Dear NYC Art Museums,
There are many museums that have attempted to reach out to children and families. While these platforms have helped and encouraged more families to come teens are still a less than welcomed group. Many museums have turned off younger audiences, middle school, and high school-aged students, in a number of ways. Hours are often difficult for students to manage with after school events and homework. And the typical museum’s attendants are not welcoming to younger crowds. Not to mention often times art is complex and difficult to digest.
Most museums are open during the workday. Unfortunately, this is means museums close only a few hours after school gets out. Students have difficulty making it to museums in this allotted time. Students have after-school obligations or simply must get their homework done before doing something else. There isn’t enough time on school afternoons for students to attend.
Obviously, there are weekends, and while this would solve the issue if the only conflict was the time, there are more factors that off put students. Teenagers are often seen as terrors or dangers, but believe it or not, many high school students opting to go to a museum in their free time are not there to wreak havoc. I personally have experienced judging glances and hushed whispers, side eyes and just general disapproval of my presence at more serious museums. This often isn’t because teenagers are trying to be disruptive, but more likely because it is just part of how they experience things. Teenagers are more social, and when trying to understand the complex works of art in sophisticated museums, head nods and long stares just won’t suffice.
Museums often put small one to two paragraph blurbs beside a piece of art. While for frequent attendants and well-versed art enthusiasts this is sufficient, for a teenager those blurbs just don’t cut it. The young adult brain has been trained to learn through lecture and lesson, and extensive reading, lots of facts and the ability to discuss the topic at hand. But art museums do not facilitate this and expect attendants to do it on their own. Younger audiences on the other hand normally won’t. Venturing into something by one’s self is a learned skill for things we have decided we love and need more of. However, teenagers are more likely to become frustrated or uninterested and decide to move on from it.
I propose night events that reach out to teens. Mainly focusing on high school students. These events could occur once a month on Friday nights during the school year. Where they can browse the museums but there is a portion to have a discussion about featured pieces and or a media presentation they could watch. Adding a discussion or analytical level has increased my own appreciation for art and could do wonders for many teens. Having an opportunity to discuss a piece adds more depth to something two-dimensional. And with the event open only to teenage students, the normal older crowd will not be in attendance. This would shift the mood of the museum, from tense and unwelcoming, to friendly and inviting. In addition, a food component would also be a huge draw. Either something simple like pizza available with the entrance fee or a snack bar that is open during the event. And of course, a sanctioned area for eating, as to keep the museum clean. But overall Fridays are a great time where young people don’t have school the next morning and are often looking for fun things to go out and do. An evening browsing the museum could not only be fun but extremely beneficial.
A young interest in art provides for a lifetime of more passionate interest in arts and culture generally. Gaining cultural interest and understanding adds to a person’s intellect. And if more kids gain knowledge about the surrounding world, more than just what social media and the news regurgitate, they will be better for it. And so, will this entire planet. Creating later visiting hours, and giving more digestible information will help teens get interested in art, and be more capable of applying what they’ve learned. The mind of a high school student is impressionable and waiting for the right people to imprint on it. The art museums of New York city should jump at the opportunity to do so.
Sincerely,
Elisa
