Youth Ambassador Program
Tweens and teens interested in art are invited to join this unique program led by Museum Educator Tami Wood! Make new friends and learn about artwork on view as you enjoy a special behind-the-scenes look at how a museum operates and communicates with its visitors.
Ambassadors participate in several multi-day projects each year, designed to develop art interpretation, public speaking, and writing skills. Youth Ambassadors have led tours at public events, created video content for Heckscher.org, written articles for Family Activity Guides, and conducted interviews with staff. Projects are both virtual and in-person, following the Museum’s Health and Safety Guidelines.
Participants will receive community service hour credits upon successful completion of each project.
Open to students in 5th through 9th grade.
2021-2022 School Year Projects
FALL 2021 PROJECT
Tours of The Heckscher Museum Celebrates 100
Four Trainings:* Saturdays, October 16, 23, 30, & November 6, 10:30 am – 12 pm
Tours Day: Sunday, November 7, 4 – 5 pm
Learn about this museum-wide exhibition and work as a team to create exciting tours during the four training sessions. Then, lead a tour for friends and family on November 7!
$50 per child
10 Community Service Hours
*Students must attend all training sessions to ensure the best possible experience.
WINTER 2022 PROJECT
Tours of Moonstruck & Richard Mayhew exhibitions
Three Trainings:* Saturdays, January 22, 29, & Feb. 5, 10:30 am – 12 pm
Tours Day: Sunday, February 6, 4 – 5 pm
Explore these two special exhibitions and create family friendly tours during the three training sessions. Then, lead an interactive tour on February 6!
$40 per child
10 Community Service Hours
*Students must attend all training sessions to ensure the best possible experience.
SPRING 2022 PROJECT
Videos inspired by Long Island’s Best 2022
Three Trainings:* Saturdays, April 30, May 7 & 14, 10:30 am – 12 pm
Presentation Day: Sunday, May 22, 4 – 5 pm
Discover this annual high school juried exhibition and create videos inspired by a favorite work of art during the three training sessions. Then, share your video with friends and family during a special Museum visit on May 22!
$40 per child
10 Community Service Hours
*Students must attend all training sessions to ensure the best possible experience.
“I like the Heckscher Youth Ambassador Program because we get to dig deeper into the art and we get the opportunity to work on our leadership, teamwork, public speaking, and art skills.”
– Sylvie Schneider
Program Highlights
Long Island’s Best 2021 Artwork Interpretation
Now an annual tradition, youth ambassadors explored the high school juried exhibition Long Island’s Best: Young Artists at The Heckscher Museum 2021 featuring artwork by 83 high school students from across Long Island. They then had the opportunity to create their own videos discussing their favorite artwork. With QR codes leading to each video printed in the galleries, visitors in the museum as well as online visitors can now enjoy all of their videos as they explore the artwork!
Career Paths in the Arts
Did you ever wonder about what it would be like to work at an art museum? Our Youth Ambassadors certainly did! The group began 2021 ready to learn about new and exciting career paths. Youth Ambassadors began by interviewing the Museum’s Curator, Karli Wurzelbacher, and Exhibition Manager/Registrar, Kerrilyn Blee. Throughout the year, they will interview other Heckscher staff, learning just how many interesting new careers there are to study! Watch each video and find out what our Youth Ambassadors have learned!
Long Island’s Best 2020 Artwork Interpretation
In 2020, students had the opportunity to create their own videos discussing their favorite artwork from the high school juried exhibition Long Island’s Best: Young Artists at The Heckscher Museum 2020.
“These Youth Ambassadors led live Museum tours in the past, but adapted easily to working virtually!” said Educator Tami Wood.