Expanding the Walls is a free program for teens to learn about photography, history, and community. The program culminates with a celebration of the participants' work. Participants receive a $1000 stipend and a Canon EOS Rebel DSLR camera.

Expanding the Walls uses the Studio Museum’s James Van Der Zee Collection and Archive as the point of entry to share experiences and perspectives on community, identity, history, and culture. Over the course of 8 months , Studio Museum engages with participants in a regimen of field excursions, workshops with prominent visual artists, and the study of the fundamentals of photography.