Washington, DC: YOUmedia at ARTLAB+

The ArtLab is a dynamic and dedicated community space in the Hirshhorn Museum’s Sculpture Garden. It gives DC area teens free access to up-to-date technology, the support of artist-mentors, and access to the vast physical and virtual resources of the Smithsonian. The space has a sound booth, gaming area, and DropZone, a regular afterschool program with weekend hours that is part of the YOUmedia Network. Teens can drop in to play video games, socialize with friends, have access to the equipment, meet with mentors or in clubs, plan productions or take a workshop. They create their own experience and the museum supports them with resources to realize their own projects. Regular workshops with artist experts draw inspiration from the collection, current exhibitions or the DC community. Many of the projects teens create through ARTLAB+ programs are challenge-based with real world applications to the museum or their communities.