OCYC 2025–26 | Application

Orange County Young Curators (OCYC) Application

Thank you for your interest in Orange County Young Curators (OCYC)! We are now accepting applications for the 2025–26 school year.

OCYC brings together high school juniors and seniors from across the county to learn about museums, contemporary art, and curatorial practice. With the support of museum staff, students will organize an exhibition drawn from OCMA's collection that opens to the public in June 2026. OCYC members get a $150 prepaid Visa card each month, and tansportation stipends are available to support travel to the museum.

Please submit this application on or before Wednesday, September 10, 2025. You can also find a physical version of the application at https://ocma.art/learn/teens.

For questions about the application or the program, please contact teens@ocma.art.

OCYC Requirements
To apply for OCYC, you must meet the following requirements:
1. Be a high school junior or senior in Orange County during the 2025–26 school year.
2. Be interested in broadening your understanding of art and museums. You do not need to be an artist.
3. Fully commit to the yearlong program. Most meetings will take place on Wednesdays from 4:30–6:30 PM and Saturdays from 10:00 AM–2:00 PM, but dates and times will change as needed.
We will be in touch the week of September 7, 2025 about the status of your application. Be sure to check your email during this time!
OCYC Schedule
OCYC will run from October 15, 2025–July 24, 2026. All meeting times will take place at OCMA unless stated otherwise. While subject to change, current meeting dates are below.

2025

October 15, 18, 22, and 29

November 12, 15, and 19

December 10, 13, and 17

2026

January 7, 17, 21, and 31

February 4, 14, and 18

March 4, 14, 18, 28

April 1, 11, 15, and 29

May 16, 20, and 27

June 10, 13, 18, 23, 25, 26, and 30

July 7, 15, 22, and 24

Parent/Guardian Information

Enter information for at least one parent/guardian. You may enter information for an additional parent/guardian if you wish.
Parent/Guardian 1 Name*

First NameLast Name
Parent/Guardian 1 Email*
Please enter your parent/guardian's phone number.
Parent/Guardian 1 Phone Number*
Please enter your parent/guardian's phone number.
Parent/Guardian 2 Name

First NameLast Name
Parent/Guardian 2 Email
Additional parent/guardian's phone number.
Parent/Guardian 2 Phone Number
Additional parent/guardian's phone number.

Short Essay Questions

Respond to the following questions in 250 words or less. Please write in complete sentences and answer each question thoughtfully. Your answers will help us learn more about you.
Why do you want to join OCYC? What do you hope to gain from this experience, and what unique skills or qualities do you believe you can contribute to the group?*

0/250
Barbara Kruger, Untitled, 1989. Gelatin silver print, 54 1/8 × 50 in (137.5 × 127 cm). Collection of Orange County Museum of Art. Gift of Eugene C. White and the estate of Robert H. Tyler, 1993.007. Courtesy the artist. Photo: Chris Bliss.
Respond to this work of art. Consider what stands out to you, what questions you have, or what the artist might be saying. Format your response in any way that you prefer.*

0/250
Imagine you are writing a fictional short story. Include a brief scene from that story below. Think about how your choices—characters, dialogue, narration, setting, and others—might reveal more about you as the author.*

0/250
What is one topic that you feel is underrepresented in the media? Describe it and explain why it should get more attention.*

0/250
Should be Empty:

OCYC Requirements