Application alert! 

Want to get paid to be creative with other teens? The new paid Teen Leadership Collective with the National Gallery of Art is a space where teens—their lives, ideas, and connections—are the center of all that blooms around them.

Collaborate with other teenagers to host an event based on a social topic of your group’s choosing, all while earning $20 an hour. This topic can be as specific as memorials in your neighborhood or as broad as the theme of family.

Learn more about DC’s artistic and creative communities as you sharpen skills in research, public speaking, problem solving, critical thinking, and event planning.

What to expect

The collective will be made up of eight teenagers, ages 15–19, living in DC. 

Program features:

• Icebreakers
• Mindfulness activities
• Artmaking
• Group discussions 
• Visits with National Gallery staff and local area creatives

With a focus on community building, career development and skill building, mental health and social emotional learning, and social justice, we’ve got your back—regardless of your level of comfort with art, new people, or creative spaces. 

The details

Teens must be at least 15 years old by the start of the Teen Leadership Collective program in January 2025. 

Meetings:  
Saturdays, 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.  
January 11– May 31, 2025 
There will not be a session on January 18, 2025.

The deadline to apply is Sunday, December 1, 2024.  Interviews will be held December 9–15, and final decisions will be shared by December 18. 

Check out our FAQ page for more info. Questions? Email [email protected].

Apply Now