Loud laughter, arts and crafts, game tables and an open mic. Although these activities are not usually found at a “typical” museum, all of these can be found in the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston (ICA).
Not only does the ICA offer free gallery access to people ages 18 and under, but it also provides them with paid job and internship opportunities. One of these opportunities is the Teen Arts Council (TAC), a program for teenagers who plan events for teenagers at the museum.
Betsy Gibbons, director of Teen Programs at the ICA, highlighted the TAC’s responsibilities to promote teen engagement.
“One of the main roles of Teen Arts Council [is] creating events that uplift teen voices, performers, artists and to make the museum a vibrant, creative space where teens can come to be themselves and enjoy culture and art,” Gibbons said.
Senior Cameron Jones, one of the teens who had previously attended the ICA events and continues to return, said he was happily surprised by his experience.
“When I picture a museum, I think about art and statues, not bonding with people,” Jones said. “I had a good experience. I got to listen to different types of music, see different pieces of art, connect with other people and play games.”
TAC member and BHS Sophomore Anadaisy Zapata works at the ICA and discovered the TAC last year through one of the ICA’s seasonal teen events. Since then, she said, she has enjoyed being part of a program that grants teens full control, letting them make decisions and plan events.
“We basically have 100 percent input. All these ideas are our own because we share and throw out ideas and see which ones we like, and we pick,” Zapata said. “Everything you see is all from our minds, and we pick an artist, interview them and do all this other different stuff with them.”
TAC member sophomore Joziah Nesbeth said he enjoys the effect the TAC can have on people, including himself, and that he appreciated the messages the museum is trying to spread about inclusivity for teens.
“Before, I didn’t really like art as much as I [do] now. I got into going to museums and appreciating art more. The events definitely bring teens over here and make people want to either work here or pay attention and learn about the art,” Nesbeth said.
Gibbons said the TAC was pushing back against the stereotypes that might cause teenagers to believe museums aren’t spaces for them.
“By the time we are in high school, generally, people start to see other people who are good at art, and it starts to become very intimidating,” Gibbons said. “I think a lot of times people assume you have to know about art to come to an art museum; we really try and think about different ways of engaging and empowering people to have their own interpretations.”
Zapata said the museum is supposed to be a place to be respectful, but also to enjoy art and learn more about the community.
“It’s open to everybody, it’s a place to hang out and have fun. People think that it’s wrong to be yourself or meek,” said Zapata. “Here, the ICA does a really good job opening up the world to teenagers and showing them that museums can be fun.”
