FAQ

Students must be rising 9th- to 12th-graders or college freshmen (or equivalent) and/or between the ages of 14 and 19. However, exceptions are frequently made based on financial, geographical, medical, and other special reasons. If you struggle to access an animation education, we strongly encourage you to apply even if you do not meet eligibility requirements!

The program is run through Discord. While there is a sample schedule for students who prefer structure, all assignments are asynchronous and lessons are given through videos and links.

There are some live events, some of which are recorded. Students are encouraged but certainly not required to join these, and will not have difficulty completing the course if they cannot attend.

QSSA is completely free! Our program is built around public web resources and donated time and is not monetized.

Applications open in the Spring before the current session. Applicants will need to present 3-5 animated or illustrative pieces of their choice.

Applicants should be on the lookout for an email from admin@qssa.art around a week before the session starts. Everyone who submitted an application will be contacted regardless of acceptance status. Please note that if we cannot reach you, your spot may be given to someone else.

Over the years, QSSA has been led by Abby Kurtz, Elijah Homer, Stella Lukman, and Vittoria Draghi. We'd also like to note Airam Campos for contributing many of our original presentations, as well as our growing team of volunteers working to support the upcoming 2025 session.

That said, we can't understate the ideas and resources contributed by our community. It really is a joint effort.

Everyone will need:

• Discord account

• Sketchbook and various sketching materials

• Digital art / animation program of choice

You may also want:

• Google Drive account for uploading files

• Kast account for access to film screenings

• Zoom account, which may be used for guest speakers

Animation students are also encouraged to have:

• Colored paper

• Index cards or a flipbook kit

QSSA is not formally endorsed by CSSSA, but does have their approval to operate. QSSA and CSSSA are run by completely separate groups.