Teen Arts + Tech Program

At WMCAT, you’re an artist. Whether you’re glazing ceramics, capturing a photo, mixing a beat, designing a mural, shooting a video, or sewing a runway-ready look, the afterschool Teen Arts + Tech Program provides the space, industry-quality supplies and equipment, mentorship from local professional artists, and community connections needed for you to explore your creativity while building new skills and relationships.

And it’s all tuition-free. If you’re in grades 9–12 in Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS), then we have a spot just for you! We can’t wait to see what we’ll create together.

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.

fashion design

ceramics

music production

photography

video production

illustration

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, or once a week on Monday or Wednesday.

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 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.