Youth Arts Lab is ALL’s free out-of-school educational initiative fostering more equitable access to arts learning by supplementing creative programming at schools, community centers, social service agencies, and peer arts organizations. Partnerships have included Lussier Community Education Center, Bayview International Center for Education and the Arts, Communication, YWCA Children’s Program, Briarpatch Youth Services, The River Food Pantry, East Madison Community Center, Center for Community Healing, and Madison School & Community Recreation sites, as well as free programs run at Arts + Literature Laboratory (including Open Art Studio, Indigenous Arts, and LGBTQ+ Youth Book Club).
Schools, agencies, or other community groups seeking low cost arts programming strengthening social-emotional wellbeing should check back for our interest form to assist the process of pairing you with an artist for short or long term collaborations. Note that Youth Arts Lab funding is reserved to celebrate and support BIPOC youth, LGBTQ+ youth, immigrant youth, youth from low-income family circumstances, court-involved youth, or other young artists who might not otherwise be able to access or afford an out-of-school arts opportunity. If you are hoping to refer individual students to join existing classes, or have any other program questions, please contact Ceara Yahn at ceara@artlitlab.org.
Since Youth Arts Lab first began in January 2018, these programs have been possible thanks to the kind support of American Girl Fund for Children, Madison Community Foundation, Wisconsin Arts Board, Madison Arts Commission, Dane Arts, Evjue Foundation, Enterprise Corporation, SASY Neighborhood Association, and individual community donors.