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; day(s) of week depend(s) on studio selection. Studios begin the week of September 23 and end the week of December 12.
fashion design
ceramics
music production
photography
video production
illustration
See all of the fall studio offerings listed in the enrollment form below!
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.
schedule
Depending on the studio you participate in, studios meet either twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday, once a week on Monday or Wednesday, 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 7-9 of the paper enrollment form. The same studio options are included in the online enrollment form.
key dates
August 1 • Enrollment opens
August 22 • Priority enrollment deadline for returning students (students who attended spring 2024 semester)
September 5 • Enrollment event #1 (required for new students – who did not attend spring 2024 semester)
September 11 • Enrollment event #2 (required for new students – who did not attend spring 2024 semester)
September 11 • Enrollment forms due Deadline extended: Enrollment forms due September 24
By September 17 • Students receive an email regarding studio placement
Week of Sept. 23 • Teen Arts + Tech Program begins (exact date dependent upon studio)
October 21 • GRPS no school, no Teen Arts + Tech Program
October 31 • GRPS half day, no Teen Arts + Tech Program
November 5 • GRPS no school, no Teen Arts + Tech Program
November 27-28 • Thanksgiving, no Teen Arts + Tech Program
December 12 • Teen Arts + Tech Exhibition at 5:30 p.m., family and friends encouraged to attend