Project Youth ArtReach
Project Youth ArtReach (PYA) promotes positive youth development by providing juvenile offenders in detention, corrections, and probation settings with arts programs taught by master artists to enhance youth's cognitive, linguistic, social, and civic development. As youth engage with a diverse group of professional artists, they acquire skills in visual, literary, and performing arts. By exploring themes of respect and values from other cultures, youth learn lessons in tolerance, problem solving, and conflict resolution.
Launched in 2000, PYA programs reach upwards of 2,500 youth per year at several sites in Maryland. Professional artists lead 16 – 18 workshops per week, including classes in ceramics, painting, mixed media, drumming, poetry, storytelling, guitar and dance. A series of workshops often culminates in youth poetry readings, donation of artwork to the community (e.g., murals installed in public places) or drumming demonstrations.
Funding for Project Youth ArtReach has come from:
Maryland Department of Juvenile Services
National Endowment for the Arts
Maryland State Arts Council
Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County
The Choice Program of the Shriver Center at UMBC
United Way of the National Capital Region
Corina Higginson Trust
Montgomery County Correctional Facility
Sharing Montgomery Fund
Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation
Wells Fargo Cultural Excellence Grant
Recent Highlights
A conversation between Class Acts Arts artist Karim Nagi and Executive Director James E. Modrick highlights the important role of the arts to create bridges of cultural understanding.
On Wednesday, April 3 at 11:00 a.m., the mural “Flower Dreams” will be unveiled in the heart of the Long Branch neighborhood, a vibrant ethnic cultural center. Mural created by Project Youth ArtReach of Class Acts Arts.
Class Acts Artists Kim and Reggie Harris brought their Music from the Underground Railroad show to students at Chapel District ES. Using song and story, the acclaimed duo brought to life the inspiring triumph won by a network of slaves and committed citizens from all walks of life. Read more and see video
Class Acts Artist Dakshina Dance offered a world dance treat to students in Easton MD yesterday with their lively program, "Dancing Around the World." Read more
Cantaré musicians Cecilia Esquivel and Dani Cortaza performed for students at the Blow Pierce Junior Academy Friday morning. Their musical offerings highlighted holiday music from Latin America and its indigenous, European, and African roots. Class Acts Arts, Inc. and Capital One Bank sponsored the performance.
Class Acts Arts annual celebration of the arts will feature collaborations by national and internationally renowned DC-based artists.
Claire Schwadron, Director of Project Youth ArtReach, an award-winning positive youth development program for youthful offenders and incarcerated adults, received the Education Award from the Montgomery County Executive's Awards for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities which was held at Montgomery College’s Cultural Arts Center on Monday night.
Project Youth ArtReach Director Claire Schwadron received the Education Award at last night's Montgomery County Executive's Awards for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities.
Class Acts Arts of Silver Spring, MD, presents its 3rd annual FIESTA! Feasting and Fêting the Arts fundraiser on Friday, November 16 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Montgomery College’s Cultural Arts Center (7995 Georgia Ave. Silver Spring, MD.)
Project Youth ArtReach, a part of Class Acts Arts, is featured in Gazette article: Boyds prisoners find focus, new lives through art program
PYA Gallery
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
