Providence ¡CityArts! for Youth is a community arts organization with a mission to provide free professional arts education to Providence youth between ages 8-14. ¡CityArts! now serves over 1200 youth in afterschool and summer arts programs citywide, offering meaningful learning experiences in visual art and design, performing arts, and creative writing. Our work is inspired by the creative process of art-making and the exploration of ideas and concepts that shape our communities and everyday lives.
History

¡CityArts! began its work in 1992, with a summer camp assembled by a handful of neighborhood social service agencies, families, and community leaders. The camp was an initial response to the community’s critical need for positive programs to engage youth during out-of-school time. This need persists, and significant demand for ¡CityArts! programs has resulted in year-round afterschool and summer classes which now serve hundreds of youth annually. Today, in addition to working with local artists and educators, ¡CityArts! youth have exceptional opportunities to take field trips to local museums, perform at community gatherings, receive homework help from students attending our partner universities, engage in neighborhood service projects, and have their work displayed in galleries throughout Providence!