Teen Arts NJ Festival 2025
Craft & Convos: Youth With A Message
Teens create a temporary mural filled with affirmations, hopes, and positive messages using spray paint techniques (with safe, water-based alternatives) and stencils. This expressive workshop introduces youth to the creative power of street art, community messaging, and self-affirmation.
Hosted outdoors on an open mobile studio (17ft box truck), called the "Creative Space," owned by Danté Laughlin, the founder of For Struggling Creatives.
Teens love street art aesthetics and were excited to leave a positive, visual message behind. The mural became a collective voice and visual memory of the event. This 3-day workshop series was rooted in creative expression and empowerment.
Inside the Creative Space, students were able to dive into a creative writing activation and share their thoughts or visuals on our walls, just like a gallery.
The outdoor space was where our collaborative mural and graffiti art, and messaging on the side of the truck took place. Each day centered on co-creation and provided students with accessible, engaging ways to make art and build community through it.
Location: Middlesex College, Edison, NJ
Dates: June 2–4, 2025
