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Young Artists For The Planet
Michael Lundgren, The Algaeic Fox, 2006. Courtesy the artist.
MarinMOCA Teen Council
The Teen Council is made up of high school students from across Marin County with diverse backgrounds, schools, and interests. Members don’t need to be artists or art experts—just curious, open-minded, and excited about culture, creativity, and community.
Working alongside artists, educators, and museum staff, Teen Council members help shape exhibitions, design public programs, and imagine what a contemporary art museum can be for young people today.
What unites the group is a shared interest in:
❋ Contemporary art and visual culture ❋ Working collaboratively with peers ❋ Exploring big ideas through creative practice ❋ Helping shape a museum that feels welcoming and relevant to teens 
Juan Brenner, Untitled, Olintepeque, Guatemala, 2018
Courtesy the artist and Segismundo Gallery.
How to Get Involved
Set Up Situations
Teens, students, and community members are invited to take part in Set Up Situations, a youth-led extension of the exhibition Set Up Situations: Photography as Action at MarinMOCA. Participants are asked to visit a natural site in Marin County, spend time practicing presence in nature, and create a “portrait of place” using photography, video, sound, drawing, writing, or collage. These works become part of an evolving, in-gallery installation created by the Teen Council and their collaborators. Anyone can participate—individually, with friends, or through school groups—by visiting a site, documenting their experience, and sharing their work with the museum. Contributions can be submitted digitally, shared on social media, or brought directly to MarinMOCA, where select works may be featured and participants receive special invitations to teen-led events.
Teens who are interested in art, culture, design, writing, photography, social issues, or event planning are encouraged to apply for the 2026 cohort in April. Details to follow.
Join the Teen Council
We are always recruiting new members: Students can contribute to Teen Council initiatives—such as Young Artists for the Planet, joining public programs and events.
Participate in Teen-Led Projects
To learn more or get involved, contact lcharkin@marinmoca.org or follow us on Instagram @MarinMOCA for upcoming opportunities.
Why It Matters
National research from leading museums shows that teen programs like this have a lasting impact, building confidence, communication skills, and a lifelong sense of belonging in cultural spaces. When teens are trusted as collaborators rather than treated as an audience, they gain agency, discover new career paths, and learn how to express their ideas with clarity and confidence.
For MarinMOCA, the Teen Council ensures that young voices are part of the museum’s present and future. At a time when teens are navigating academic pressure, social fragmentation, and climate anxiety, the council offers a rare opportunity: meaningful participation, creative leadership, and a sense of ownership over public space.
Michael Lundgren, Conception Rock, 2018. Courtesy the artist.
Events
Public programs include an exhibition opening with teen-led introductions, a DJ night with printing and screen-printing activities, group field excursions, and a culminating Teen Takeover of MarinMOCA, featuring installations and a drive-in movie screening. Throughout the process, teens collaborate with exhibiting artists and mentors, gaining insight into artistic practice, exhibition-making, and civic engagement.
Stay tuned for dates and details!
Richard T. Walker, still, still missing you, 2025
Courtesy the artist and Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco