Black Belt Youth Arts Collective

BBYAC IS AN AFTER SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAM FOR YOUTH IN RURAL ALABAMA. WE HAVE COHORTS IN TWO RURAL TOWNS THAT WORK ON PROJECTS VIA WORKSHOP SERIES THROUGHOUT AN 8 WEEK PERIOD. SO FAR WE HAVE DONE SEPARATE WORKSHOP SERIES ON PHOTOGRAPHY, POETRY, ARCHITECTURE, AND SHOE DESIGN. EACH WORKSHOP SERIES INCLUDES AT LEAST ONE COMMUNITY ARTIST PARTNER TO SERVE AS A GUIDE AND ONE GUEST SPEAKER, AND IT ENDS IN A STUDENT-ORGANIZED ART SHOW FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP SERIES, OUR FIRST PROGRAM, SERVED 8 STUDENTS. THE POETRY WORKSHOP SERIES SERVED 12 STUDENTS. THE ARCHITECTURE WORKSHOP SERIES SERVED 20 STUDENTS. THE SHOE DESIGN WORKSHOP SERIES SERVED 7 STUDENTS. IN THE FUTURE, BEYOND OUR CURRENT PROGRAMMING, WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO CREATE DISCREET LESSON PLANS THAT TEACHERS CAN ALSO INTEGRATE INTO THEIR STANDARDS-BASED CURRICULUM TO ENCOURAGE ART EDUCATION IN THE CLASSROOM. EVERYTHING SO FAR HAS BEEN FUNDED FROM THE CO-FOUNDERS OWN WALLETS. OUR ORGANIZATION HAS TAKEN A BREAK IN PROGRAMMING SINCE NOVEMBER 2022 DUE TO SOME PERSONAL MATTERS, HENCE THE LACK OF INCOME OR EXPENSES FOR THE 2022 TAX YEAR, BUT WE FILED FOR INCORPORATION IN MAY 2023 AND INTEND TO TO APPLY FOR 501(C)(3) STATUS IN 2023.