YOUTH ARTS FOR CHANGE - 2022 IN REVIEW
2022 brought many successes and triumphs to our Youth Arts for Change Program (YAC). In collaboration with our wonderful partners, YAC engaged more Clackamas youth than ever last year!
In this review, we present just a snapshot of the breadth and depth of the program and the incredible and inspiring youth with whom we have had the opportunity to work.
How many youth participated in Youth Arts for Change (YAC) last year?
In 2022, 170 youth participated in YAC programs all over Clackamas County.
That is a 120% increase from 2021!
What does YAC do?
YAC helps vulnerable and underserved youth develop skills for positive and constructive expression utilizing the arts. The program engages youth in project-based experiences leveraging art as a catalyst to articulate thoughts, ideas, and feelings. Teaching artists guide and encourage youth using a variety of artistic media that allow them to reflect on and share who they are, what they care about, the challenges they face, and the hopes they have for the future.
Why does YAC do Youth Art Exhibits?
The YAC program strongly stands for the importance of sharing and empowering youth voices through their art. Most YAC programs culminate in a public exhibit of youth artwork in the Public Services Building. YAC also partners with other organizations like the Clackamas Education Service District to mount exhibits of youth artwork at the Public Services Building to recognize and share their youths’ accomplishments with the broader public.
What do youth have to say about their experiences in YAC programs?
“It gave me a chance to take my emotions and put them on paper.”
“I consider myself an artist now.”
“It was relaxing and inspiring.”
“I loved how it was all free! So that anyone could do art.”
“Art is not about being perfect”
“…It made me more happy!”
“What I learned is that you can take something bad and turn it into something good.”
A word from YAC Program Manager, Lisa Smith
“What’s really important is that we do exhibits for each individual program. Youth then have a chance to share what they think and who they are. What do they want people to know? How do they want to be seen? What we do is really unique in that it’s not skill based, it’s ideas based. The youth seem to be, when you remove those barriers of skill and resources, untethered. A lot of them walk out thinking it was fun, but also that they got to engage without being told they did something wrong. A lot of the youth end their program knowing and saying that they now understand that art doesn’t have to be perfect. They aren’t afraid of expressing themselves through art anymore”.
As we say farewell to 2022, we are thankful for our partners and funders, without whom none of this would be possible.
To support the efforts of Youth Arts for Change, donate here.
VIEW YOUTH ARTWORK
For more information on Youth Arts for Change, contact the Program Manager Lisa Smith below.