MoMA Teens: In the Making 2026
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MoMA Teens: In the Making 2026
Free summer art program for NYC teens at MoMA
Jul 7–Aug 13, 2026 | Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays
Morning Classes: 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Afternoon Classes: 2 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Be part of In the Making, MoMA’s free summer program for teens! This hands-on studio art course is designed for New York City high school students ages 15–18. No experience necessary!
Each course meets three times a week, either in the morning or the afternoon, for six weeks. At the end of the program, you will showcase the work you made in an exhibition at MoMA.
During the program, you will enhance your art skills and learn about the New York art world and MoMA’s extensive art collection. Led by MoMA educators, you’ll explore different art-making techniques in one of four classes. You’ll work on both group and solo projects while also meeting working artists and museum professionals through studio visits, artist talks, and trips to galleries and museums.
In the Making participants will meet at MoMA three times a week for six weeks in either a morning or afternoon class from July 7 to August 13, 2026. Attendance at every class is required. MoMA will provide all art materials, OMNY cards for transportation to and from the Museum, snacks, and any other costs associated with participating.
To apply, you need to fill out this online application by June 1, 2026. Candidates will be judged based on the quality of their answers to the application questions. All participants must be 15-18 years old and enrolled or enrolling in an NYC high school or GED/TASC program for the 2026-27 school year. No middle school students or college students allowed.
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Class Preferences:
The following four classes will be offered this summer.
1) SHELTER. Design and build structures that protect people, animals, or objects from the elements—rain, wind, heat, or danger, by experimenting with architectural and design solutions that are collapsible and modular.
Through sketching, model making, and hands-on building, you’ll test materials and reimagine what makes a space feel safe. You’ll see that a shelter isn’t just a building, but can also be a creative expression of care, community, and survival. As you try new ideas and take creative risks, you’ll make things that are both useful and imaginative.
2) CONSTRUCTING REALITY THROUGH IMAGES. How do images shape the way we see the world? In this class experiment with photographic images and mixed media to create your own versions of reality. Combine handmade, experimental and digital photos with collage, text, printmaking and other techniques to explore new possibilities.
Together, we’ll explore how images influence identity, memory, and power. You’ll create bold, layered works that question what’s real and who gets to decide.
3) FORMS OF NATURE. Nature is full of unexpected shapes and systems. In this sculpture-based course, study natural forms like roots, shells, rocks, or microscopic patterns and transform them into three dimensional artworks. Explore how human made and natural elements combine into something new.
Using a variety of materials, you’ll experiment with repetition, texture, balance, and structure. This class explores how forms grow, change, and connect, and how you can reimagine nature in creative and surprising ways.
4) LAYERS! EXPERIMENTAL MARK MAKING. Building an artwork one layer at a time can reveal how individual marks and elements accumulate to create complex, rich images. In this class, experiment with drawing, printmaking, and unconventional tools to create rich, layered surfaces.
Play with repetition, transparency, erasing, and overlapping to see how simple marks can turn into complex images. We’ll think about how layering connects to memory, identity, and storytelling while encouraging you to take creative risks and try new techniques.
Program Dates:
July 7 – August 13, 2026
Schedule:
Morning sessions will take place from 10:00 a.m.— 1:00 p.m.
Afternoon sessions will take place from 2 p.m.— 5:00 p.m.
Location:
MoMA's Cullman Education Center | 4 W 54th St, New York, NY 10019
Who Can Apply?
Rising sophomores, juniors and seniors enrolled in New York City high schools or GED/TASC program for the 2026-27 school year.
Application Deadline: MONDAY, JUNE 1 2026 AT 11:59 pm.
Acceptance Notification: MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2026
Questions? Email: momateens@moma.org | Tel: (212) 333 6543
Technical Questions? Check out the Submitter Resource Center or contact Submittable Customer Support.