Teen Programs

The CAT provides mentorship and practical experience for young adults interested in museum careers through our Teen Council. The council is made of up of dedicated high school students who get behind-the-scenes learning opportunities and plan engaging programs for their peers.

The 2024 Teen Council members posing in the museum lobby. — **Teen Council**

We are now recruiting for our 2026-27 Teen Council! Applications are open through June 20. To learn more and apply, click below.

Teen Council information

Night at the Museum

On Saturday, April 25, it was a teen takeover at the museum! The Teen Council hosted its first ever after-hours evening of art, karaoke, snacks, mocktails, and hands-on projects inspired by the CAT’s exhibition: Abstraction & Ourselves.

Three teenagers dancing under colorful lights while others watch and sing along.

Teenagers gathered around a table intently working on a craft project.

Two young adults hugging each other in greeting as others look on.

View through a bright yellow window of people gathered to eat snacks and drink mocktails.

Teenagers moving through an exhibition while the central figure completes a scavenger hunt on a clipboard.

Teenagers receiving food and drink, standing along a high counter top.

Teenagers helping themselves to food in large catering trays.

Three teenagers smiling for the camera while seated at a square table.

Three teenagers posing to make a heart shape with their arms while a fouth teeanger snaps their picture.

Teenagers gathered around a single focal point looking at something together.

Polaroid portraits of teenagers strung up on lines of twine with mini clothespins.

Two teenagers high-fiving in front of a blue glass sculpture.

Read more about Teen Council’s Activities

The Future of Museums is Young

This year’s Teen Council spent a lot of time thinking deeply about why many teenagers don’t engage with museums. The following blog post, which highlights each of the seven council members’ unique voices, serves as a thought exercise about why teens feel uncomfortable in museum spaces and what the Teen Council does to counteract that discomfort.

Read a recap of the inaugural CAT Teen Council's accomplishments

Read more about the 2024—2025 Teen Council.