BIPOC Teen Art Residency

The BIPOC Teen Art Residency is a free program open to teens in grades 10, 11, or 12 who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of Colour from an equity-deserving group from January to June 2026.

This after-school program is a unique opportunity for teens to make contemporary art in workshops facilitated by local BIPOC artists, along with the opportunity to share their voice through podcasts, a published art catalogue of their work and a group exhibition at the Gallery. During the residency, teens will explore the Gallery’s collections and exhibitions through their perspectives to shape a new vision of art and storytelling while developing artistic and curatorial skills.

The program offers tangible benefits. Participants learn and develop new techniques, expand creative perspectives, build artwork portfolios, and connect with peers and mentors in the local art community. Designed to support personal and artistic growth, the workshops encourage collaborative experimentation with diverse media. 

For more information and registration, please contact Jeri Engen, Educator, School and Family Programs at jengen@aggv.ca

2026 Theme

The 2026 BIPOC Teen Art Residency cohort will explore themes from the Gallery exhibitions, Fifty Shades of Ink: Ink Paintings from the AGGV Collection, ਸ਼ੀਸ਼ੇ ‘ਚ ਤਰੇੜ | sheeshe ‘ch thareṛ | a crack in the mirror, Dangerous Beauty: The Prints of Albrecht Dürer, and the AGGV Permanent Collection Galleries, A View From Here: Reimagining the AGGV Collections. Meeting on the second Sunday of each month from January to June, participants will take part in a series of hands-on workshops. Each session focuses on a different medium or technique—including silk painting, body painting, sound collage, stencil and spray painting, and curatorial practices—providing participants with the opportunity to gain practical skills and broaden their artistic approaches. 

Led by local BIPOC professional artists, Kemi Craig, BIPOC Program Coordinator; Charles Amarty,BIPOC Program Facilitator; Pesewa (Jeffery Ellom), Randy Babichuk, Tajah Olson, and Taylor Panell, this unique experience focuses on enhancing artistic confidence, building a stronger community, and providing practical tools to shape participants’ creative futures.

Opening Reception
Stay tuned for details about the BIPOC Teen Art Residency art show, happening in June!

Image Credits: Courtesy of the AGGV