The Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg (MFA) is accepting applications from high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors (during the 2026-2027 school year) for the MFA Teen Arts Council (MFA TAC). Members will help fulfill the museum’s mission to engage, educate, and excite diverse communities. Through mentorship, ambassadorship, and advocacy, teen members will collaborate with the MFA's Education & Engagement team to create programming by teens and for teens that fuels experimentation and imaginative approaches, challenging conventions and awakening curiosity, to make the experience of art accessible, engaging, and memorable for all.
After completing an application, applicants will be decided by the MFA's Education & Engagement staff. Up to five high school students will be selected for the council. Members begin their council position in September with meetings on select Thursdays of each month, with participation in monthly workshops and MFA programs, culminating in the final Teen Night in November. Members will be active for 3 months (September 10, 2026, to November 20, 2026) and receive their stipend of $500.00 at the end of their term assuming they've attended 12 out of the 15 days. Each MFA TAC member will receive a yearlong Student Membership upon their acceptance of the position.
The Teen Arts Council at the MFA is a unique paid opportunity for high school students to get involved with the arts, collaborate with other creatives, and help shape the museum’s future teen programming! This dynamic council is designed for teens who are interested in gaining hands-on experience in the art world – whether you are an artist, dream of someday having an arts career, or just want to help make the MFA a fun place for teens like you.
What You’ll Do:
Meet & Learn from Artists & Professionals
Attend workshops and panel discussions with artists, curators, and other museum professionals, gaining insight into the creative industry.
Plan Teen-Focused Events
Organize and curate special events for your peers, from gallery tours to art-making workshops, and even an exclusive teens-only party. The Teen Arts Council will help us to create opportunities for teens to connect with art and each other.
Provide Input & Feedback
Share your thoughts and ideas about the MFA’s exhibitions and programs, and how the museum can better serve the teen community.
Gain Leadership Skills
Gain valuable skills in project management, communication, teamwork, and public speaking while making meaningful contributions to the museum.
The Teen Arts Council applications are open to all high school students who are enthusiastic about art and eager to contribute to the MFA’s mission. No prior experience is necessary, just a willingness to learn, engage, and lead!
Applications are open August 1st and close August 23, 2026
MFA TAC Requirements
To apply for the MFA Teen Arts Council, candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Be a 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grader during the 2026-2027 school year.
- Applicants must be high school students in the Tampa Bay Area—specifically Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, or Hernando counties—including those attending public, private, charter schools, or homeschooling. Please consider your potential commute to the MFA when applying.
- Submit a completed application by August 23, 2026.
- You do not need to be an artist in order to apply. Teens interested in art, music, culture, museums, and all types of creative outlets are welcome!
- MFA TAC meets on select Thursdays of the month from 5-7 pm. Students are encouraged to come early for "office hours" 4-5 pm to do homework at the Café or peruse through the museum.
- Occasional Saturdays and event days are required beyond regular meeting times.
- MFA takes all school calendars and transportation into consideration when scheduling programming.
- MFA TAC members are expected to follow the rules and guidelines of the program, participate in all meetings and occasional events, fulfill solo and group responsibilities such as art assignments, independent research, inquiry and tour review, and develop teen centered events for the museum.
Important Dates
August 1: Applications open
August 23: Application deadline
August 25: Top candidates are notified
August 26-28: Interview week for top candidates
September 1: Final decisions (Acceptance by September 3)
September 10: First TAC Meeting
November 19: Last TAC Meeting
November 20: “untitled”: an MFA Teen Night
MFA TAC: Meetings, Workshops, Programs Events
Meetings
MFA TAC Members will attend six meetings through their 3-month ambassadorship. In these meetings members will learn about the MFA and our collection, planning and executing future teen programs, gaining professional development skills pertaining to the arts. These meetings will include brainstorming sessions and guest speakers such as MFA staff members, visiting artists, and local voices.
Programs
Artist talks, tours, panels, author talks, etc. TAC Members and TAC Friends will be encouraged to attend programming and will even receive perks such as access to speakers, post engagement events, and exhibition openings. TAC members will be invited to experience and engage with ongoing programs to develop their own programs for their peers based on our collection and temporary exhibitions.
Workshops
We hope to provide opportunities for motivated teens interested in curation, conservation, and art history to gain critical experience about the behind-the-scenes of art museums. These workshops will also include art-making collaborations with community partners and artists. These will overlap with our ongoing programs such as Studio Saturdays and Art After Dark to welcome teens into our community and encourage intergenerational programming.
Events
Events will be where we promote TAC, highlight our museum as a foundational center in our city, and create a fun and exciting space for teens to have community. This would be accomplished through a Teen Night, partnered with Pinellas County Schools. This is an after-hours event with delicious snacks and treats from local favorites, music from our favorite local DJs and artmaking inspired by our favorite works.
FAMILY MEMBERSHIP
Join today to unlock a world of artistic exploration and creativity for your family with a membership at the MFA!