In 2025, West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology received a three-year $225,000 grant to support its Teen Arts + Tech program, which is a nationally recognized tuition-free afterschool experience that leverages visual arts and digital media to build creative confidence, elevate voice, connect with community, and explore possibilities for the future. Hear from WMCAT’s director of arts and tech Diara Newman as she shares her insights into this work.
Name and role with the organization.
Diara Newman, director of arts + tech
Brief overview of your organization and what you do.
The West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology (WMCAT) is in the heart of Grand Rapids, Michigan – we were founded in 2005 to provide a culture of opportunity for people to make social and economic progress in their lives and community. Tuition-free programs include the Teen Arts + Tech Program, engaging high school students in after-school visual arts and digital media studios; the Adult Career Training Program, providing comprehensive career training in cybersecurity and pharmacy tech for adults experiencing under- and unemployment; and Step Year, guiding young adults through curriculum-based college and career exploration and self-discovery to identify post-secondary pathways.
For 20 years, WMCAT has walked alongside thousands of young people and adults to pursue new opportunity pathways, leading to economic security for families, post-secondary success for young adults, and creative confidence in high school students. WMCAT was named Nonprofit of the Year in 2015 by the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce and received a community impact award in 2019. Our Teen Arts + Tech Program was honored as one of the top 12 after-school programs in the country in 2016 with the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award from the President’s Council.
Please provide an overview of the Teen Arts + Tech program
The Teen Arts + Tech Program at WMCAT is a nationally recognized, tuition-free afterschool experience in which Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) high school students leverage visual arts and digital media to build creative confidence, elevate voice, connect with community, and explore possibilities for the future. Our program offers semester-long opportunities in onsite studios led by professional teaching artists in visual arts and digital media disciplines (fashion design, music production, video production, digital illustration, ceramics, 3D modeling and animation, and more!). Students create original works like photo essays, short films, fashion collections, musical recordings, mural designs, and ceramic sculptures during the program. While gaining skills and completing original projects, teens are exploring real-world and career applications of creative learnings, sharing ideas and voice on issues that matter to them, and practicing giving and receiving feedback. They’re also displaying their work in exhibitions, experiencing exemplary artworks through curated field trips, and participating in specialty workshops.
How did the program come to be and what need does it serve?
In 1968, Bill Strickland created a model for addressing high school dropout rates and unemployment through the organization Manchester Bidwell in Pittsburgh, PA. A MacArthur Genius Award Honoree, Mr. Strickland shared his story nationally — a story heard by business leaders in West Michigan. In 2005, those leaders led a campaign to open WMCAT as one of the first sites inspired by the Manchester Bidwell model. WMCAT opened with Teen Arts + Tech as the flagship program, welcoming freshman high school students in the first year before growing to enroll students in 9th through 12th grades by 2009. Over the past twenty years, the “why” behind the program has evolved, but our commitment has remained steady: creating an inclusive space rooted in belonging, empowering teens with access to professional arts and technology tools, and fostering their creative confidence.
What are its primary goals?
The primary goals of the Teen Arts + Tech Program are to help youth build creative confidence, elevate their voice, and connect with community. At WMCAT we are intentional about providing students with a safe and inclusive space and opportunities to guide future orientation. We want the teen artists who are enrolled to graduate from our program with meaningful experiences, relationships, and tools they can use for the rest of their lives.
What does the program look like for youth participants?
Teen artists are welcomed into our space with a snack and invited to join our daily “gathering activation” — an activity designed to build friendship, connection, and comfort among all participants. Past activations have included watercolor painting, mask-making, donut sculptures, and guest visits from local artists. At the end of each semester, students share their ideas for future activations and field trips, ensuring that their voices help shape the experience for the next semester.
During this group time, WMCAT teaching artists and program staff connect with students, laying the foundation for community and mentorship. After announcements, students head to their chosen studio for two hours of visual arts and technology instruction.
In the studios, instructors combine essential skill-building with experiences that encourage youth to explore their creativity in an affirming environment. Students also have opportunities to share their work publicly. The Teen Arts + Tech Program has hosted fashion shows, short film screenings, and music performances featuring student work. Each semester concludes with a public exhibition — a celebration of student artistry and growth.
Feedback from students consistently highlights the meaningful relationships they build with each other and with WMCAT staff. Our space has become a “third place” where young people love to return, and we view that trust as a privilege.
How are participants supported throughout the program?
Teen artists are thoughtfully engaged by WMCAT program staff and teaching artists in projects that center their individual interests and strengths. They have access to high-quality, industry-standard equipment in their studios, giving them the tools they need to bring their creative visions to life. Students are encouraged to bring their full selves into the space and share their ideas and work with their peers, many of them are budding artists and entrepreneurs!
Teen artist Bee Sutherby designed and sold their own merchandise at a local artist market with guidance from Teaching Artist George Eberhardt. Former students Bella Diaz and Billie Beresford have explored teaching as a career path by assisting our teaching artists with project preparation. And artists like Anala Millbrooks and Jordan Peters created digital artwork for WMCAT’s 20th anniversary merchandise — which is now available for purchase.
Beyond the classroom, we actively seek ways for youth to engage in creative opportunities connected to WMCAT. Students can explore student-teaching roles, receive support selling their artwork, and connect with community professionals who can help them further their craft. Our goal is to nurture each teen’s creative growth and provide meaningful pathways for them to share their work with the world.
How has student/community voice shaped the program over time?
Elevating student voice is one of the core outcomes of the Teen Arts + Tech Program and is central to our model. At the end of each semester, students complete evaluations where they reflect on their studio experience and offer feedback on instruction, materials, and their overall engagement. Their ideas directly inform how we shape the next semester; from the studios we offer and the gathering activations we plan, to the types of projects students complete and even the format of our final exhibition.
Beyond individual evaluations, we intentionally engage students and community partners (including schools, arts programs, and parents) in focus groups to gather broader insight. This ongoing dialogue helps us adapt and grow in ways that remain relevant and responsive to the needs of young people.
Maintaining this strong connection to student and community interest is vital to the health of our program. It ensures youth feel ownership of their experience and remain invested in what happens at WMCAT.
What work have you engaged in so far, and what work to you hope to complete through the remainder of the grant period?
During the first year of our grant period, the Teen Arts + Tech Program enrolled 146 unique students in visual arts and technology studios. Each semester, students have accomplished exciting creative milestones:
- Fashion Design: Students partnered with the Grand Rapids Art Museum for our fashion show, Spirit of Inquiry. After a personal tour, they selected pieces from the museum’s permanent collection as inspiration for their original designs— raincoats with 3D-printed buttons.
- Video Production: Students created 360° visuals for the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s event Concert Under the Stars with harpist Ahya Simone. Their work was projected inside the planetarium, creating an immersive experience for the audience.
- Music Production: Students organized and performed on the Blue Rose Tour, a student-led music tour featuring live performances at local venues. They collaborated with professional artists Marq Beyond, Jade, and Tyler Toscano.
Our most recent evaluation showed that 100% of students would recommend the program to a peer, 97% felt accepted for who they are, and 83% reported increased confidence in expressing themselves artistically and in giving and receiving feedback. One student shared, “The people, everyone (both students and staff) is so abundantly kind and accepting towards everything. There is clearly so much love and time and passion put into this space. It is so lovely to join every single time.” This feedback is exactly what we hope students feel during their time with us.
Looking ahead, WMCAT is focused on expanding our technology offerings, with a particular emphasis on developing studios in AI. Our goal is to engage more students and school districts, helping youth build creative confidence and amplify their voices in innovative ways. As the cultural landscape continues to evolve, we will rely on student feedback and guidance from content experts to shape the future of the program.
What do you hope is the lasting impact of the program for both students and the community?
Our hope is that students leave the Teen Arts + Tech Program with creative confidence, the ability to translate their stories and interests into creative expression, collaborate with others, and share their experiences with pride. We design our studios to empower teens to engage meaningfully with one another, with our staff, and with the community partners who walk through our doors.
We also want families to feel assured that we are invested in the success of their youth; not just as artists, but as whole people. Guest artists, speakers, and project partners consistently remark on the intelligence, curiosity, and perspective of our students. We see that as part of the program’s impact: youth who leave an impression on the world around them.
Our graduates come from many different backgrounds and have aspirations that may or may not be tied to the arts. Regardless of their path, our goal is for their time at WMCAT to be meaningful and life-shaping. The hope is for WMCAT to be a space where they felt agency, discovered new possibilities, and came into their own
What have you learned and what might you share with other organizations who similarly provide programming for teens?
Working with teens is never boring! They constantly find new ways to question, challenge, and amaze us. One of the biggest lessons we have learned is the importance of collecting youth feedback and showing students how their input is used. This practice builds trust, and has had a significant impact on teen ownership of the program.
Creating a program that does not feel like school is key to keeping students engaged. Building flexibility and being ready to pivot when needed has been foundational to the sense of magic that defines the Teen Arts + Tech Program.
How does Teen Arts + Tech support the Steelcase Foundation’s overarching mission of cultivating communities where children and their families can flourish?
The Teen Arts + Tech program directly supports the Steelcase Foundation’s mission by creating a welcoming creative community where teens, regardless of experience, can explore traditional arts and new technologies. Through semester-long studio experiences led by professional teaching artists, teens use visual arts and digital media to build creative confidence, elevate their voice, and explore future possibilities. As one student shared, “It’s just really nice to come into a space where it really does feel like a second home. You have the freedom to be yourself.” This culture of belonging and encouragement cultivates opportunity, strengthens community connections, and expands access to high-quality, enriching education through tuition-free programing. The sense of belonging developed through intentional community building amongst students and staff at WMCAT extends beyond the classroom—when teens feel empowered and connected, they bring that confidence home, strengthening families and contributing to a more resilient community.