Failure Lab

What is Failure Lab?

Failure Lab is a museum-led leadership program for Denver-area high school students. Students work with artists, museum staff, and their peers to organize exhibitions, plan events, and develop programming. Rather than focusing on achievement, Failure Lab is dedicated to developing creativity and building community, becoming a place where the risk of failure is always a possibility.

The program runs concurrently with the school year. Meetings are held weekly at the museum on Wednesdays from 4–6PM. Students in Failure Lab earn up to $300/semester for their participation.

Check back later when applications for Spring semester are open! Follow along on our IG to be the first to know.

Past Failure Lab Exhibitions

Gallery space featuring a magical immersive installation that is bright pink and deep forest green. There are little colorful pom poms and string lights affixed to the wall, along with other youthful illustrations and clippings. Three visitors stand in the center of the space near a tropical plant and a couch. There are vines and streamer-like material hanging from the ceiling.
Young Hearts by Cami Galofre & MCA Denver Teens
Young Hearts is an immersive installation that reflects the innocence, wonder, and joy of being young. Learn more about the past Failure Lab exhibition!
Teen installation featuring various vibrant materials and collage.
Get Close But Don’t Touch by Moe Gram & MCA Denver Teens
This large scale, 3D collage is a representation of our individual and shared experiences navigating this strange time in our history. Learn more about the past Failure Lab exhibition!
Dark Logo
Black lives matter. We hear you and we see you and we stand with you. Read our full statement
Interested in winning free art for a year? Check out the Octopus Initiative