The application period for this program has closed.

Want to get paid to be creative with other teens? Earn up to $2,000 by participating in the new Teen Leadership Collective at the National Gallery of Art; a space where teens—their lives, ideas, and connections—are the center of all that blooms around them.

Collaborate with other teenagers and National Gallery staff to design and contribute to an event at the National Gallery, based on a social topic of the group’s choosing. This topic can be as specific as memorials in your neighborhood or as broad as the theme of family.

Learn more about DC’s artistic and creative communities as you sharpen skills in research, public speaking, problem solving, critical thinking, and event planning.

The Teen Leadership Collective will be made up of up to eight teenagers, aged 15–19, living in DC. 

Program features:

Icebreakers
Mindfulness activities
Artmaking
Group discussions 
Visits with National Gallery staff and local area creatives to learn about careers
With a focus on community building, career development and skill building, mental health, and social emotional learning, we’ve got your back—regardless of your level of comfort with art, new people, or creative spaces.

Meetings:  
Saturdays, 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.  
January 11– May 31, 2025 
There will not be a session on January 18, 2025.

Pay   
$100 per attended meeting up to $2,000.

Eligibility

Teens must:

Be at least 15 years old on or before January 11, 2025
Reside in the District of Columbia
Be able to attend all meetings 
Be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.
The application period for this program has closed.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for membership in the Teen Leadership Collective without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship, or any other protected status. The National Gallery offers equal opportunity and treatment to all who apply.  

Questions? Email [email protected].

We’re cooking up new experiences for local and visiting teens. Be sure to sign up for updates about our new teen-exclusive programs.