Dr. Carver Gayton
Youth Curator Program
For ages 13 - 18
About
The Northwest African American Museum is a premier educational institution that aims to open minds and change lives through African American art, history, and culture. Since 2008, the museum has produced a Youth Curator Program that engages high school students in discovering the art and science of museum curation. Thanks to generous program sponsors, the aim of the program is to bring a cohort of students together to produce a museum-quality multimedia display that engages and educates the public on a theme.
The Northwest African American Museum is hosting students in grades 7-12 for the 2022-2023 Dr. Carver Gayton Youth Curator Program. Nominated for a 2022 Regional Emmy Award, the Youth Curator Program teaches students the process of creating museum-quality animations. During your time in the program, you will develop skills related to art, writing, research, film making, and music as you work with a cohort of students to produce a mini-documentary on Black historical icons of the Pacific Northwest. The 2022-2023 Youth Curator Program is held on designated Saturdays through February 25, 2023 from 11am to 1pm in a local production studio. Upon completion of the program, youth curators receive a certificate, monetary stipend, and letter of recommendation.
2022-2023 Youth Curator Program
The 2021 Dr. Carver Gayton Youth Curator Program Presents
Washington State’s Black Women in the Arts
An animated mini-documentary presented to you by the Northwest African American Museum Youth Curators
Under the direction of Youth Curator Program Coordinator Kela Hall, Animator Beau Obremski, and Music Director and NAAM Educator Jason Turner, we brought together a cohort of Pacific Northwest students to write the script and manage the content of this wonderful documentary about Pacific Northwest Black women in the arts.
Enjoy and share with others to view!
Annual Program Theme
Each year, the theme is derived from the featured exhibition in NAAM’s Northwest Gallery. In 2020-2021, the exhibition was local artist Hiawatha D.’s Iconic Black Women: Ain’t I a Woman, which explored through art the stories of 24 historical and contemporary notable black women. 2020 was the International Year of the Woman, noting the 100-year anniversary of the Woman Suffrage Movement and women across the globe have been climbing at the heights of their respective careers. The 2020-2021 project was a success and was nominated for a Northwest Regional Emmy Award.
The 2022-2023 Theme is Trailblazing Pacific Northwest Black Icons!
Project Scope
In twelve sessions, Youth Curators explored the history of Black Pacific Northwest history. The students are entrenched in the history, research, and storytelling of a selected group of Black icons that they honor through an animated film. The students storyboard, create, write, and co-produce a short-animated film.
Youth Curators share what they discovered in a creative animation. They demonstrate their skills to effectively communicate the subject matter, utilize media as a form of expression, practice time management strategies as a process for planning, and push their abilities for individual and team success with outcomes that build new confidences. Is NAAM’s Youth Curator Program for you?
