Something for the Young People

Board Community Firsts

John D. Cartland explains the birth of the Young Men’s Council.

We got into a discussion of involvement of young people in contemporary art. How could we broaden the base of the MCA? And that's where the idea came for what we called the Young Men's Council, which was kind of funny, because we had to change it to Men's Council years later. But we got together about 20 of our friends over a couple-year period, and formed this group to support the MCA. Now—which is strange because none of us had any real involvement or interest in contemporary art. And I did it more as a civic venture.

Paul Rosin, Billy's Head (from the Voyeur series), 1983. Gelatin silver print; 18 1/2 × 14 1/2 in. (47 × 36.8 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, restricted gift of Dr. and Mrs. Peter W. Broido and Illinois Arts Council Purchase Grant, 1984.14. Photo: Nathan Keay, © MCA Chicago.

Paul Rosin, Billy’s Head (from the Voyeur series), 1983. Gelatin silver print; 18 1/2 × 14 1/2 in. (47 × 36.8 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, restricted gift of Dr. and Mrs. Peter W. Broido and Illinois Arts Council Purchase Grant, 1984.14. Photo: Nathan Keay, © MCA Chicago.

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