The Lab for Teen Thinkers (2017–2022) was a public humanities program that prepared rising juniors and seniors for future academic and professional success through civic development, mentoring, and internship opportunities. Participants had access to Bard Graduate Center’s research institute, study collection, and library with over 55,000 volumes. The program offered a behind-the-scenes look at how New York City museums function and gave teens the unique opportunity to study objects and artifacts with a variety of scholars, curators, and PhD students working in the fields of material culture, decorative arts, and design history. Participants conducted independent research and created dynamic digital projects with the support of our Digital Media Lab. Teen Thinkers contributed their research and scholarship with the larger academic community at Bard Graduate Center, influencing how others might learn and think about material culture.
Over the past thirty years, many scholars, students, and interested New Yorkers have worked to figuratively and literally unearth the history of Seneca Village and the experiences of its residents from archives and artifacts. This year’s Teen Thinkers built upon that research and created a digital exhibition to share their discoveries with you. Learn more.
2019
Teen Thinkers conducted independent research projects on the theme Design, Space, and the Everyday. Their research was informed by interviews in the field with Miko McGinty of Miko Books; Anita Perr of The NYU Ability Project; Mabel O. Wilson of The Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at Columbia University; and Alida Jekabson of The Museum of Art and Design. Learn more.
“In a way it changed my entire perspective of museums. When I walk into a museum, I try to envision myself as a curator and try to dissect the layout of the exhibit. I also learned to enter a museum and become a critic, as I try to find the deeper meaning. As for material culture, I cannot help myself, I now question everything I come in contact with. The program has helped me see the power of objects.”
Currently the program is not accepting applications.
