What’s up everyone! I’m Syd, the Assistant of the Brooklyn Museum’s Apprentice Program. The Museum A

What’s up everyone! I’m Syd, the Assistant of the Brooklyn Museum’s Apprentice Program. The Museum Apprentice Program provides an inspiring space, and pushes for growth and change both personally and professionally. As a former apprentice myself, I know that the Apprentice Program is an amazing program to expand your skill-sets, meet other youth from different parts of NYC, and be yourself.The Museum Apprentices meet once a week throughout the school year to interact with art within the Museum, garner effective skills as educators, and create their own lesson plans. For six weeks throughout the summer, they teach their lesson plans to camp groups, have exchanges with teen programs from other institutions, go on trips, participate in many of the Brooklyn Museum’s events such as the BKM’s First Saturdays, Hands on Art, or the BKM’s Annual Alumni Event, and become a part of a family.Throughout the program, Museum Apprentices often found themselves reaching a higher sense of courage in museum spaces. With leadership stemming from fellow museum educators and our Teen Program’s coordinator Ximena Izquierdo Ugaz, our Teen Program’s manager Lindsay C. Harris, and our Teen Program’s Assistant Orlando Pazol Mendoza, the apprentices along with myself are able to garner great inspiration being people of color in this space. “I always had dreams of being a part of a museum. However, it was also very intimidating being that I am a Latina woman. Once I began progressing in MAP and seen women who remind me of myself, I began to develop faith in myself. I was closer connected to art and to professionals who have achieved their dreams within major institutions.” — Melissa, Apprentice closing out her first year in the Museum Apprentice Program. MAP plays a major role in creating or cultivating a sense of purpose in museums. Most of the apprentices often reflect on the change in their perspectives within institutions. The apprentices notice how many youth of color walk into the Brooklyn Museum on a daily basis, and how many of them make up the camp groups in which they teach. Each of the apprentices have found drive toward creating change through art. “MAP is always actively spreading knowledge to the youth. It’s more than just looking at art, there’s a lot to take from it.” —Justin, Senior Apprentice closing out his third year in MAP Both the MAP Program and the physical space which we take up is welcoming and inclusive. MAP is made up of youth who identify with differentiating identities and intersections. For Museum Apprentice Chris, the physical area in which the Brooklyn Museum is located plays a major role in MAP’s progressiveness. “We’re right in the heart of Brooklyn. I’m a sheltered kid, so this program has not only made me more inclusive but exclusive as well.” —Chris, Apprentice closing out their first year in the programFor the MAP team, this summer has paved a way for growth, unique experiences, and purpose. From workshops with museum educators and artists like Benjamin Lundberg, Londs Reuter, Danilo Machado, Ezra Benus, ray ferreira and more, plus exchanges with The Whitney Teens, The OppNet Teens, and The New Museum Teens, to trips visiting The Whitney Museum, Brooklyn’s Historical Society, The New Museum, El Museo del Barrio and CCADI, we’ve become very inspired and appreciative of these spaces which encourage us all to become our best selves and push for progressive change within marginalized groups. “I appreciate being in a room with others who know how it feels to be in a museum space as well…meeting them illustrates how much we really do and accomplish.” —Mariatou, Senior Apprentice closing out her second year in MAP. As youth that are part of marginalized groups, we’ve learned together and became greatly fearless throughout this journey. The Museum Apprentice Program has taught us so much about ourselves and the spaces in which we often find ourselves apart of. Every day, we start and end our days with checking in with one another, and opening the space for everyone to be themselves, reflect on our days, and express ourselves in whichever way feels most comfortable. I appreciate the unconditional support and love that comes out of MAP, and becoming a part of something so radical is a unique experience that we don’t hear about often. The Apprentices’ voices are definitely heard and felt throughout NYC and the Brooklyn Museum.  Posted by Sydney Warton -- source link

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