In our classrooms and studios, on our stages and in our hallways, students learn to observe deeply, express authentically, collaborate generously, and discover the Light within themselves and others. Through both Visual and Performing Arts, students engage in practices that cultivate curiosity, courage, imagination, and empathy—skills essential to meaningful learning and to a life of purpose.
As the oldest continuously operating coeducational school in New York City, Friends has a long and proud history of innovation in arts education. In the late 19th century, we were one of the first schools in the city to introduce manual training and manual arts—a progressive approach that honored the dignity of making with one’s hands and viewed craftsmanship as central to intellectual and moral development. That ethos remains at the heart of our program today. Whether a student is shaping clay, composing music, designing a set, or developing a dance phrase, making is always an act of inquiry, reflection, and joy.
Grounded in Quaker values, our arts curriculum invites students to slow down and attend to their inner and outer worlds—to listen for inspiration, to see with care, and to create with intention.
We believe that artistic practice strengthens community as much as it nurtures the individual, providing shared experiences that deepen understanding and spark connection across grades, backgrounds, and identities.
From Kindergarten through Grade 12, students explore a rich and expanding array of artistic pathways. They work with exceptional faculty who are both skilled educators and practicing artists; they learn in well-equipped studios, rehearsal spaces, and performance venues; and they engage with the cultural vibrancy of New York City as an extension of their classroom.
The arts at Friends Seminary help students grow not only as creators, but as thinkers, collaborators, and compassionate human beings.
Their work fills our hallways, animates our stages, and inspires our community—reminding us daily of the power of imagination, the joy of expression, and the enduring truth that creativity is an essential part of being fully, wonderfully human.