When you think of Bay Area teens, you probably think of STEM-focused prodigies or startup founders with a knack for coding. However, the student-led Palo Alto Teen Arts Council focuses on artists in the community with an aptitude for creating.
Hosted at the Palo Alto Children’s Theater, TAC’s main goal is to help create a more positive space for art in the community.
“I think it’s fun just to hang out with other creative people and brainstorm ideas of how to bring art to the community, ” TAC co-president and Palo Alto High School junior Maya Caren said.
The council hosts open mic nights, where teen musicians, bands, and anyone else can express themselves and perform. They also have a variety of other projects and events to enrich the community, such as the annual Wave Fest which kicks off the summer and celebrates friends, food, and music. They celebrate local artists with the block party featuring many other amusing summer activities like live music, and teen vendors selling their art.
Along with the Wave Fest they also host Luminescence, a film festival that highlights local teens with a public screening of submitted films.
“It is a nice outlet for teenagers to have where they can express their creative and artistic side,” TAC co-president and Palo Alto High School senior Eesha Samant said.
In March, TAC members and Teens in the community gathered to paint the mural in the back of the Palo Alto Children’s Theater. The mural featured an orange and pink sunset reflected across the Bay Area, featuring California Poppies and mountains. They wanted to capture all of the beauty that California has to offer, said Eesha.
“It was great that they accepted every one of all skill levels. I had a lot of fun,” said Palo Alto High School senior Kaliope Hendershot, who took part in the mural painting.
The event had a big impact as it brought many people together to share their love of art and the community, Eesha said. They also painted a mural on a utility box at Palo Alto High School which showcased Palo Alto’s love for nature, stem, sports, and art on all sides of the box and can be seen by anyone who passes by the school, she said.
In an area filled with immense STEM prioritization, the TAC stands out more, says Eesha.
The TAC recently held a clothing swap at the Palo Alto Children’s Theater’s Castle Stage. Away from the cold and the rain, the event had cookies, hot cocoa, and candy canes to start Thanksgiving break.
Rows of foldable tables lining the stage held all different types of clothes. From jeans to shirts to jackets, neighborhood teens gathered to upcycle their clothing and come home with something new, all for free.
“It’s nice because this way you don’t waste any clothes…this way you can directly give it to people who might want it,” Palo Alto High junior Ivy Lee said.
