The Metropolitan Museum of Art to Host its First Virtual Teens Take The Met!

The Virtual Teens Take the Met! is an effort to encourage teens nationwide to participate in an interactive, virtual experience while at home.

By Sophia Martini May 27, 2020

Teens have a new option to (virtually) socialize with their friends: The Metropolitan Museum of Art has organized its first Virtual Teens Take The Met!, which will be hosted this Friday, May 29. This program will bring together teenagers from all over the United States to participate in a day full of fun, interactive virtual activities. The event encourages teens to virtually participate in hands-on experiences, while having the opportunity to explore the Metropolitan Museum of Art from their homes.

A range of lively and innovative activities will be available for teens throughout the day including:

An art tour and talk with New York City Writing Project
A step tutorial with the Panthers Step Team from Bard High School Early College
Collage and Printmaking with El Museo del Barrio
'NamaShakespeare' yoga with Titan Theatre Company
Digital zine making and an exploration of the impact of COVID-19 on incarcerated youth with Art and Resistance Through Education (ARTE)
Poetry writing with Urban Word NYC
A space tour with Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
A fashion party with The Studio Museum in Harlem
Art-making activities, such as flower crowns and tote bag DIY
The “Teens Meme The Met” activity
“Balcony Bar at Home,” with the quartet ETHEL, featuring teen musicians.

Many of the event’s activities will be inspired by today’s COVID-19 health crisis, encouraging creativity, communication, and promotion of mental health awareness while in quarantine; as well as many more art, writing, poetry, dance, and movement workshops created and promoted by more than 30 New York City cultural and community organizations and institutions.

The Met and its partner institutions will lead the event. There will be new activities every thirty minutes throughout the day, and a Zoom party with DJ’s from Building Beats to end the event.

Virtual Teens Take The Met! will take place from 11am-8pm this Friday, May 29, allowing teens to tune in throughout the day. The event is free of charge, and open to all teens ages 13-18. Participants are encouraged to register by 5pm on Thursday, May 28. Registration is accessible through several digital platforms, including YouTube, Zoom, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Registering will offer participants exclusive virtual content and information on the events Zoom parties.

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-teens-take-the-met-tickets-95938062327

Teens Take The Met! has been held at the Met twice a year since 2014. The event has brought together more than 30,000 of today’s youth. Due to the temporary closing of the museum as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum has looked for new ways to keep visitors virtually engaged. Through this event, teens will be encouraged to stay active, and will gain effective and entertaining virtual experiences.

Virtual Teens Take The Met! accompanies the Met Museum’s current collection of online materials, live and interactive programming, performances, and conversations with many of New York City’s curators, educators, and artists, as well as the #MetAnywhere social media initiatives.

Main photo by Filip Wolak