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What is Youth Insights?
Youth Insights is a year-long program at the Whitney Museum
of American Art that gives high school students the opportunity
to think about art in new ways. Teens are trained in the museum
setting to lead interactive tours, conduct dialogues with artists,
and engage in discussions with teens, families, and senior citizens.
During the year, Youth Insights (YI) participants work at the Museum
approximately 6-12 hours per week from September 20, 2003 to June
19, 2004 and then full-time from July 5 - 30, 2004. All Youth
Insights participants are required to participate in weekly
training sessions as well as monthly youth and family public programs.
Rotating each month, a group of Youth Insights participants
will work with the Regents Family Residence. In July, all YI participants
will work with senior programs. Below are descriptions of the programs
with which Youth Insights participants will be involved.
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So…what exactly do YI participants
do?
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Photo: Sharina discusses Mike Kelley's pieces,
More Love Hours Than Can Ever Be Repaid and The
Wages of Sin, part of the 2nd floor installation, "Pollack
to Today: Highlights from the Permanent Collection"
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TRAINING SESSIONS
On Tuesdays from 4-6pm and Saturdays from 10-2pm, Youth Insights
participants explore the Whitney's collection, discover what goes
on behind-the-scenes in the Museum, expand their horizons during
discussions about art, American culture and society, and learn about
each other and the diverse communities of New York City. Training
sessions begin in September and continue through June. During the
month of July, Youth Insights participants work full-time
at the Museum.
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YOUTH2YOUTH TOURS
Every third Friday of the month, at 4 and 5pm, Youth Insights
participants lead tours in the galleries with visiting teens. But
these aren't just tours-- they're dialogues aimed at generating
discussion, giving teens an opportunity to think and talk about
art in new ways. Youth Insights participants also lead
special Youth2Youth tours for schools and community groups throughout
the year.
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Photo: The interview panel for Artists and Youth: A
Dialogue with Glen Ligon. |
ARTIST + YOUTH DIALOGUES
Several times a year (usually on Friday nights), Youth Insights
participants lead a conversation with a contemporary artist. In
this program, teens from throughout New York City are invited to
the Whitney to talk to some of the newest, emerging artists up close
and personal. This is a chance for Youth Insights participants
to develop their research and communication skills, work closely
with their peers, and get to know artists working on the cutting
edge.
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TEEN NIGHT
Twice a year (usually on Friday or Saturday nights), the Whitney
throws open its doors to teens for art, performance, and dancing.
As hosts of this event, Youth Insights participants help
bring in diverse audiences, lead gallery discussions, and moderate
performances. The goal of this program is to create a cool, teen-friendly
environment in the Museum.
REGENTS PROGRAM
Each month, a different group of four Youth Insights participants
work on Thursday afternoons, from 4-7:30pm, with a group of children
from the Regents Family Residence, which is a transitional housing
facility on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Most Regents programs
take place at Altria, the Whitney's downtown branch at 42nd Street.
During these weekly programs, Youth Insights participants
work closely with the children facilitating gallery discussions
and art projects. Students living at the Regents Residence are in
a period of transition in their lives, so the role of Youth
Insights participants as friends and mentors is especially
important.
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FAMILY DAY
On Saturday, November 1, the Whitney invites hundreds of families
from throughout New York City to a carnival of colors, shapes, and
patterns, inspired by the Whitney's collection. An entire floor
of the Museum will be devoted to art activities. Youth Insights
participants will work with families during storytelling, dance,
music, and art-making activities. This free event is an opportunity
for families to explore the Museum in a kid-friendly way. Youth
Insights participants are an integral part of insuring that
families have a fun learning experience in the Museum.
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Photo: Youth Insights participants
assist kids and their parents with Sol LeWitt Family Fun!
Workshop projects. |
FAMILY FUN!
Every second Saturday of the month, from 9-11am, several Youth Insights
participants assist a Museum educator in this workshop for families
with children ages 5-10. Family Fun Workshops feature gallery tours
led by Museum educators and art projects designed for kids and families
to learn about art and culture together. In the Spring, Youth
Insights participants will take on a greater role in helping
to lead Family Fun Workshops. Family Fun Workshops give Youth
Insights participants an opportunity to learn and share new
perspectives on art, participate in intergenerational conversations
and art projects, and learn the foundations of giving interactive
tours.
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LOOK OUT!
During the fall YI training season, on two Saturdays a month, from
2-3:30pm, a group of four Youth Insights participants will
assist a Museum educator in this program that encourages families
to explore American art through discussion and creative sketching
activities in the galleries. Look Out Tours give Youth Insights
participants an opportunity to learn and share new perspectives
on art, participate in intergenerational conversations and sketching
projects, and learn the foundations of giving interactive tours
and leading gallery activities.
AMERICAN STORIES
During the fall YI training season, on the third Saturday of every
month, from 4-5pm, a group of four Youth Insights participants
assist a Museum educator in this new program that invites families
to relax and listen as a Museum educator reads or tells a story
related to the artworks in the Museum's galleries. American Stories
will give Youth Insights participants an opportunity to explore
the intersection between American literature and art, visual and
written culture.
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Photo: Cheryl and Barbara lead a tour of
"Hopper to Mid-Century: Highlihgts from the Permanent
Collection" for seniors during hours when the Museum
is closed to the general public. |
SUMMER SENIOR PROGRAMS
During the month of July, Youth Insights participants work
full-time, devoting much of their schedule to working with senior
centers affiliated with United Neighborhood Houses, which is the
umbrella organization for settlement houses in all 5 boroughs of
New York City. YI participants give tours of the Museum to senior
groups and visit senior centers to lead slide conversation and art
projects. These program offer both youth and seniors an opportunity
to engage in a unique intergenerational dialogue, using art to learn
from and about each other and the world.
JUNIOR DOCENT PROGRAM
Those Youth Insights participants who are interested work
every Friday with a Museum educator and a group of fifth or sixth
graders from a school in an underserved area, teaching these children
to lead tours of the Museum's galleries. Youth Insights
participants act as friends, mentors and role models for these young
people.
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WEB COMMITTEE
Each year, a group of Youth Insights participants form
a web committee to update www.youth2youth.org, which is designed
by and for teens. This is an opportunity for Youth Insights
participants to work with a team in creating a fun and dynamic website.
OUTREACH
Youth Insights participants are ambassadors for the Whitney
Museum. Each participant is expected to talk about Youth Insights
and the Whitney's youth programs in his/her classroom or community
center in order to encourage new audiences to attend. YI participants
will help the program coordinator to work with teachers and community
group leaders in order to embrace diverse New York City communities.
Note: all programs take place at the Whitney Museum unless
otherwise
noted in the Museum's Calendar
of Events.
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What does every YI participant need?
- an open mind
- a sense of community spirit and community service
- eagerness to learn
- a desire to work with diverse audiences and colleagues
- ability to be a team player
- self-motivation
- an interest in being challenged
- a commitment to punctual attendance and participation in all
aspects of this multi-faceted program
Note: no prior knowledge of art or art history is required.
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What
are the job responsibilities of every YI participant?
Youth Insights participants are expected to:
- be on time for training sessions and Museum programs
- attend all scheduled training sessions and public programs represent
the Museum and communicate to visitors in professional and positive
ways
- observe all Museum rules, including no touching works of art,
and no eating, drinking or chewing gum in the galleries
- bring sketchbook/journal to each session complete take home
assignments and bringing assignments to the next session
- contact the Education Department in advance at (212) 570-3665
if he/she must miss a training session or program
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What skills does YI help teens
to develop?
Each week, YI teens participate in a variety of activities and programs
that will:
- give you on-the-job experience, learning and teaching about
art
- help you learn to communicate your ideas and speak in public
- give you the opportunity to learn from and about your peers
- develop your research skills
- give you experience working with others and team-teaching
- teach you to be leaders, mentors, and role models
- help you make a difference in the community.
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Yes, YI participants get paid!
YI participants are given a stipend of $5.15 per hour for participation
in the program as well as reimbursement for travel costs to and
from the museum. Participants will not be paid for time missed if
they are late or absent from a session. Students must fill out a
time sheet after each session in order to get paid. Paychecks will
be issued every two weeks with transportation paid once a month.
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Where is the Whitney Museum?
Whitney Museum of American Art
945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street
New York, NY 10021
Subway: 6 to 77th Street (walk two blocks west to Madison Avenue)
Bus: M1, M2, M3, M4 to 74th Street
Whitney Museum of American Art at Altria
120 Park Avenue at 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017
Subway: 4, 5, 6, 7 to Grand Central
Bus: M1, M2, M3, M4 to 42nd Street
If you want to apply for this program, fill out our
application.
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©
2004 Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, New York
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