Creative Art Works

In FY23, Creative Art Works offered 263 Youth Apprenticeships in its Public Art Youth Employment programs. Youth Apprentices (YAs) from the five boroughs of NYC, aged 16-24, were given part-time jobs after-school and/or full-time during the summer, and worked under the guidance of CAW teaching artists and program management staff. All YAs developed tangible creative skills, employment skills, and life skills such as leadership, teamwork, the power of taking initiative, and responsibility. Projects from CAWs summer season included six large-scale public artworks in very visible locations and a multimedia oral history and gallery installation focused on East Harlem. During the academic year, 103 youth were engaged in collaboration with five NYC Career and Technical Education public high schools through a 14-week character design apprenticeship sponsored by international game-design company FunPlus,(Continue to Schedule O - 06.a General Explanation attachment)

CAWs Out-of-School-Time (OST) arts programs provide K-12 students with enriching, educational activities outside of the regular day. CAW served over 300 participants with 11 OST programs in collaboration with 7 partners in FY23. Programs were provided after school and on Saturdays in partnership with NYC Title I public schools. Programs ran for a range of 8-16 weeks and often in consecutive semesters, providing safe and engaging opportunities for creative self-expression and connection with peers. All programs provided professional teaching artists imparting artistic and social-emotional skills through a wide variety of materials, with curricula including but not limited to bookmaking, digital art, visual storytelling & puppetry, mixed media, 3D art, and Art Around the World. (Continue to Schedule O - 06.c General Explanation attachment)

Creative Art Works In-School arts programs served 1,199 students during the school day in the 2022/2023 academic year. In an increase from last year, 13 semester or year-long programs were offered in partnership with 9 NYC public schools, and included arts integration as well as courses in art for arts sake. Examples include, but are not limited to, mixed media and digital arts aligned with English Language Arts, Anatomy and Physiology, criminal justice/civics, and social justice. Other courses included Portfolio Prep for students seeking acceptance to arts-focused high schools, and a graphic design, marketing and branding course. Specialized curricula included lessons tailored for at-risk transfer school students, English Language Learners, and honors students on a HS medical track. (Continue to Schedule O - 06.b General Explanation attachment)

Other program services CAWs fourth core program, Community Art-Making. These projects engage youth with their families as part of larger public events with community partners. Art-making aligns with and enhances our partners goals for youth and community engagement. In FY23, CAW facilitated six in-person community art-making events, serving over 220 participants. Also included are the development of new program initiatives and mural restorations.