Youth Pathway Programs

Our Pathway team supports students and families as they transition to high school, college, or the workforce and helps them identify opportunities to reach their goals. Our mentorship, resources, events, and programs are designed for 6-12th graders, including those who are undocumented, studying art, or pursuing studies and work outside of the arts.

Individual Mentorship

High School & College Application Processes
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Portfolio Development
Personal & Artist Statements
Resumes & Cover Letters
Youth Paid Opportunities

Career Support
Gap Year Options
FAFSA
Award Letters
Loan Resources
Internships

Marwen’s Youth Pathway Programs team provides young people (6-12th grades) and their families with free, personalized mentorship and resources to advance their professional, educational, and artistic goals. Mentorship is available to young people and their families at no cost regardless of their enrollment status at Marwen.

Marwen staff will schedule time with students on site and via video chat, phone, or email to walk students and parents through high school and college applications, portfolio development and documentation, financial aid and scholarships, and career development and employment opportunities.

Sessions are tailored to the individual’s needs and range from 15 minutes to one hour.

Free Workshops & Events

Resource Fair
College Fair
Pathway 2 High School
Career Development Workshops
Portfolio Review Day

Internships, Commissions, & Residencies

Programs are by application only.

Art@Work
High school students are hired as summer interns within professional arts organizations and creative spaces across Chicago.
Artward Bound
Marwen hosts a week-long, summer arts residency program at Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright’s former home and studios, in Spring Green, Wisconsin.
Design to Print
High school students are commissioned to create original artwork for Marwen’s annual greeting cards and learn the business side of the industry.
Special Commission Projects
Marwen partners with organizations to commission students to create artwork for a business client.

Stories

“I’m proud of learning that it’s okay to try new things. [Art@Work] was an awesome experience. I really loved…being able to experience something I might want to get into whether it be a hobby or something for college.”

– 2023 Art@Work Intern

Portfolio Development Program

Registration is term based.

Marwen’s Portfolio Development Program allows young people to engage in curriculum and learning that gives them the resources and tools to develop their own artist portfolio for school, jobs, fellowships, commission opportunities, internships, and more. Young people develop skills in artmaking, writing artist statements, building portfolios, documentation, and critiquing. This program gives Chicago young people the opportunity to further explore their path as professional artists and creative careers by developing their artistic and personal growth as young artists.

Young artists will engage in a 10-week course to create artwork that they can add to their portfolio. With the guidance, support, and expertise of a teaching team (Teaching Artist & Emerging Teaching Artist), young artists will be able to develop skills to continue to build their portfolio and develop skills to present themselves to the world as practicing artists.