WMCAT’s tuition-free afterschool Teen Arts + Tech Program makes space for you to elevate your voice, build creative confidence, and connect with the community through visual arts and digital media.
TEEN ARTS + TECH ENROLLMENT
Create Art • Make Friends • Connect With Community • Elevate Your Voice
WHO – Grand Rapids Public Schools students in grades 9–12.
WHERE – West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology, 614 First St NW #300 (Third Floor), Grand Rapids, MI 49504.
WHEN – After school, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. weekly; days of week depend on studio selection. Studios begin the week of January 27 and end the week of May 12.
fashion design
ceramics
illustration
music production
video production
What to Expect
Click on the sections below to read more.
transportation
GRPS provides daily yellow school bus transportation (through Dean Transportation) to WMCAT from GRPS high schools and provides a city bus (The Rapid) pass to get home from WMCAT. Details about daily yellow school bus transportation will be communicated with students once enrolled, prior to the program start.
Metered street parking is available for students at their own expense. We do not provide garage parking.
schedule
Depending on the studio you participate in, studios meet either twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday or twice a week on Monday and Wednesday (please see the studio selection portion of the enrollment form for more information).
a day at WMCAT
When you arrive at WMCAT after school, you’ll be greeted by WMCAT Teen Arts + Tech Program staff and teaching artists. We will have a snack offering and an optional activity for you to engage in prior to studios. Announcements are shared at 3:30 p.m. and studios begin immediately after. When studios end at 5:30 p.m., we can provide a bus pass for you to take The Rapid home, or you can make your own arrangements to get home.
studio experience
In your studio, you’ll be with up to 11 other GRPS high school students and a teaching artist, allowing you to meet and collaborate with teens from across the city. In addition to gaining skills and completing projects in your studio’s visual arts or digital media discipline, you will: go on field trips; explore real-world and career applications of your creative learnings; share your ideas and voice on issues that matter to you; practice giving and receiving feedback; display your work in an exhibition; and have opportunities to participate in other WMCAT Teen Arts + Tech Program activities such as specialty workshops.
studio options
See a list of studios on pages 7-8 of the paper enrollment form. The same studio options are included in the online enrollment form.
key dates
December 12 • Enrollment opens
January 8 • Priority enrollment deadline for returning students (students who attended fall 2024 semester)
January 14 • Enrollment event (required for new students – who did not attend fall 2024 semester)
January 17 • Enrollment forms due
By January 23 • Students receive an email regarding studio placement
Week of Jan. 27 • Teen Arts + Tech Program begins (exact date dependent upon studio)
February 24-25 • GRPS no school, no Teen Arts + Tech Program
March 17 • GRPS half day, no Teen Arts + Tech Program
April 4-11 • GRPS no school, no Teen Arts + Tech Program
May 13 • Teen Arts + Tech Exhibition at 5:30 p.m., family and friends encouraged to attend
May 14-15 • End of Year Student Celebration, celebrate with us at your normal studio date + time
To Enroll
The Teen Arts + Tech Program is tuition-free and open to all Grand Rapids Public high school students in grades 9-12.
To ensure cross-district representation and opportunity, there are a limited number of student spots in the program per high school; students who enroll after the spots from their high school are filled will be put on a waitlist.
Click on the applicable heading below, either returning or new students, for instructions on how to enroll.
Returning Students: 1 Step to Enroll
Students who attended WMCAT during the fall 2024 year: complete a spring 2025 enrollment form with your studio selection, signed by a parent/guardian. Submit by January 8 to secure your spot before new students enroll. You can either:
Fill out the online form below.
– OR –
Fill out the paper form below and do one of the following:
– Drop off form at WMCAT M–Th, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.**
– Scan and email form to teenprograms@wmcat.org.
– Bring a parent/guardian to an enrollment event* (below) to complete and sign form at WMCAT.
*Returning students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) are not required to attend the enrollment event but are welcome to!
**Note: WMCAT is closed December 23-January 3
New Students: 2 Steps to Enroll
Complete a spring 2025 enrollment form with your studio selection, signed by a parent/guardian, by January 17. You can either:
Fill out the online form below.
– OR –
Fill out the paper form below and do one of the following:
– Drop off form at WMCAT M–Th, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.*
– Scan and email form to teenprograms@wmcat.org.
– Bring a parent/guardian to an enrollment event (below) to complete and sign form at WMCAT.
Attend the enrollment event in the section below to see WMCAT’s space, meet program staff and teaching artists, and ask questions.
New students will not be enrolled until both steps are completed.
*Note: WMCAT is closed December 23-January 3
Enrollment Event
Enrollment events are required for new students; returning students are welcome.
Tuesday, January 14, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
614 First St. #300 (third floor), Grand Rapids, MI 49504.
See WMCAT’s space, meet staff and teaching artists, and turn in enrollment forms while enjoying refreshments. Open house style; tours every 20 minutes. Busing from schools to WMCAT provided; see the WMCAT poster at your school’s main office for details on transportation.
Questions? Contact Program Coordinator Carolina at 616-454-7004 or teenprograms@wmcat.org.