Families and Teens
Keep your teens and families engaged year-round through the Fort Wayne Museum of Art! During crucial developmental stages of your family’s life, art plays a significant role in their social, emotional and mental development. We offer several programs for family members of all ages.
John S. and James L. Knight Learning Center
In the earliest stages of life, visual literacy directly relates to a child’s need for self-expression. As kids learn to talk, they’re also developing the impulse to express themselves and relate to the world around them. The Knight Learning Center was developed to meet these needs in a fun, interactive and hands-on environment. The Center includes artwork from the FWMoA collection curated especially for families, art-making activities, and hands-on engagement stations that teach the elements of art. The Center functions as a classroom for school groups and can be combined with a tour of the museum galleries.
Young Artists Exhibit 2026
The Fort Wayne Museum of Art invites 5th – 7th grade students from Allen County schools to participate in a juried art show that will be on display in the FWMoA Learning Center during the spring semester. The Young Artists Exhibit aims to prepare students for future participation in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, while also offering a fresh project opportunity for teachers.
How To Participate
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February 1 – 28, 2026: Digital submissions open here
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March 2 – 6: FWMoA Judging
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March 9: Teachers notified of selected works
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March 9 – 18: Guardian permission slip signing (FWMoA will provide a permission slip to teachers upon acceptance of work).
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March 19 – 25: Drop off physical artworks to FWMoA
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March 31 – May 6: Installation on view
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May 11 – 18: Art pick up
Teen Council
The FWMoA Teen Council is led by and for area youth, providing opportunities for leadership and learning through arts programming. As ambassadors of the Museum, council members work collaboratively with staff to develop creative, community-oriented projects and events. Applications are considered on a rolling basis with membership capped at 15.
Mission: The FWMoA Teen Council works to provide activities and opportunities for area youth to learn new skills and ideas by exploring their creative side, thus adding value to their life and work and attracting a more diverse audience to the museum.
We’re collecting feedback! Please complete the short survey here to help shape the future of teen programming at FWMoA.
Teen Council Members
Gwen Burch
Brooklynn Deane
Paikea Early-Aden
Julia Valcarcel
Promyse Williams
Sophia Zhang
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
The Fort Wayne Museum of Art is an Affiliate Partner of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, a national program sponsored by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, which celebrates the art and writing talents of students in grades 7-12. The Scholastic Awards highlight the exemplary originality, technical skill and emergence of personal voice and vision of Northeast Indiana teens.
Our program is one of only 26 in the country to offer the full art and writing program. Our regional participation has grown to include 52 counties in Indiana and Ohio, with many students continuing on to win national awards.
How to Participate
Stay tuned to the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers website throughout the year to sharpen your skills and stay in the know on exciting opportunities to stay involved. Registration opens on October 1 each year at artandwriting.org.
Contact Alyssa Dumire at [email protected] to learn more.
Important Dates for Scholastic 2026
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October 1, 2025: Program Launch!
- December 16, 11:59 pm: Online submission deadline
- December 18: All submission fees must be RECEIVED
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December 18 – January 8: Writing adjudication
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January 9 – 10, 2026: Art adjudication
- January 13: Art Awards announced
- January 13: Writing Awards announced
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January 13 – 20, 6 pm: Artwork drop-off
- February 14 – April 12: Exhibition at FWMoA
- February 15, 12 – 5 pm: Open House Awards Celebration at FWMoA
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March 3 – 8: Exhibition closed due to Gala Fundraiser
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March 25: National Notification Day
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April 13 – 20: Artwork pickup at FWMoA
Educator Resources
The documents available for download here are designed to help educators and their students make the most of their Fort Wayne Museum of Art experience. These resources are designed to be flexible—use them to extend learning before or after a visit to the museum, or to experience the artwork in your classroom if you’re unable to bring a field trip.
If you’re bringing your class for a field trip, please contact us to schedule it, even if you don’t want a docent-led tour.
Pre-Visit Resources
Collection Resources
At-Home Learning
Sometimes, art education needs to come to your home. We’re proud to offer resources to make your at-home arts curriculum more robust and fun for your family!
Downloadable Resources
Sometimes, art education needs to come to your home. We’re proud to offer resources to make your at-home arts curriculum more robust and fun for your family!
Download the Chihuly Coloring Book
Download the Hanna Family Coloring Book
Download the Helmholtz Coloring Book
Download Directions to Make-A-Quake