attached to share this information in classrooms and with teachers who may be able to promote the program.

2026 GSA Flyer (PDF)

High School Responsibilities

• Inform all qualifying students of their eligibility. Speak with students about the merit of GSA.
• Post the flyer in multiple areas of the school.
• Inform students of the application.
• Applications are due by Friday, March 6, 2026. Please share this deadline with interested students.
• The school counselor must print transcripts and first-semester student grades as required in the application.
• The school principal is required to sign a certification form. Please assist student applicants with this section of the application.
• The application requires two teacher recommendations. Please inform students to ask teachers for recommendations promptly.

County Contact Responsibilities

• Review all the information about the GSA on the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) website.
• Share information from the WVDE with all high schools and career technical education (CTE) centers.
• Share the PDF flyers with all high school principals and counselors to post and share with students and parents.

Apply Online

Thank you for your interest in the GSA. Please review the qualifications listed below before completing this part of the application.

Required Qualifications

1. Must be a current high school student in West Virginia with plans to attend next school year.
2. Must be a West Virginia resident.
3. Must be a sophomore at the time of application.
4. Must have a grade-point average of at least 2.2.
5. Must have a recommendation from the school principal (include in Part II application).
6. Must satisfy all immunization requirements according to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR). Non-public school and homeschooled students must provide proof of immunizations.
7. Must acquire two teacher recommendations, one from a teacher who has worked with you in your arts area. Both letters must be submitted on professional letterhead. Please provide sufficient notice to your teachers before applying.
8. Must exhibit a strong personal commitment to artistic development in one of the following areas: theatre art (acting or stage design), creative writing, dance (ballet and modern), instrumental music, studio art, vocal music, or digital art/media.
9. Students may apply for more than one area listed above, but they must submit an audition piece for each one as specified in Part II of the application. In addition, if an offer is extended in more than one area, the student must decide which discipline they will pursue while at GSA. Only one discipline is permitted for each student. 

The school counselor must be involved in the application process for GSA. Please provide sufficient time for school personnel to secure the required documents for the application.

Application Part I

We recommend collecting all required documents within the application before starting the online form. We do not accept PDF version of Part I. Please submit this part online only.

You can download and print the PDF version of Part I of the application to prepare your answers before starting the online Part I form.

Part I goes directly to the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE). Students must complete this part of the application before starting Part II.

Application Part II

Part II of the application requires students to type information within the PDF and print pages to be completed by the school counselor and principal. You may fill out the application electronically (using a pdf viewer) or print the PDF to fill out manually.

The West Virginia Department of Education is not accepting paper submissions of applications. Once the student and school counselor have compiled the application and all required documents into one scanned PDF, students may upload the completed application to the file submission.

Application Part II Upload Folder

Auditions

Students applying for the Governor’s School for the Arts are required to submit an audition piece. Each specific discipline has its own requirements.

You may audition for multiple disciplines, but you must include a separate audition piece for each area. You will only be accepted into one discipline for GSA.

Audition Requirements

• Creative Writing
• Dance
• Digital Art/Media
• Instrumental Music
• Studio Art
• Theatre Arts
• Vocal Music

The file submission locations are provided in the audition requirements files. Carefully read the instructions when uploading your files.

Audition Pieces must be submitted to the submission folders by 11:59 PM on Friday, March 6, 2026.

Parent Information

Drop Off and Pickup

Please be advised, parents are required to drop off students on Sunday, June 21st and pick up students on Saturday, July 11th at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, WV.

Handbook

The 2025 GSA Handbook is available for students and parents to review to familiarize families to the general expectations of the program. The 2026 handbook will be posted in the spring. 

The West Virginia Department of Education maintains a Facebook page to showcase students during each school. Please visit the page to view all the exciting activities going on throughout the summer.

Jobs

Faculty and residential positions for the GSA have been filled for 2026. These positions are hired through West Virginia Wesleyan College.

For more information, please contact the GSA dean, Lexi de Coning (deconing.a@wvwc.edu)