Future Curators

AK Teens: Future Curators is an annual program designed to expose high school students to the museum field. Juniors and seniors in high school may apply for the opportunity to participate in the program as curators; students in grades 9 to 12 can enter artworks to be considered for inclusion in the Future Curators' annual exhibition.

The after-school portion of the AK Teens: Future Curators program is for students in grades 11 and 12. Throughout the course of the program, students learn about the different components of creating an exhibition, meet with various Albright-Knox staff members, and organize an exhibition of artwork by local high school students.

Students are involved all aspects of the exhibition, including selecting the artwork; designing the exhibition’s layout; and writing the wall text, in-gallery labels, and press release.

The 2019 Future Curators view and select artwork for their exhibition. Photograph by Tom Loonan.

Guests explore the 2019 AK Teens: Future Curators Exhibition at the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology. Photograph by Tom Loonan.

2021 Future Curators Program

The 2021 Future Curators program will meet virtually via Zoom until it is safe to meet in person at Albright-Knox Northland. Meetings will take place on Wednesday evenings, from 4 to 6 pm, January 20 through June 2, 2021.

Working with our partners at the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology and the Western New York Book Arts Center, we are actively monitoring the guidelines from state and local health authorities as we prepare for the AK Teens: Future Curators Exhibition in spring 2021.

Apply for the Program

Students in grades 11 and 12 interested in applying for the 2021 Future Curators program should fill out the Future Curators Application and mail two academic letters of recommendation to:

Future Curators Program Coordinator
Albright-Knox Art Gallery
1285 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14222-1096

The application deadline is Monday, November 16, 2020.

Applicants will be contacted for interviews during the month of December and notified of their acceptance by Monday, December 21, 2020.

Submit Artwork

Students in grades 9 to 12 interested in submitting their artwork to be considered for the 2021 Future Curators Exhibition should follow the directions listed on the Future Curators Call for Artwork.

You must be a current high school student to submit artwork. Work does not necessarily have to be from the current school year but must have been created during the student’s high school years. Each student may submit up to three pieces. Work in all mediums will be considered.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, January 29, 2021.

For questions or more information, please contact Teen and Youth Programs Coordinator Samantha Serrano at sserrano@albrightknox.org.