GREENFIELD — Artspace Community Arts Center is looking to form a teen advisory board that would make recommendations about what they and their peers want the nonprofit to offer the area’s younger artists.
According to Artspace Executive Director Samantha Wood, there haven’t been a lot of teens in the building since she took the helm last fall, but she wants that to change. She said the board would consist of teens and possibly some adult advisors.
“We have a few programs for teens,” she said. “I’d like to see more programs, and teens have more of a hand in them. I want to know what they want. Art classes? Workshops? Jams?”
Wood said she’s talked to several people who have been involved with Artspace over the years, and they have said they don’t remember many teens being involved, at least in recent years.
“This is a transitional period for us,” Wood said. “But we can do more. It’s important that young people become involved because they are part of our community. They are our future.”
Wood said teens should be involved in their own program development, and forming a board is a good way to start. She said teens are currently underserved at Artspace, but that can change quickly if they become part of the equation during the planning phase.
“Our goals are to let teens know they have an arts center, and give them an agency to design what they want,” Wood said. “Getting involved here means they could also learn how to run a nonprofit, simply by being involved. They could use those skills later, wherever they go.”
Wood said she’d also like area youths to learn how to run an arts center, providing classes, marketing them, writing about them and creating through graphic design.
“Teens need agency in their own work,” she said. “If their work is important to them — and I believe it is — they should have a hand in showing it. They should be there with their art to help set up, for instance, when they participate in an art show here.”
Each winter, Wood said Artspace holds an art show that features work of students from different schools. She said some students don’t show up for the event. She said she would like that to change.
“The board could help design, hang and promote our show next winter,” she said.
Wood said she’s not sure how many students will serve on the board because it depends on interest.
Artspace will hold a Tea and Cookies event on Friday, 6 to 7 p.m. at Artspace, 15 Mill St., Greenfield. She said all that interested youth have to do is show up.
“Teens, who are interested in the arts, and their parents or guardians, should come talk about it,” she said. “There’s no obligation. I just want to get them in the building, and then, we’ll see what happens.”
Artspace’s office hours are Monday through Thursday, noon to 6 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, email: info@artspacegreenfield.com or call 413-772-6811.