Albany Museum of Art Teen Art Board Application Period for 2024-25 Is Open Through July 1
Wednesday, May 29th, 2024
The Albany Museum of Art Teen Art Board saw their 2023-24 year come to a satisfying, successful conclusion with the final brushstrokes on their year-long project--the large-scale, colorful mural that now covers the north exterior wall of The Cookie Shoppe in downtown Albany.
The application period is open for high school students to participate in the leadership development program in the 2024-25 school year. July 1 is the deadline for students from the Albany area to apply. A link to the online application may be found at www.albanymuseum.com/ama_programs/ama-teen-art-board/.
"One of the highlights of the Teen Art Board program each year is the completion of a project that benefits the community," AMA Director of Education and Public Programming Annie Vanoteghem, who advises the group, said. "This year's project is the most publicly visible one they have accomplished, but each year they have made positive impacts through art."
Each fall, the AMA Teen Art Board (TAB) members decide on an art-related community project, and then work to bring it to fruition. Along the way, the teens learn leadership and fundraising skills that will be useful throughout their lives. They also end the school year with a sense of accomplishment. This year, they also got to work with artist Ramiro Davaro-Comas, who has painted numerous murals in the Northeast with his partner, Grace Lang, through their nonprofit organization Super-Stories. The teens met the New York artist during his exhibition last fall at the AMA.
The 2023-24 TAB wanted to create an uplifting, colorful mural in downtown Albany.
"As a board, we decided to paint it down here because we wanted to give something back to our community," Brianna McCoy, president of the 2023-24 Teen Art Board and a junior at Dougherty Comprehensive High School, said at the mural site. "We wanted to help with the connotation of downtown, especially for the younger generation. We wanted to give something that would make a positive impact through art. One of the most rewarding parts is seeing people stop by saying, 'Hey, I want to help, I want to volunteer. What can I do?'"
Davaro-Comas, who designed the mural from drawings by Albany area elementary schools, came back to Albany this week to lead the teens and community volunteers on the project. Originally expected to take at least four 10-hour days, they finished the work in less than three.
"It was really fun," TAB member Samantha Collins, a Lee County High School senior, said. "He's a really good teacher. He tells us how to do things, but lets us put our own spin on it. I'm just really proud of how it turned out."
"This week, you showed you are dedicated and leaders of the community," Davaro-Comas said during the 2023-24 Teen Art Board recognition ceremony that followed his Artist Talk Thursday evening at the AMA.
"To have young people show that kind of dedication and vision for their community is really, really important," the artist said, adding that he hoped the teens could see that they can make things happen and overcome obstacles. "You just have to keep going, knowing some people are going to say no. Whatever your dream or vision is, you can definitely do it."
Now that the 2023-24 Teen Art Board has concluded its year, opportunity awaits the next group of students. High school students from Albany and nearby counties are eligible to apply as long as they can commit to attending the in-person meetings and events that will take place during the school year.
"Once the application period is closed, we will have an interest meeting on Aug 6 at the museum," Vanoteghem said. "Being a TAB member takes commitment, and we want to ensure that everyone understands what is expected. Once we announce the final roster, the new board will have its first official meeting on Tuesday, Sept 3."
To be eligible to be on the 2024-25 Teen Art Board, a student must:
- Be a high school student during the 2024-25 school year;
- Be highly motivated and passionate about art and developing community projects;
- Commit to attending meetings (now scheduled for the first Tuesday of the month at 5:15 pm) during the term;
- Commit to actively engage and assist in conducting events at the museum.
Each member gains a behind-the-scenes understanding of museum operations. Through workshops, lectures, and discussions with staff and artists, this leadership development program enhances TAB members’ foundational knowledge of art history, museum work, creative careers, and the inner workings of a board-led nonprofit organization.
TAB members develop creative programming and coordinate community events. They plan, support, and promote teen initiatives at the AMA and within the community. They attend and participate in lectures, group discussions, and artist workshops and serve as volunteers assisting with museum classes, public events, and community programs. Members can gain community service hours by volunteering and engaging with events and programs.
In previous years, the Teen Art Board has successfully conducted projects that provided art supply kits to children who were staying at Liberty House in Albany, a series of free Student Art Studio Saturdays for high school students, the installation of the region’s first Art-o-Mat at the AMA, and Night at the Museum: Teen Spotlight Night, an auction and showcase for artwork of high school and college students.
"It's always exciting to see what the students come up with each year," Vanoteghem said. "These are tomorrow's leaders, but they are already making a difference today."
Those with questions about the AMA Teen Art Board program may contact Vanoteghem at [email protected] or call her during museum business hours at 22.439.8400.
