One of the programs we are extremely proud of at the Contemporary is Teen Museum Studies, or TMS. The Teen Museum Studies program is designed for high school students interested in exploring career paths in the museum field. Through workshops, lectures, and staff interviews, students in the program will examine the Contemporary’s directorial, curatorial, programming, fund-raising, and marketing efforts. The program provides students with the opportunity to put their new museum studies knowledge to the test as they ultimately organize, curate, and oversee their own temporary exhibition.

I recently sat down with two students who recently completed the Teen Museum Studies program, Josef Kanak and Eva Byrne, in order to get their perspective on the program and gain some insight into what makes this program so valuable.

AK: Thank you for sitting down with me to talk about your experience in the Teen Museum Studies program! What grade are the both of you in, and what school do you attend?

JK: I am homeschooled, and am in my senior year.

EB: I’ve just graduated from Rosati-Kain High School and will be attending Pomona College in southern California in the fall.

AK: How did you hear about the Teen Museum Studies program?

JK: I heard about Teen Museum Studies while participating in New Art in the Neighborhood in the Spring, which is another great program at the Contemporary.

EB: I was one of the students in New Art in the Neighborhood as well, during Fall 2009 and Spring 2010. 

AK: What were your expectations going into the program? What did you think your experience was going to be like?

JK: My expectations going into the program were to both get an idea as to how a professional art exhibition is curated and to better understand how museums are run in general.

EB: I had assumed that we would be learning more about other museums and approaching the program from the angle of art criticism.  I thought that the program would focus mainly on the works we chose for our exhibit and their meaning. Though this was an important part of the program, we got much more involved in the logistics of setting up the exhibit, such as obtaining donations and setting up the show.

AK: What are the top three things you learned in the Teen Museum Studies program that you think will help you later in your career?

JK: Of the many valuable things I learned through this program, I would have to cite the following especially: Learning and experiencing the curatorial process first-hand, understanding the minute details involved with simply deciding what pieces and what theme will be used, working within a fixed budget, and using pieces drawn from a small, select group of artists solely drawn from the flat files–working under strict deadline and within a limited budget–all of these will certainly be useful in my career.

EB: Teamwork, communication skills, and receptiveness to the ideas of others.

AK: What was your favorite thing to work on while participating in the program?

JK: All of the decision making processes involved throughout, from deciding on the theme of the exhibition to what color to paint the gallery and even procuring the refreshments for the opening–all were enjoyable. The meticulous process of achieving these goals was very enjoyable and engaging.

EB: My favorite part of the program was getting to look through the Flat Files, especially when the artists’ statements were available.  I really enjoyed looking at the artwork, but studying it carefully and being able to interpret it in the context of our show was a very eye opening experience.

AK: Did you have any challenges in the program? What was the most difficult task you faced?

JK: Everything was a welcoming challenge in some way or form. Certainly deciding on a theme for the show took a great deal of initiative on everyone’s part.

EB: Personally, the most difficult part of the program was having to make decisions as a group.  In the past I haven’t had the easiest time working on group projects, but during TMS I found that being receptive to others’ ideas actually enhanced my own point of view. 

AK: How do you think your experience in the Teen Museum Studies program will benefit you in the long run?

JK: Having this kind of first-hand experience within a museum will always be beneficial and will undoubtedly last a lifetime, whatever I aspire to do in a career. It’s very clear to me that working directly within a museum environment has enormous, tangible benefits and learning about all aspects of running a museum, engaging the public, understanding museum management while drawing on my creative inclinations as well, both behind the scenes and within the auspices of the exhibition, will prove invaluable in the future.

EB: I agree, and I’m very grateful for this experience primarily because of the skills I developed through it. 

AK:  What would you say to a student who is considering applying to the program? What would you tell them to expect?

JK: I would definitely encourage them to apply and explain the benefits of being a participant as outlined above. As to what they should expect, I would advise them to be willing to be flexible and be prepared to work in a team environment to achieving a common goal. I would also mention that they should be prepared to problem-solve, think creatively and have fun. Oh, and enjoy free lunches!  I am very happy to have participated in this program and will definitely encourage prospective students to apply.

EB: I would tell that that they’ll get out of the program what they put into it.  The show will only be as good as you make it.