MOCA Youth Council

Creative Youth

MOCA Toronto announced the launch of its first ever Youth Council, Creative Youth, in Spring 2023. Creative Youth is a space for young creatives to explore and interact with the Museum behind closed doors.

Learn more about opportunities and workshops for youth by following us on Instagram or signing up for the MOCA newsletter.

What is Creative Youth?

Creative Youth is a three-month long series of workshops and creative sessions for youth (ages 14–18) to transform their emerging community arts passion into practice. Participants will learn about programme production, community arts building facilitation, curation, and artistic professional development skills while meeting with artists and arts practitioners at the Museum, participating in events, and also engaging in their own creative media arts work. There are two sessions of Creative Youth per year, one in the spring and one in the fall.

Towards the end of the series, members will co-produce a series of programmes of their own design, which can range from workshops to virtual exhibits to performances.

In developing their programmes, members of Creative Youth will have the opportunity to respond to MOCA’s exhibitions and to broader social issues. They will also be given the opportunity to meet exhibiting artists and MOCA partners in order to explore the inner workings of arts institutions, with the aim of empowering young artists to step into the role of arts leaders within their own communities.

20 participants will be chosen to participate in the upcoming session of Creative Youth. Participants will each receive an honorarium of $250, subject to programme completion.

Session Timeline

Fall sessions run from September–December 2023.

Creative Youth sessions are held bi-weekly on Tuesday evenings from 5–7 pm at the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto located at 158 Sterling Road.

This programme will be offered twice a year in the spring and fall, coinciding with school semesters. Youth must apply for each semester separately.

FAQ

Why should I take part in Creative Youth?

Get experience in a real arts environment
Begin to establish your professional artist networks
Build your résumé, portfolio, or school applications, including reference letter support

Who can apply and how?

All youth between the ages of 14–18 are welcome and encouraged to apply to MOCA’s Creative Youth. No experience is necessary — simply come with an enthusiasm and interest in the arts.

What can I expect from the programme?

Learn in creative and art-based ways
Support from MOCA staff and partners in your learning
Develop a network of youth artists and youth arts leaders
Become an effective leader, learning about community-engaged work in the Museum, both in practice and in theory
Plan and implement a community programme that will serve your creative interests at MOCA

What is the commitment? Do I have to be at all the sessions?

There will be 8 sessions in total running on a bi-weekly basis from September-December 2023, as well as the opportunity to produce a collaborative programme of your creation. Full attendance is expected for all participants.

We do recognize that capacity can vary, that life gets busy, and that attending all sessions may not be possible. Participants should communicate absences in advance where possible.

Absences may result in a decrease of honorarium.

How many youth will be a part of the programme?

20 youths will be selected to participate in each Creative Youth cohort.

Is there compensation or support for travel to MOCA?

An honorarium of up to $250 is available for participating youth (depending on commitment to the Youth Council).

What is the criteria for selection?

We are looking for a diverse group of youth across ages, disciplines, interests, and communities. We are also looking for youth who have a keen interest in the contemporary arts, and if that interest has been demonstrated before through previous leadership experience, all the better!

That being said, previous experience in art creation, arts administration, or creative community building is not required.

I missed the deadline for Creative Youth! How can I still be involved?

Additional opportunities are available throughout the year for emerging youth artists and youth with a keen interest in contemporary art. Creative Youth happens twice a year coinciding with school semesters. Visit our Instagram or sign up for our monthly newsletter to stay up to date with upcoming deadlines and opportunities!

What are the accessibility considerations for Creative Youth?

Creative Youth encourages applications from young arts enthusiasts of all skill levels and identities, including but not limited to: 2S, queer, trans, and questioning youth; Black, Indigenous, and youth of colour; youth who live with disabilities; youth who live with mental illness, physical illness, neurodivergence, and those with other accessibility needs. Please find more information regarding accessibility at MOCA here.