Teen Studio is educational program that engages UAE youth who are interested in pursuing creative careers. In collaboration with Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), the program prepares and equips students with the knowledge and skills required to pursue various creative disciplines at university-level and expands their broader understanding of creative industries.
This program is an outcome of our annual Warehouse421 Internship Program, where NYUAD students Aya Afaneh and Sree Jyothish, who were selected through the internship program that year, worked closely with the Warehouse421 team to design and develop the teens program for the first time, catering to ADEK students. Since then, the program has expanded and has prepared high school students from across Abu Dhabi to successfully apply for higher education programs in the arts. Now, Warehouse421 is running the third edition of the program and welcomes applicants based in the Abu Dhabi Region, including Al Dhafrah, Al Ain, and Abu Dhabi city, to apply.
• Deadline for Studio Practice applications is on 3 October, and the program will start on 12 October 2022.
• Deadline for Portfolio Critique applications is on 5 November, and the program will start on 23 November 2022.
• In Program Design, two participants will be shortlisted from the Studio Practice sessions and the program will roll out on 24 October 2022.
The program includes three main modules, which are described below.
STUDIO PRACTICE
Studio Practice is a series of workshops that are aimed at developing practical creative skills and providing practice-based guidance on university/college applications and career skills. Teens learn different techniques that can elevate their artistic practice as well as their portfolio and professional soft-skills. The program takes place once a week, and runs throughout october. Each session will be held after school hours virtually for 1h 30 min, and the final session of the program will take place at Warehouse421.
The Deadline for Studio Practice applications is on 3 October 2022.
List of workshops for October 2022:
Interdisciplinary Work: Working through Process
• Group 1: 12 October
• Group 2: 13 October
This session is an investigation of the artistic process and how interdisciplinary art leads to creation. Redefine your understanding of ‘art’ and what it means to be an artist. This session explores the process of research, experimenting, and producing art in a way that works for you.
Interdisciplinary Work: Chance Creation
• Group 1: 19 October
• Group 2: 20 October
How can we see objects differently in order to use them unconventionally? What can we learn from the wrong brushstroke and how can we incorporate ‘chance’ accidents into our work? Explore how accidents can become the most interesting aspect of an artwork and learn a variety of techniques to embrace imperfections.
Building a Portfolio
• Group 1: 26 October
• Group 2: 27 October
This session introduces the basics of designing and curating a portfolio for new and young artists. We answer questions like: how to photograph and choose what work to include in a portfolio, how to keep your portfolio interesting with every page turn, and what elements are essential when designing your portfolio!
Photowalk Critique (In-person)
Group 1 & 2: 12 November
An in-person workshop that engages participants with their surrounding environment through a photowalk that allows them to explore their artistic relationship to place, location and sites.The session will focus on a specific neighborhood in Abu Dhabi and will include photography guidance, discussion-based studio time, leading to a deep dive on the ins and outs of self-critique and artist ethics.
• Students registered in any Abu Dhabi Schools (Private, Charter, Public)
• High School students enrolled in Grades 10 to 13
• Students that are planning to apply for an undergraduate degree or pursuing a career in art-related disciplines, i.e. Architecture, Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interior Design, Animation, and other creative or visual art-based courses.
PORTFOLIO CRITIQUE
Portfolio Critique is designed to enhance teens’ professional development and their portfolio. This is a mentored session where teens receive feedback and critique on their existing work and how to develop their portfolio further. The sessions are led by industry professionals, artists and art educators who have extensive experience educating young and emerging artists. The deadline for Portfolio Critique applications is 5 November.
Download this file for guidance on how to curate your portfolio.
Criteria & Eligibility
• Students registered in any Abu Dhabi Schools (Private, Charter, Public)
• High School students enrolled in Grades 10 to 13
• Students that are planning to apply for an undergraduate degree or pursuing a career in art-related disciplines, i.e. Architecture, Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interior Design, Animation, and other creative or visual art-based courses.
PROGRAM DESIGN
Program Design is a special element of the Teen Studios program that gives two shortlisted participants from the Studio Practice the opportunity to bring their own programming ideas to life. From conceptualization to implementation, the two participants will learn how to develop and design their own public program, learn project management skills like how to forecast a budget to realize their own project, and finally how to take it through to execution.