Founded in 2007, The West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology (WMCAT) provides hands-on studio experiences in the visual and media arts to high school students in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In partnership with local civic and nonprofit organizations, WMCAT’s Teen Arts + Tech Program nationally-recognized engages over 150 students twice a week, after school during the school year. This program is comprised of studio experiences offered at varying levels, guided by professional teaching artists to introduce and build upon existing technical skills in areas such as video production, music production, digital photography, and game/app design. WMCAT engages teens in creating original films, music, video games, and photo essays to elevate their voices and affect community conversations. The tuition-free program provides students with access to professional equipment, intentionally outfitted studios spaces, mentoring from teaching artists, and support for postsecondary planning.
We partnered with WMCAT through our Digital Learning Challenge.