Where did we go right (and wrong)? Reflecting on definitions of success and failure with youth-led organizers^*

Abstract

Since its inception in 2011, Museum Teen Summit (MTS), a youth-led collective dedicated to better understanding and transforming the role of young people within museums, sought to act as a bridge between teens and cultural organizations. Over eight years, MTS built an impressive network of youth and adult professionals interested in specialized programming for teens in museums, conducted research on teen agency in museums, organized events for teens within museums, and presented at professional conferences across the country. The work of the over ninety young people who cycled through the collective was a resounding success, but with notable flaws and space for improvement. A closer analysis of the work of MTS also reveals less conventionally recognized successes. This collectively written article, authored by youth alumni and an adult collaborator, analyzes definitions of success and failure in youth-led organizing and research and how they shaped our work and our experiences.

Keywords:

• Youth research
• museum education
• art education
• participatory research
• museums

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sofya Zeylikman

Sofya Zeylikman is a designer, researcher, and educator dedicated to the pursuit of empathy and creativity in her work. She holds a Masters of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design. She currently works as a Senior Design Researcher for athenahealth.

Billy Zhao

Billy Zhao is a cultural producer and writer. He is one of the founding members of Museum Teen Summit. He is currently a collaborator of Marina Abramovic Institute. Billy holds in B.A. in Art History and Studio Art from CUNY Macaulay Honors at Hunter College.

Iveethe Molina

Iveethe Molina is a museum educator currently working as an imagiNATIONS Activity Center Assistant at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in NYC. She is passionate about cultural, historical, art, and museum education audience educational strategies.

Seung Hee Kim

Seung Hee Kim is an artist and researcher based in New York. She has worked with the curatorial teams of the New Museum, the Whitney Museum, Columbia University, Local Project Art Space, and COLA TAXI OKAY. She currently works in the Director’s Office at the Brooklyn Museum.

Kiana Carrington

Kiana Carrington has worked with many arts organizations throughout New York City including BRIC, Lincoln Center, and The Museum of Arts and Design. The interdisciplinary nature of her academic work has allowed her to explore the intersection of art and technology through computer games, websites, and physical interactive pieces.

Marit Dewhurst

Marit Dewhurst is the Director of Art Education and Associate Professor of Art and Museum Education at The City College of New York. Building on her work with teen programs in museums, she co-founded and worked closely with the Museum Teen Summit, a youth-led museum advocacy group. She writes about social justice art education.