FREE
Education Classrooms

The AK Teens Portfolio Review sessions will give Western New York high school students in grades nine through twelve the opportunity to have their work reviewed and critiqued by area artists and fine arts professors. Early review and critique of work provides a key advantage for students planning on pursuing a degree in the visual arts and eventual careers in the art world. Students will be able to ask questions about their work and seek guidance and advice on attending college art programs and pursuing careers as artists. 

While some portfolio reviews are geared specifically toward college/university recruitment, the goal of these sessions is to give students—even those in the early years of high school—the opportunity to have their portfolio reviewed and to discuss their work with area professionals. Students who attend in the early years of high school could benefit from multiple years of review before applying for a college program. 

Reviewer sessions will be conducted by the following local artists and teachers:
Kyle Butler, Drawing and Painting
Amy Greenan, Painting
Megan Metté, Photography, Video, Digital Arts
Nathan Naetzker, Painting, Photography, Installation
Nicole Ritchey, Sculpture and Printmaking

Registration

Sessions are open to high school students in grades nine through twelve. Each review session is twenty-five minutes long. A time slot will be assigned and a placement made with a reviewer who best fits the student’s primary area of focus, if applicable.

Participation in the review sessions is free, but space is limited and registration is required by Tuesday, April 5, 2016. To assure a time slot, please complete and send in the Registration Form. Confirmation will be sent via email on Friday, April 8, 2016.

What to Bring

Students participating in the review sessions are encouraged to bring a sampling of no more than ten works, which can include finished pieces, work in progress, and sketchbooks. If possible, the portfolio should provide a variety of works in different media and styles. If work is small and two-dimensional, we ask that you bring in the original whenever possible.  If your work is large, three-dimensional, or otherwise difficult to carry, you can bring photographs instead. If you want to provide a digital version of your work, you must bring your own fully charged laptop, iPad, or tablet, as outlets and on-site laptops will not be provided.

About AK Teens

The AK Teens program, presented by the First Niagara Foundation, is a dynamic mentoring program serving teens from across Western New York and Southern Ontario. Designed to mentor young adults seeking to pursue careers in creativity and the arts, AK Teens provides a platform for young artists to exhibit their work, and to prepare portfolios, which are vital for admission to college arts programs. The program offers workshops and mentoring on subjects ranging from making art to working in the arts, and even public speaking.