Socrateens
SOCRATEENS
Socrateens is a year-long, experimental art-making program for teens ages 13-19 at Socrates Sculpture Park. Rooted in hands-on practice and artist-led learning, the program brings teens together weekly to explore contemporary art, creative process, and civic engagement in an outdoor, collaborative environment.
In addition to weekly sessions at the Park, participants visit artist studios, museums, and galleries, expanding their understanding of artistic practice and cultural spaces across the city.
The program has included students representing The Baccalaureate School for Global Education (BSGE), Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, Central Park East High School, and Long Island City High School.
SPRING/SUMMER 2026
The Spring/Summer 2026 Socrateens cohort will be facilitated by Earth Convergence in collaboration with Socrates staff.
This year’s program centers environmental justice through the intersections of:
- Art and creative practice
- Technology and systems thinking
- Civic engagement and collective responsibility
Participants will consider how creative work can respond to ecological challenges and contribute to more sustainable futures, while building skills, confidence, and community through hands-on learning.
PROGRAM DETAILS
- Weekly, in-person sessions at Socrates Sculpture Park
- Participants are paid $18 per hour
- Food and beverages provided
- Learning takes place outdoors whenever possible
Socrateens participants also contribute to public-facing programs and community events at the Park.
WHO CAN APPLY
Socrateens is open to teens ages 13-19 from Queens and across New York City.
No prior art experience is required. The program is designed to be accessible, supportive, and grounded in curiosity, collaboration, and sustained engagement. Students may arrive with a strong interest in art—or simply an openness to explore.
For questions about the program or application process, email education@socratessculpturepark.org.
Past Projects
The 2023-2024 Socrateens collaborated with WORTHLESSSTUDIOS in its inaugural Airstream Darkroom workshop series – a complete introduction to analog photography and darkroom printing. Led by teaching artist Rosemary Haynese, Socrateens learned how to use Pentax K-1000’s, photographed their homes, family, and friends, modeled and made portraits, photograms, contact prints, cyanotypes, and silver gelatin prints. Students were also introduced to the work of artists Aspen Mays, Jenny Calivas, László Moholy-Nagy, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Carrie Mae Weems, Tommy Kha, and Larry Sultan. Artist/Publisher Martha Sandoval led an informative session focused on the small-scale independent publishing process and another welcome source of inspiration along the way, was a guided tour provided by Andrea Sanchez and the crew at MOMA PS1. The SOCRATEENS X WORTHLESSSTUDIOS program culminated with a limited edition publication and an onsite exhibition in The CUBES at Socrates in Spring/Summer 2025.
In 2022-2023, Socrateens made collaborative drawings, learn how to work with plaster and soldering, and got their hands into the ground assisting artist Mary Mattingly on the exhibition Ebb of a Spring Tide. They learned about various native and medicinal plants and helped build Flock House. Off-site visits included MoMS PS1, Amant, and Smiling Hogshead Ranch. Hear from the Teens about their sculptural and mixed media artworks at their end-of-year group exhibition ‘‘pieces, slices, cuts, & connections.’
In 2021-2022 ,Socrateens curated the Broadway Billboard after conducting studio visits with a line-up of recent Socrates artist alumni. After studio visits with each artist and reviewing proposals, teens selected the work by Joiri Minaya from her series From The Marooned Picturesque Series (Socrates). This collaboration provided a unique opportunity for teens and future art workers to participate in the curatorial and exhibition process, and deepens our relationship with artists dedicated to the Park. The Socrateens wrote and recorded the interpretive artwork label and audio guide. Additionally, the teens created an exhibition of sculpture for the group exhibition ‘echoes from the future.’
The 2019-2020 Socrateens contributed to the ‘MONUMENTS NOW‘ exhibition at Socrates with a multifaceted project that included a zine titled ‘Monuments Decoder‘ and a collectively-realized sculpture installation, ‘What’s Missing.’ They also created an exhibition of their own artwork for the Park’s Instagram account, @socratespark – check out the highlights album!
SOCRATEEN’S TESTIMONIALS
“Socrateens has completely changed my mindset on art. I am the youngest in the program and I haven’t had a lot of experience with outside art, this program gave me a lot of insight on the process of art. Being part of art isn’t just making it, all the people we met showed me you can do a lot more and even making a living out of it.” – Farzana
“It was my first job and one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had in regards to being able to do what I love: art.” – Anabella
“One of the most valuable parts of this year was us using out-of-the-ordinary equipment. I found this very strange but it was a fun experience that I never had before.” – Sohit
“I find really special about Socrateens is the small community we are in. I loved how the staff engaged with us, talked to us, and actually respected our ideas as young artists.” – Laura
“When you put different artists, whether that be of animators, comic creators, drawers, painters, sculptors and even dancers, storytellers and poets in the same group, conversations are indeed possible and even more interesting.” – Michela
“I never thought the arts was something that made a change or impact in the world because of my family’s view of the art world. But I have learned that artist are the people that challenge ideals. An example is seeing all the Monuments Now artist pieces and seeing them challenge unjust systems and ideals.” – Chris
Support
Free education programs at Socrates Sculpture Park are made possible with generous support from Lily Auchincloss Foundation, The Cowles Family Charitable Trust, William Talbott Hillman Foundation and with additional support provided, in part, by public funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.