Youth Programs
The Walker Art Center hosts programming specifically for teens and middle schoolers. Come watch a movie, make art, see performances, or just chill with friends in a fun and friendly space—all for free.
Walker Art Center Teen Arts Council (WACTAC)
Much of the Walker’s teen programming is created by the Walker Art Center Teen Arts Council (WACTAC). WACTAC is a group of teen creators and advocates from across the Twin Cities. The group meets weekly during the school year to connect with contemporary art and artists. Members not only learn about working at an art center, but they also help create new ways for other teens to experience the Walker.
Follow WACTAC on Instagram @walkerteens.
The Walker Art Center Teen Arts Council (WACTAC) was founded in 1996 as a radical way to create space for teens and teen voices in a museum context. Since its founding, WACTAC has made major contributions to the Walker and the Twin Cities art community as a whole.
Over the years, its members have developed exhibitions and events to showcase teen artists, invited resident artists to give talks and lead classes, developed marketing materials and strategies, written and published original work for print and online, planned regional film festivals, and partnered with local groups to present programs throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul. These experiences have helped alumni attain scholarships and audiences for their work, secure curatorial and educational positions, and use their organizational and arts advocacy skills in their colleges and home communities.
As one of the first programs of its kind, WACTAC has inspired teen councils at art museums across the country. Some WACTAC alumni have gone on to help launch and run teen programs and councils at other museums, including the Bronx Museum of the Arts; the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston; the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston; and the Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Decades since launching WACTAC, the Walker remains committed to creating meaningful and relevant arts experiences for teens and continues to explore ways to configure and refresh this core program. WACTAC works with new artists and staff members at the Walker annually.
Apply to WACTAC
Applications for the 2025–26 school year are currently closed. Please check back in spring to apply to join the 2026–27 cohort.
To apply for WACTAC, you must:
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Be an 11th- or 12th-grade student during the 2026–2027 school year.
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Be interested in learning more about contemporary art and museums – you do not need to be an artist!
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Commit to attending weekly meetings: WACTAC meets on Thursdays from 4:30–6:30 pm, September 10–June 3. Weekly attendance is expected. Before applying, think about sports schedules, work commitments, and any extracurricular activities that could fill your time throughout the school year.
Perks:
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WACTAC members receive a $30 stipend per meeting, issued as a prepaid Visa gift card each month. Bus tokens, gas cards, or rideshare gift certificates are available to members who need additional transportation support to participate.
Key Dates:
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Applications open March 30, 2026.
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Applications due by midnight on June 28, 2026.
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In-person group interviews will take place throughout the week of July 13 at the Walker. We will reach out over email in early July with more information about interviews.
Upcoming Youth Programs
Resources
Explore a free download of the Walker Art Center’s Museum Teen Programs How-To Kit, a publication offering reflections, conversations, and essays on cohort-based teen programs at museums across the United States.
Featuring contributions from a range of museum teen education professionals, this publication is intended to be used as a tool for navigating the unique challenges of facilitating impactful creative youth development in museums. Created by and for educators, the How-To Kit provides a plethora of resources and instructions for applied activities.
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Lead support for the Walker’s Learning and Public Programs is provided by the Pohlad Family Community Engagement Fund. Additional support is provided by the Patrick and Aimee Butler Family Foundation and Susan and Rob White.