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Teen Programs

From free after-school programs and workshops to paid internship opportunities, MAD immerses teens in the visual arts and the professional world of museums.

Artslife

The application for Artslife 2024 internship program is now open! Applications must be submitted by Sunday, April 7, 2024 at 11:59 pm. Artslife 2024 will be held July 9 to August 16, 2023 from 10 am–3 pm, Tuesdays through Fridays.

Artslife is a paid summer internship program for rising sophomores and juniors enrolled in New York City public and charter high schools that combines art and design with leadership training, museum studies, and community engagement. Participants are introduced to careers in all sectors of the museum: Curatorial, Education, Development, Communications and Marketing, Visitor Services, Security, and Registrar. The first week of Artslife is dedicated to team bonding and introducing the interns to the Museum. During the remaining five weeks, participants work on collaborative projects with Museum staff, local designers, and arts professionals who act as mentors. Artslife interns enjoy firsthand experience and the broadest possible exposure to ongoing museum activities, both public facing and behind the scenes.

Artslife Interns:

  • Learn about careers in the arts.
  • Build career readiness.
  • Create artwork with local and visiting artists in the Artist Studios.
  • Create a podcast series based on a topic of the interns' choosing.
  • Develop and lead peer-to-peer tours.
  • Build and strengthen presentation, communication, and public speaking skills.
  • Visit other cultural institutions in New York City.
  • Earn $16 an hour and receive an unlimited MetroCard for the duration of the internship.

RECESS Intensive Program

The applications for RECESS I and II 2024 are now open! The application deadline is 11:59 pm on Sunday, January 7, 2024 for both sessions.

RECESS is a paid, week-long, intensive internship program for teens 13 to 18 to learn about art and art history with other NYC teens, develop and lead peer-to-peer tours, and learn how museums work. The week-long internships take place during NYC public schools’ winter and spring breaks.

RECESS I will be held Tuesday, February 20 to Friday, February 24, 2023 from 10 am to 12 pm with a culminating event from 5–6 pm on Friday, February 23, 2024.

Interns Will:

  • Go behind the scenes to develop a tour of a MAD exhibition.
  • Develop a youth-friendly tour of a MAD exhibition..
  • Conduct peer-to-peer tours at MAD..

RECESS II will be held Tuesday, April 11 to Friday, April 23, 2024, from 10 am to 12 pm with a culminating event from 5–6 pm on Friday, April 23, 2024.

Interns Will:

  • Go behind the scenes to develop a tour of a MAD exhibition.
  • Develop a youth-friendly tour of a MAD exhibition.
  • Conduct peer-to-peer tours at MAD.

Both Winter and Spring RECESS participants receive a $200 stipend, a weekly unlimited MetroCard, and have the opportunity to serve as a member of MAD’s teen council.

Artslab

On select Friday afternoons, the Museum’s Artslab teen workshops connect New York City students with an Artist-in-Residence for hands-on art-making. Each workshop is custom designed by the Museum’s Artslife teen interns. The workshops are free, but preregistration is required.

ALUMNI OPPORTUNTIES

Teen Council

MAD's Teen Council is comprised of Artslife and Recess Intensive alumni who share a common interest in art, design, and community engagement. The Teen Council plans events for teens, including Artslab workshops.


Artslife is supported by the Sy Syms Foundation and public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

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