Thanks to all who attended our Virtual Teen Arts Leadership Summit (TALS) on June 27. Stay tuned; additional TALS programming is in the works!
Urban Gateways and Teen Arts Pass are teaming up with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) to host the 2020 Teen Arts Leadership Summit. The Summit celebrates the role that young people play in the Chicago arts scene. This program provides a chance for teens to come together to exchange ideas, share experiences, and explore creativity, all around the arts with an extra emphasis on music in celebration of the Year of Chicago Music (YOCM), in partnership with other Chicago youth-serving arts organizations.
Virtual TALS:
On Saturday, June 27th from 2-4pm, 85 people participated in a Virtual Teen Arts Leadership Summit on Zoom, which was planned primarily by our 15-person TALS Teen Advisory Committee. The event included a teen keynote speaker (cellist Ifetayo Ali-Landing), a performance by Cielito Lindo (a family mariachi band), and the choice of three interactive and teen-led workshops on topics such as conquering performance anxiety, advocating for the arts, and creative community-building. We were thrilled to welcome teens into this virtual space and encourage them to grow their creative leadership!
You can watch Virtual TALS keynote speaker Ifetayo Ali as well as the event’s virtual performance by Cielito Lindo on the Teen Arts Pass YouTube channel!
Scroll to see how you can get involved with TALS!
Pictured: The winner of our 2020 TALS Poster Design Contest, as voted by our June 27 Virtual TALS participants!
2020-21 TEEN ADVISORY COUNCIL
In 2020-21 we’re trying something new; we’re combining the Teen Arts Pass Teen Council and the Teen Arts Leadership Summit Advisory Committee to create ONE awesome group of young leaders that will serve as the youth voice for teen-centric programming at Urban Gateways (including TAP + TALS!).
The Council is responsible for ensuring these programs best serve Chicago area teens by providing program and partner feedback, planning teen events, creating recruitment strategies and promotional materials, and more.
Applications are now closed. A member of our staff will be in touch with applicants soon!
LEAD A SESSION
We are continuing to collect submissions on a rolling basis for upcoming TALS events, both those that could be hosted in-person and virtually (check back for programming details as they are confirmed). We are seeking a diverse variety of voices to share with teens through Teen Arts Leadership Summit programming. Priority will be given to teens (ages 13-19) who want to share their expertise with fellow young arts leaders. Session proposals from young alumni of teen arts and/or leadership programs, or adults with relevant expertise, are also welcome. All proposals should be diverse and engaging with an emphasis on arts and/or leadership and ideally fall within one of the following categories:
- Explore: Introductory sessions for teens who are new to the art form
- Expand: Deeper exploration sessions for teens who are already engaged in a particular art form or leadership track
(Note: Sessions that do not fit into one of the above categories will still be considered.)
Sessions will be between 40-60 minutes in length.
Proposals for all sessions will be primarily reviewed by the Teen Arts Leadership Summit Teen Advisory Council. Stipends will be provided for session leaders and financial support may be available for supplies, if applicable.
Apply here to lead a future TALS Session >>
PERFORM
We are continuing to collect submissions on a rolling basis for upcoming events, both those that could be hosted in-person and virtually (check back for programing details as they are confirmed). We are looking for teen/youth performances to feature throughout future programming. Don’t miss this chance to perform for other creative teens! Performance slots will be between 5 and 15 minutes in length* and can feature any artistic discipline, although there will be an emphasis on music in celebration of the Year of Chicago Music.
Applications for all events will be primarily reviewed by the Teen Arts Leadership Summit Teen Advisory Council. Stipends will be provided. All applications for virtual performance are expected to adhere to safe social distancing practices.
Please note: While featured performers should be teens, artists do not have to be affiliated with a particular organization.
*If your performance would be more appropriate in a 40-60 minute session, please fill out the Session Proposal Form, note that the format is “Other”, and specify that it is a performance.
Apply here to perform with TALS >>
Keep checking back for information about upcoming Teen Arts Leadership Summit programs!
Our thanks to the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) for partnering with us to make TALS a reality!
