Youth Art Team

ENCOURAGE YOUTH TO DEVELOP THEIR CREATIVE POTENTIAL.

PUBLIC ART PROJECTS - PUBLIC ART PROJECTS ARE THE MOST PUBLICLY-VISIBLE PROGRAMS OF YOUTH ART TEAM. YOUTH ART TEAM ARTISTS COMPLETED TWO PROJECTS AND LAUNCHED A NEW MAJOR PROJECT IN 2022. THE FOURTH STREET PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE MURAL PROJECT INSTALLATION WAS COMPLETED IN JUNE OF 2022. THE PROJECT WAS CELEBRATED AT A PUBLIC DEDICATION CEREMONY HOSTED BY THE MAYOR OF WATERLOO, AND THE ARTISTS NAMED THE ARTWORK COLORFUL CONNECTION. THIS EVENT WAS THE CULMINATION OF THREE YEARS OF WORK ON THE MURALS BY YOUTH ART TEAM ARTISTS AND YOUNG ARTISTS FROM TWO PARTICIPATING ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN WATERLOO. ARTISTS COMPLETED THREE LARGE WALL MURALS AT THE GROUT MUSEUM AS PART OF A SUMMER CAMP IN JULY OF 2022. THE MURALS ARE IN THREE SEPARATE CLASSROOMS USED FOR TEACHING MUSEUM SCHOOLAN ANNUAL PROGRAM THAT IS ATTENDED BY EVERY THIRD GRADE STUDENT IN THE WATERLOO SCHOOL DISTRICT . YOUTH ART TEAM IS COLLABORATING WITH IOWA EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED (IESBVI) IN 2022-2023 TO BRING ACCESSIBLE ARTS PROJECTS TO BVI YOUTH ACROSS IOWA, WHO WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A COLLABORATIVE INSTALLATION WITH YOUTH ART TEAM ARTISTS IN 2023. THE PROJECT WAS FORMALLY LAUNCHED IN THE FALL OF 2022 AND WILL BE COMPLETED IN THE SUMMER OF 2023. ADDITIONAL 2022 PROJECTS INCLUDED CREATING A SERIES OF MINI-MURALS AS PART OF YOUTH ART TEAM'S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NORTH END ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL. THE MINI-MURALS WERE PRODUCED BY ARTISTS DURING SUMMER CAMP AND COMPLETED IN COLLABORATION WITH VISITORS TO THE FESTIVAL. WORK ALSO CONTINUED TOWARD LAUNCHING ONLINE TOURS OF PAST YOUTH ART TEAM PROJECTS, WHICH WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC IN 2023. YOUTH ART TEAM HELD A PUBLIC CELEBRATION FOR THE COMPLETION AND DEDICATION OF THE FOURTH STREET PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE MURALS (NOW KNOWN AS COLORFUL CONNECTION). THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE, WORK, AND VISIT THE CEDAR VALLEY ARE IMPACTED BY YOUTH ART TEAM'S EXISTING PUBLIC ARTWORK AND SEE IT EVERY DAY. YOUTH AND ADULTS DIRECTLY ENGAGED INDIVIDUALLY AND WITH ONE ANOTHER TO CREATE THE ARTS PROJECTS DESCRIBED ABOVE; OTHERS (COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND VISITORS/TOURISTS) ARE REACHED THROUGH EXHIBITIONS, PUBLIC EVENTS, AND EVERYDAY VISIBILITY THROUGHOUT 2022.

CREATIVE JOB TRAINING - JOB SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES CONTINUED TO BE OFFERED IN 2022 TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SPECIFIC YOUTH ART TEAM ARTISTS AND TO SUPPORT THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS OF TAKING ON PROFESSIONAL COMMISSIONS. ARTISTS WERE CERTIFIED TO SELL THEIR WORK BY BECOMING "CERTIFIED ARTISTS" IN 2022. THROUGH SUMMER CAMP ACTIVITIES, ARTISTS LEARNED HOW TO VALUE THEIR INDIVIDUAL TIME AND IDEAS, TO CONSIDER THE "MARKET" FOR THEIR WORK, AND TO BUDGET THEIR MATERIALS THROUGH REAL OPPORTUNITIES TO SELL THEIR WORK TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. ARTISTS SOLD THEIR WORK THROUGH THE SHOP AT HEADQUARTERS AND AT OUTREACH EVENTS INCLUDING THE CEDAR VALLEY FASHION, ART, AND CULTURE EXPO. CERTIFIED ARTISTS COMPLETED PRIVATE COMMISSIONS. YOUTH ART TEAM EMPLOYED A TOTAL OF SIX ARTISTS IN 2022 TO ASSIST WITH WEEKLY TASKS AT HEADQUARTERS, SUCH AS EVENT PREP, INVENTORYING, AND PAYMENTS/DEPOSITS (INCLUDING LEARNING HOW TO WRITE CHECKS TO ARTISTS FOR THEIR COMMISSION PAYMENTS), AND WORK ON THE INTERPRETIVE WEBSITE.

GENERAL PROGRAM SERVICES - YOUTH ART TEAM STAFF MADE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO STRENGTHEN THE EXISTING MENTORSHIP PROGRAM IN 2022, AFTER SEEING THE LONG-TERM BENEFITS OF THE EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS. ALL YOUTH ARTISTS IN THE MENTORING PROGRAM MAINTAINED POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR MENTORS IN 2022, WITH SEVERAL MEETING REGULARLY FOR ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION, A MEAL, TUTORING, OR OTHER ACTIVITIES. TRANSPORTATION CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR YOUTH ART TEAM ARTISTS IN 2022. A DEDICATED CORE OF VOLUNTEERS HELP WITH RIDES FOR YOUTH ART TEAM ARTISTS WHEN NEED ARISES. YOUTH ART TEAM ALSO DEVELOPED A TRANSPORTATION SOLUTION THAT WILL MOVE INTO THE PILOT PHASE IN EARLY 2023, IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL FUNDERS, BUSINESSES, AND NONPROFITS FACING SIMILAR TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES. ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS CONTINUED IN 2022 INCLUDE PROJECTS AND MEETINGS OF THE IMAGINATION COALITION FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR, AS WELL AS OPEN STUDIO DURING THE SPRING AND FALL SEMESTERS.