Youth leadership programming at PAC includes free Teen Open Studios, a Teen Artist Council, and a High School Internship program

PELHAM, NY - This Fall, Pelham Art Center will begin the fourth year of its youth leadership programming, which includes free open studios for teens, a Teen Artist Council, and a five-month internship program for high school students, allowing teens to get a unique perspective of the day-to-day work of an arts nonprofit, and experience working within their community.

Teen Open Studio will meet at the Pelham Art Center on alternating Friday evenings from 4-6PM. This inclusive, relaxed environment creates a space where students are invited to work on their AP or college admissions portfolios, or to simply relax and unwind while making art with their peers. The studios are open free of charge, and a variety of materials are available for participants to use. No pre-registration is required. All open studio dates will be posted in advance on the Pelham Art Center website.

The Teen Artist Council is a youth leadership program that gathers and engages young people interested in creating teen and community centric programs. It provides students with real world experience in the Arts and a chance to communicate and learn through organizing public outreach. Students will organize free public art workshops, teen-centric events, and even curate their own gallery exhibition to be shown at PAC in April.

This program meets in a hybrid capacity over Zoom and in-person at PAC. Participants are accepted on a rolling basis, so students may join at any point throughout the year by filling out the Teen Artist Council Interest Form or emailing Teen Programs Administrator Kass Gray at [email protected]. There will be an in-person information session held on Saturday, 9/13 from 12-1pm, and a virtual session held the following Wednesday evening.

PAC’s Internship Program welcomes high school and college students to gain hands-on work experience and learn valuable skills while contributing to a community-based nonprofit art center. Interns will focus on program implementation, special events, research, administration, and more. Students are asked to make a five month commitment, working 3 hours every weekend (for a total of approximately 80 hours). Fall internships will run from September through February, with a Spring term beginning in March.

“Interning at the Pelham Art Center has given me the opportunity to connect with the art community locally in a way that feels truly meaningful to me as both an artist and community member,” said Lea Cohen, a member of the 2024 internship program. “I have been able to contribute my artistic attributes and vision to unique events, projects, and workshops, and look forward to continuing my engagement in the arts and community-building both at the Art Center and elsewhere in the future.”

For additional information on Pelham Art Center’s teen programming, visit https://www.pelhamartcenter.org/education/teenprograms/, and follow Pelham Art Center Teens on Instagram (@pac_teens).