Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the Pelham Art Center. The Pelham Examiner publishes press releases in the form received as a service to the community.
PELHAM, NY This Fall, Pelham Art Center kicked off the third year of its youth leadership programming, which includes free weekly open studios, a Teen Artist Council, and a five-month internship program, offering teens the opportunity to create and learn about art through a variety of unique channels.
Teen Open Studios meet at the Pelham Art Center every Friday evening from 3:30-5:30pm. This inclusive, relaxed environment creates a space where students are invited to work on their AP or college admissions portfolios, or to relax and unwind at the end of the week 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.
This year, the program expands with Teen Open Studio Workshops, where every other week, a guest artist will teach those in attendance a new technique or project. So far this Fall, workshops have included Still Life Drawing Session, Inktober 2024: Ink Drawing Techniques, and Experimental Printmaking. The next workshop (Nov. 8) will feature Mosaic Glasswork and the following week we will be hosting a Portfolio Review (Nov. 15).
The Teen Artist Council is a volunteer opportunity that provides students with real world experience in the arts. Participants lead public events, organize trips and movie nights, select panelists for PAC’s Careers in the Arts Panel series, and curate their own gallery exhibition.
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 kass@pelhamartcenter.org.
Finally, 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 receive a stipend, and can choose to focus on program implementation, special events, research, administration, and more. Interns are asked to make a five month commitment, working four hours every weekend (for a total of approximately 80 hours). While Fall internships are already underway, a new class will open up in March 2025.
“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 Senior at New Rochelle High School. “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).