Bridge Conference 2019

Elevating Youth Voices in the Arts will share how the TeenTix Press Corps Program amplifies youth voices by facilitating opportunities for teens to learn, practice, and publish arts criticism. Through the Press Corps, teens experience arts events (dance, theatre, visual art, music, etc.) and share their unique perspectives and opinions about the art they see. Art provides a perfect vehicle to explore identity, culture, and a myriad of social and political issues. Press Corps curriculum offers teens a lens to interpret art, a platform to share their thoughts, and explore whether they see their own experience reflected in the art work. By giving young people the tools to articulate their opinions, they are empowered to confidently own and express those feelings. The Press Corps further validates youth voices by publishing teen reviews and promoting their work in the broader arts community through professional platforms. Press Corps workshops teach 21st century skills and foster empathy and cultural competency. Finally, attendees will hear from Huma Ali (a senior at Lake Washington High School and editor in the TeenTix Newsroom), about how the Press Corps has unleashed her creativity and allowed her to take risks with her writing and hone her individual voice.