Why Creative Spaces for Teens Matter
I think a lot about what it meant to grow up as a creative kid.
Coming from an immigrant household, I recognized the privilege in that. The world I grew up in was filled with people who carried the mindset: live to survive, not survive to live. But somehow, I found a way past that. While my parents and grandparents focused on survival, I had the rare opportunity to actually live–and for me, living meant creating.
Creativity has always been a part of me. My grandmother, who was the greatest cross-stitcher I knew, was the first to introduce five-year-old me to the art of making. She’d let me pick the beads she dropped from the floor or have me thread her needle because her vision just wasn’t nearly as good anymore.
I didn’t know youth arts programs existed, let alone how life-changing they could be, until high school. That’s when I stumbled upon the Global Youth Exchange (GYE) at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The program brought together 10 youth from Minnesota and 10 youth from Vietnam to explore culture, art, and identity, with a focus on the Southeast Asian diaspora. It included immersive workshops, a trip to Vietnam, and the chance to showcase our work in a group exhibition.
Image by Minneapolis Institute of Art
If I’m being honest, I joined the program because I saw a Facebook post that promised a free trip to Vietnam. It sounded too good to be true. I applied anyway, got invited for an interview, and soon I found myself taking part in workshops in a small studio on the lower floor of the museum every single week, slowly realizing how much I loved storytelling.
Image by Minneapolis Institute of Art
That free trip never happened because of COVID-19, but those five months of workshopping at the museum gave me an invaluable experience. I realized that museums weren’t distant, inaccessible places, but spaces where young people like me could reflect, learn, and share our diverse perspectives. It was also this experience that sparked my interest in exploring other local youth arts programs.
The Walker Art Center is one of the country’s leading contemporary art institutions and is known for its bold exhibitions and its Minneapolis sculpture garden. But what makes it truly special is the way it invests in young artists. Unlike many museums that feel inaccessible to youth, the Walker makes a deliberate effort to engage teens. Admission is free for anyone under 18. They host teen-centered events like youth poetry slams and film showcases.
But what stood out to me most was the Walker Art Center Teen Arts Council (WACTAC). WACTAC is a paid, teen-led arts council that brings together high school students from across the Twin Cities to collaborate, experiment, and create. Members work directly with contemporary artists, plan events, and shape how teens interact with the museum.
Image by Bobby Rogers via Walker Art Center
Founded in 1994, WACTAC was one of the first programs of its kind. It’s built on the belief that young people deserve to have a voice in the arts. Members of WACTAC have curated exhibitions, hosted workshops and film festivals, and even published their own work. Many have gone on to pursue careers in the arts, launching similar programs at institutions the Museum of Modern Art and the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston.
One of WACTAC’S most well-known projects is Teen Takeover, a massive, teen-curated event that turns the Walker into a creative oasis for high schoolers for a night. The event brings in live music, art-making activities, and free snacks, creating a space where young people can engage with contemporary art on their own terms.
Image by Kameron Herndon via Walker Art Center
Beyond the events and exhibitions, the Walker helps other programs invest in youth arts. They developed the Museum Teen Programs How-To Kit, a free collection of reflections and resources designed to help arts education create more inclusive youth-centered programs.
Image by Kameron Herndon via Walker Art Center
The reason why these programs matter is simple. Teenage years are some of the most intense and formative years of our lives. It’s a time of constant change—emotionally, physically, mentally. Yet so often, teens are overlooked. In schools, we’re taught to follow the rules. At home, we’re expected to listen. But in art spaces like WACTAC and GYE, we’re given room to experiment, question, and create without limits.
When I look back at my time in the Global Youth Exchange program, I see a version of myself that was still figuring things out—unsure of who I was, but slowly finding my way through storytelling, collaboration, and creativity. This space gave me the freedom to explore my identity, my culture, and my place in the world.
That being said, being a crafty kid was the greatest experience ever. I highly recommend it.
In the Twin Cities, there are many organizations doing incredible work to support young artists, Juxtaposition Arts, WAM Collective, Free Arts, and Art Buddies are just a few. But the Walker stands out because it is actively reshaping what it means for a museum to serve its community. It is proof that cultural institutions don’t have to be rigid, distant, or exclusive. They can be spaces of belonging.
Make sure to check out the work of the Walker Art Center Teen Arts Council and follow them on Instagram at @walkerteens.
