AUGUST 2025

Young Creatives Visual Arts Program Pilot at DSI.

“How can we make space for young creatives to explore their voice and perspective, understand how that translates into their visual practice, and be supported to shine?” – Mari Nakano

At the end of August 2025, DSI welcomed the Young Creatives Visual Arts Program, an experimental art immersion connecting local artists with young people aged 11-13 years old who are passionate about deepening their visual art skills and perspectives.

Initiated by School of Visual Arts MFA Design for Social Innovation faculty Mari Nakano and MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Alumni Anagh Banerjee, this pilot program explores the potential of community-powered programs and inspires larger questions around relationship-building and engaging in systems of mutual aid.

In this post, Mari shares more about this program and her personal inspiration behind it.

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Growing up, I wanted to be an artist, but I didn’t really know how. I was focused on academics, trying to make my grades in math, science, history, English, and even religion, but art classes weren’t on my radar. I didn’t really know who to ask or what to ask, so I just didn’t ask. For most of my teenage years and into my early 20s, I figured I wasn’t meant to enter a world of artmaking. It was like I was a window shopper, watching others through a thick pane of glass as they did things like painting or photography, but somehow I was convinced I wasn’t allowed inside. 

But here I am, in my mid-life, with a visual and media arts education, and surrounded by communities of all types of artists. I still found my way (that’s a story maybe for another time). I feel fortunate to be part of this world, surrounded by the creativity of artists. It is a joy and a privilege to have learned ways to express myself and my beliefs through various artistic mediums, such as graphic design, textiles, drawing, and photography. 

Young Creatives working on their stop motion drawings.

When my daughter was born, she entered the world with the curiosity and creativity that we often see in children. With this came an artistic sensibility, along with a healthy and regular fixation to create – to glue, cut, paint, draw, color, sculpt, knit, sew. You name it. I wanted to let her know I saw her, so from a very young age, I tried to offer her the space to explore different mediums, placed her in art-centered environments, and let her make a mess of our home. We talked a lot about art, and spent time looking at it in books, films, in theatres, and all around the city. I wanted to share everything I knew.  

Young Creatives working on their frame-by-frame animation drawings. 

Now in her pre-teens, she has entered this interesting transitional stage, where she is seeking more independence while navigating the slow-releasing grasp of her parents (me), who are accepting that she’s no longer a baby. Part of this has been her elevated curiosity to grow as an artist. 

I suppose if I dug hard enough, I might’ve found a program that was fitting for her, my wallet, and our schedule, but I’m a curious designer, and I wanted to know what it would be like to have young people collaborate more closely with artists. I was curious to know what it would be like to experience learning in the context of the larger community – within homes, public spaces, outdoors, and art institutions. I had many questions, such as, How might stepping out of a typical classroom or studio add value? What happens when we share community resources and our social connections? What interesting dynamics emerge when we’re in a small group? What happens when artists and young students have the opportunity to get to know each other more closely? 

Young Creatives practicing observation and framing images at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

These questions were the impetus for the Young Creatives Visual Arts Program, a week-long experimental art immersion connecting local artists with young people aged 11-13 who are passionate about deepening their visual art skills and perspectives. Through a mix of skill-based activities and projects, reflection and discussion, field trips, and close mentorship, our goals were to support young creatives in developing observational and visual storytelling skills, strengthen their technical abilities, and foster closer connections with artists and peers. This pilot program came together with the support of artists, parents, and caretakers with open hearts, who value the power of community and mutual aid. 

Revealing a linocut print made by one of the Young Creatives. 

Together with Teaching Artists, Anagh Banerjee and Sakshi Jain, we shaped a program that allowed students to learn two art mediums – linocutting and hand-drawn animation. The children learned in various settings – in homes, at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Prospect Park, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and the School of Visual Arts MFA Design for Social Innovation studio. 

A Young Creative learning how to use linocut tools and getting used to the medium.

Thanks to families and generous hosts, we were able to shape an experience that not only allowed students to spend time getting to know the artists, their stories, and their perspectives, but also to meet new people, explore the connections between identity and place, and learn about different artistic pathways.   

Leonardo Bravo, Director, Public Engagement within MoMA’s Learning and Engagement, tours the students through the “In the Making 2025”  MoMA Teens exhibit on view through October 5, 2025. https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/5850

As we continue to think about the future of this program, we ask ourselves questions like: How do we shape a program that abundantly supports the needs of artists, young creative participants, and their families, so that everyone can participate with full hearts? How can we sustain a program that centers relationships and values intergenerational connections? How can we make space for young creatives to explore their voice and perspective, understand how that translates into their visual practice, and be supported to shine? How can a program like this embody and demonstrate the power of community and mutual aid? 

Looking at process sketches and discussing the art of suggestion with Anagh Benerjee at the MoMA.

Special thanks to the families who collaborated to make this whole thing possible, to Anagh and Sakshi for your partnership and for sharing your gifts and stories with the children, to MoMA and DSI for your generosity and warm welcomes, and, of course, to our Young Creatives for your participation, enthusiasm, and talent. We do this for you.  

If you would like to learn more, reach out to Mari Nakano, Lead Steward of the Young Creatives Program at mnakano@sva.edu.

Photos credit: Mari Nakano