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Calling all Teens* Everywhere
The Museum of Contemporary American Teenagers (MoCAT) invites you to:

1. interpret the question, “What are we missing?” in whatever way is most meaningful to you. What are teens missing? What are we missing about teens? You name it. A variety of interpretations and approaches will allow us to capture/present the teen experience with the complexity the topic deserves.

2. contribute to:
  • the traveling, immersive audio-visual exhibit
  • the magazine
  • the creative conversation
       
* contribute as an individual or as a group (e.g., a class, club, team, religious group) 

pitch us by March 13, 2026 

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See contribution options below


Option A: Write an essay to be printed (by us) on one of the display panels 

Write an essay answering the question “What are we Missing?” 

  • Step 1:  our editorial team will curate submissions and identify 10-20  to print on  32’’ w x 78’’   fabric panels.
  • Step 2: our art team will design art to go with the curated submissions.
  • Step 3:  we will print  10-20  panels  for the traveling display. We will cover printing logistics and costs.
  • ---Note: all submitted essays will also be considered for our magazine

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Option B: Paint, decorate, transform a floor tile  & create an audio piece to accompany the tile

Paint, decorate, reimagine a 12x12-inch foam jigsaw floor tile to tackle the same question: “What are we missing?”

Create a 1-5 minute audio piece to accompany your tile (mini podcast, explanations, interviews, music, and/or narrative). 

  • Step 1: call for concepts (pitch us your tile-art/audio concept)
  • Step 2: our editorial team will curate concepts (ensuring we have the greatest  variety of perspectives possible)
  • Step 3: if your pitch is approved, we will send you a tile (or two)
  • Step 4: paint, decorate, transform  your tile and create/submit your 1-5 minute audio piece. Please note, We want the audio tour to be as artistic as the tiles.  Resist the need to overexplain.
  • Step 5: send back your tile. Upload your audio file
  • Step 6: our editorial team will curate* designs and audio for exhibit

  • We will compile these audio pieces into an audio tour of the tiles.
  • ------ *like many shows, this one will be curated. Every tile/audio we receive will be considered; not all finished tiles/audios will make the final exhibit

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Option C: Write and/or create graphics and/or art for our magazine 

Contribute to our magazine entitled “What are we missing?”

We welcome: - opinion pieces - infographiccs - art - short feature/ investigative pieces - interviews 

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Pitch us your idea for any of the above by  March 13, 2026 . We will send you materials and final deadlines as applicable. Final Contribution Deadline will be in June 2026.

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Your Name *
Your email (public not school) address *
Your phone number *
School Name
County/State or Country (if outside of U.S.) of residence *
Are you pitching as an individual or as a group (class, school, club, temple, etc.)? *
If pitching as a group, what is your group's name/description?
If you want to try Option A (the opinion essay: see  description above), submit your essay topic and a one-sentence explanation here
If you want to try Option B (the tile/audio: see description above), submit your topic and a one-sentence description here
If you choose Option B and your tile concept is approved, we need you physical mailing address (to send blank tiles). What is your mailing address?
If you choose Option B and your tile concept is approved, how many tiles will you need (each tile is 12 by 12 inches)?
If you want to try Option C (the magazine submission: see description above), submit your format (art, opnion, infographic, etc.), topic and a one-sentence description here
We have a number of partner venues interested in displaying the final exhibition. 

Assuming the project (exhibition and magazine)  is completely curated and prepped for travel by March, do you have a venue suggestion for our national roadshow?

 It can be your school, a local gallery, etc.

If you have a suggestion list the name, city and state of the venue. 
We will curate all pitches submitted by the end of March, 2026. 

tile/audio pitches  If we select your tile concept, we will send you tiles and instructions.

magazine/essay pitches If we select your concept, we will send you submission instructions

All selected pitches We will send you submission deadlines. You can expect a contribution deadline in June, 2026 (subject to change).

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