We are SO excited to announce that we received the Art Center of the Capital Region’s Arts Thrive & Grow Grant! 🎉
With this grant, we are able to bring a program that has been years in the making and dreaming to life! We are thrilled to introduce Queer Creative Futures - A Youth Mentorship Program! 🌈
ABGM’s Queer Creative Futures Youth Mentorship Program is an incubator for emerging creatives who are 12 to 16 years old to join together to harness their practice. This program is FREE to apply and participate in. We only have 8 slots available in this year’s cohort.
All program participants will be matched with a mentor in the community in their chosen medium, open studio time to create their art and learn from local queer and gender expansive artists in an intentional and encouraging space.
All participants will receive a budget for their materials, facilitated studio time and space, and will be vendors at their own A Big Gay Youth Market in December alongside their mentors. Applications CLOSE July 1st with no exceptions! You will be notified by end of July if you are accepted or waitlisted into the program.
We can't wait to review your application! If you have ANY questions, please email Cyren at c@abiggaymarket.com.
May 21st - Applications Open
July 1st - Applications Close
First Two Weeks of July - Review Applicants
Week of July 20th - Acceptance Letters Sent & Schedule Group Interview
August - Introduction Session & First Open Studio
September - Two Open Studios & Mentor Workshop
October - Two Open Studios & Mentor Workshop
November - Final Two Open Studios & Mentor Workshop
December - Final Open Studio
Saturday, December 20th - A Big Gay Youth Market + Graduation
All Open Studios, Mentor Workshops, and A Big Gay Youth Market are located in Troy, NY
You must be between the ages 12 - 16 at the start of the program to participate.
This is a free program - there is no cost to be part of this program. You might want to purchase additional supplies outside of your stipend, but there is no program fee.
This is a space for you to learn your craft in an affirmative environment - all skill levels are welcome to apply!
You are only allowed to miss two open studios - these will be one Sunday and one group decided day after school, each month.
Applications open May 21st on our website and close July 1st with no exceptions!
If selected, you must receive adult consent via a permission slip and must attend the introduction session.
We are looking to raise $2,000 to cover the remaining costs not covered by our grant. We are so thankful for the Arts Center of the Capital Region’s Arts Thrive & Grow Grant awarding us enough to cover costs for our rental spaces and minimum student stipends.
Your donation will help us pay for:
Mentor Stipends for Teaching Workshops
Program Participant Material Stipends
Open Studio Snacks & Drinks
Program Advisor Stipend
A Big Gay Market’s Queer Creative Futures - A Youth Mentorship Program is partially funded by the Art Center of the Capital Region’s Arts Thrive & Grow Grant. This grant is funded by New York State & the New York State Council on the Arts, with support from Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins, and local elected officials, including Senators Jake Ashby and Patricia Fahy and Assemblymembers Scott H. Bendett, John T. McDonald III, Angelo Santabarbara, Phil Steck, and Mary Beth Walsh.