Teens

The Walters invites teens to strengthen their creative and professional skills, broaden their network of peers, and gain appreciation for cultural differences. We offer teens opportunities to take a leadership role, get creative, and create events for their peers. Explore all we have to offer teens in our community!

Teens in a museum gallery

“Teen programs at the Walters are a great way to meet people while learning new things.”

A Teen Program Participant

Teen Lab

This drop-in program offers teens a space to further develop their creative skills and learn about global cultures. Each session, we explore different cultures represented in the museum through relevant activities, music, and snacks! Teen Lab is for 14–18 year olds and takes place monthly from October to June.

Teen Takeover

The Teen Takeover is a museum-wide, teen-led arts festival hosted annually by the Teen Advisory Council. Each year, WAMTAC chooses an area of the museum collection to build a variety of themed activities. For example, the 2024 theme, “RENAISSANCE,” combined Beyoncé’s album and our collection of Renaissance art with a sonnet-writing competition, a then-and-now fashion show, a Shakespeare x Beyoncé time travel escape room, and more!

In 2025, the Baltimore Beat awarded this event with “The Teens Are Alright” award for Teen Takeover: Mythology Mayhem, which highlighted our Ancient Greece collection.

Teen Advisory Council

The Walters Art Museum Teen Advisory Council (WAMTAC) provides teens with paid professional experience working on museum projects and programs. By joining, you can work with museum staff, share your unique perspective on museum projects, and help develop your own teen program. This program for 14–18 year olds takes place annually from July to August.

In WAMTAC, teens can…

  • Build writing, public speaking, and project management skills.
  • Meet Walters staff to learn about museum careers.
  • Conduct research on nationwide museum events and public programs for teens.
  • Host focus groups with teens in Baltimore City to learn their interests.
  • Collaborate with other teens to plan our annual Teen Takeover event, including developing and leading your own activity.

Applications are closed and will reopen soon.

Through Our Eyes: Teen Photographers

Develop your photography skills during this 10-week course culminating in a group exhibition. Teens will strengthen their creative skills, use DSLR cameras, and learn from an industry professional teaching artist. This program for 14–18 year olds takes place annually from March through May.

Past teaching artists include acclaimed artist-photographers SHAN Wallace (2024), Schaun Champion (2025), and Anna Divinagracia (2026).

Applications are closed. Check back in early 2027 for information on how to apply.

Upcoming Events for Teens

Thanks to Our Partners

Teen programs at the Walters are supported in part by Lewis Contractors, Robert E. Meyerhoff and Rheda Becker, and Sheila Mosmiller Vidmar.