Creative Youth Workforce
Ensuring a creative future.
What is Creative Youth Workforce?
Aligning with our new mission, vision, and values, the Creative Youth Workforce Grant will fund summer programs that provide high-quality arts experiences for youth, along with career and personal development opportunities. Creative Youth Workforce is the next iteration of our signature summer program for high school teens, Neighborhood Studios. This change is part of an overall organizational transformation to continuously meet the needs of our community.
In addition, by updating the format of the program to allow arts organizations the opportunity to develop meaningful and engaging experiences, we are empowering them to do their best work with youth audiences and be responsive to their needs.
Funded programs will provide high-quality arts experiences for youth, providing them with an opportunity to express their creativity. Students have hands-on experience and share creative space with professional artists from multiple artistic disciplines. Programs will also give participants the opportunity to experience the creative workforce’s capacity to impact communities and help them develop practical and professional skills to prepare them for any future career.
Types of Careers in the Arts
Creative Youth Workforce immerses participants in creative and collaborative experiences, providing them with skills for any future career, both within and outside the creative sector. Here is just a small list of different jobs in the arts:
Artistic Director • Book Illustrator • Creative Director • Dancer • Editor • Food Stylist • Graphic Designer • Hair + Makeup Designer • Instructor/Professor • Jeweller • Keyboardist • Lighting Designer • Musician • Novelist • Objects Conservator • Printmaker • Radio/TV Announcer • Sound Designer • Typographer • Video Game Designer • Weaver
Participating Organizations
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Hartford Stage: Breakdancing Shakespeare
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Mark Twain House & Museum: The Nook Farm Writers
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Artists Collective: Youth Jazz Entrepreneurs
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Real Art Ways: Eye on Video
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Amistad Center for Arts & Culture: SNAP! Photography
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TheaterWorks Hartford: Making a Scene
History of Neighborhood Studios
Neighborhood Studios, a staple in the Hartford community for over 20 years, was the Arts Council’s arts education program for local teens, ages 14-18. During this six-week summer apprenticeship, thousands of students over the years received hands-on instruction in an artistic medium, as well as career skills training to prepare them for today’s creative workplace. Each apprentice also received a weekly stipend so they don’t have to choose between a quality arts education and a summer job.
“This program has changed my daughter’s life in terms of her confidence, perspective and acting ability.”
“I loved coordinating this program. It was beautiful to watch the apprentices evolve both on an individual level, as well as a community of artists. They supported each other, learned to give and receive positive feedback, and to ultimately trust in their artistic ability. Thank you for the opportunity”
“The best part about participating in Neighborhood studios was being able to interact and create with others with the same passions. I genuinely loved waking up in the morning to an interesting writing prompt and being able to learn and write freely.””