Each year, the High Museum of Art selects a group of juniors and seniors for the Teen Team, which offers a year-long, paid internship to assist with museum programming.
Teen Team allows high school students to help plan and create public events at the High and get involved in the behind-the-scenes process at the museum. This summer, senior Elise Livius joined the team, which begins with a intensive summer program in June and July. 
“I love art and the people that are on the team are just amazing,” Livius said. “And I get to meet all of these curators and artists and everyone involved in the museum. It’s really cool.”
When Livius first heard about the job from art teacher John Brandhorst, she thought, “I definitely need to apply.” The Teen Team is competitive, only 15 people are on the team this year, but Livius tells students it’s worth applying. 
“You don’t have to be an artist necessarily to be on the team,” Livius said. “There’s one kid named Devin who just hates doing art, but he loves the museum and that environment. They just want people who will offer something new.” 
During the summer intensive, the Teen Team focuses on a project. This year the project was creating two museum tours. One of Livius’s tours includes three paintings that focus on social justice. 
“One of them is about religion and points out the persecution of the [Muslim and Jewish] religions from American people,” Livius said. “And one of them is about class systems in Rio de Janeiro and the third is about prison reform.”
The other tours include an adaptive meditation tour, paintings that include fractals and nature-related image, and a tour that deals with how men have been displayed in art throughout history. 
After the summer introduction, the Teen Team hosts Teen Friday Night Kickbacks on the second Friday of each month and family events on the second Sunday of each month. Teen Friday Night Kickbacks give students $5 entry to the museum if they bring their student ID, and include music, art activities, and student-led tours of the exhibits.
Each teen night revolves around a certain theme; the September theme was nostalgia night and included friendship bracelet making and finger painting. 
Senior Emma Harmon attended the kickback, and loved the strolling through exhibits and meeting new people throughout the night. 
“It’s a really great way to meet people with similar interests but from completely different backgrounds as you,” Harmon said. 
Applications are currently closed, but reopen in April. Anyone interested in working with people and getting more involved at the museum can apply. 
“You should definitely apply,” Livius advised. “Everyday going there is just a party. It was amazing.”