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Youth Council

Youth Council

MAM’s Youth Council gives high school students hands-on experience in leadership, community engagement and exhibition development. Members learn how an exhibition takes shape by reviewing submissions, selecting artwork, writing labels and helping design the gallery. Their work culminates in a teen-curated exhibition featuring art created by their peers.

Apply to the Youth Council

Gain Hands-On Experience in the Arts

Youth Council members bring their ideas, experiences and perspectives into the museum. Over the course of the school year, they develop leadership and curatorial skills while learning about education and career paths in the arts.

Members meet staff from across MAM to see how a museum works from the inside. They review artwork, make decisions about exhibition design and develop a public program for other young people. In the spring, the Council puts those skills into practice by curating an exhibition of work by student artists.

Program Details

Who can apply? What is the time commitment?
How big is the Youth Council?
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Who can apply?

Rising high school sophomores and juniors from the greater Memphis area can apply to be in the Youth Council.

What is the time commitment?
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What is the time commitment?

Members are expected to participate for one to two years. Meetings take place every other week from September through May.

Who can apply? How big is the Youth Council?
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How big is the Youth Council?

Each cohort remains intentionally small so students can contribute meaningfully and receive direct support from museum staff. Expect a group of 10-15 peers.

What is the time commitment?

About the Inaugural Cohort

MAM launched the Youth Council in 2025 with nine high school students. During their first year, members learned how exhibitions take shape by reviewing submissions, selecting artwork, writing labels and helping design the gallery.

Their work culminated in Who You See and Who We Are: A reflection on teenage identity, culture, and change, an exhibition curated entirely by the Council and featuring art by Memphis-area teens. Through work exploring identity, adolescence and personal change, the exhibition gave young artists a place to share how they see themselves and the people around them.

Apply for the Next Cohort

Help shape how MAM welcomes young people while gaining experience inside a museum environment.