Since the 1990’s specialized programming for teens within museums have been exciting places for experimentation and innovation. From drop-in film programs and youth advisory councils to artist interviews and after-hours parties, the programming created for young people has altered how young people interact with museums. In an era of increasingly narrow approaches to education, we have much to learn from the innovative educational practices that have grown out of museum teen programs in the past twenty years. Inherent in the work of teen programs is a deep respect for what young people have to offer the conversation and how they can be mutual partners in programming. Because of this, we are uniquely situated to involve young people in actual research on and development of teen programs.
In the summer of 2011, with support from the City College of New York, we launched the first Museum Teen Summit (MTS)—a youth leadership initiative in which young people involved in museums across New York City document, analyze, and share their reflections on museum teen programs. With advice from a college professor, our diverse team of teens––representing over eighteen different museums and cultural institutions* and each nominated for our active participation in museum teen programs––spent seven weeks discussing the nature of museums, learning basic research skills, and conducting our own studies about the relationship between teens and museums. At the end of the summer, we realized our work had only just begun and our team of teens decided to turn our initial findings into practical solutions by continuing our work into the school year.
MTS participants identified three major goals to pursue over the school year’s weekly meetings: build a community of teens interested in museums; develop outreach tools that will better serve museums and teens; and continue to research the best practices and educational significance of museum teen programs. Since then, we have shared our findings at the NYC Museum Teen Programmers meeting, served as external consultants to sponsor teen night events at local museums, offered consulting services for museums developing and evaluating their own programs, and presented at the National Art Education Association’s Pre-Conference on Museum Education. Over the summer of 2012 we embarked on a second series of action research projects on topics including teen programs retention, barriers to participation, effective outreach strategies, and successful teen nights and teen programming. The findings from these projects continue to shape the direction of our advocacy work.
Since the first teen night at the New Museum, MTS has continued to collaborate with museums around the city including Guggenheim, Frick Collection, Museum of the City of New York, Museum of Art & Design, National Academy School & Museum, Brooklyn Museum, and more. MTS was a participant in a research session on teens and the community in the Hudson Valley, through a project spearheaded by the Center of Urban Pedagogy and Dia: Beacon.
Through experience and continuous conversations since its establishment, MTS continues to present their ideas at conferences that include the American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting, National Art Education Association Conference, New York City Museum Educators Roundtable, New York University, and more. MTS will take a leading role in organizing and facilitating the Youth Summit at the New Museum in the fall of 2017.
MTS maintains three main goals: to build, promote and establish a community of young people active in museums.
