Teens, technology, and contemporary art : a case study of the use of technology in the National Convening for Teens in the Arts

Abstract

In 2009, the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston (ICA) brought together teens and educators from exemplary museum teen programs for an unprecedented event, the National Convening for Teens in the Arts (NCTA). Prior to the Convening the ICA Teen Arts Council engaged participants in four weeks of discussions hosted on an online conversation platform. Since the 2009 event, the museum has continued to engage participants in online conversations prior to the Convening. This study examines the role of technology in the teens' experience at the 2011 National Convening for Teens in the Arts through a synthesis of interviews conducted with key educators associated with the Convening and ICA, observations, and document analysis. This research additionally examines how technology impacted the Convening as a whole. The following shows how the online conversations sparked conference dialogues and enabled the teen-driven and teen-focus environment present throughout the Convening. Also, the online conversations helped to develop a community amongst conference participants, educators and teens alike.