Operating Support

We seek to invest in the youth of our community by offering culturally inclusive arts programs that arise out of community need. This year, 354 students attended Urban Arts offerings. Urban Arts Academy added a late start class to serve students displaced by school boundary changes. Our programs highlighted diverse artists and cultures to broaden the youth interest and understanding of art as a universal medium. With a goal to strengthen organizational relationships to meet the increasing needs of community, Urban Arts now has formal partnerships with four colleges and offers for-credit internships for students wishing to pursue arts education as a career. We have expanded our school partnerships to include Ramsey Middle School. Calhoun Sailing School offered fifteen scholarships to our students in summer 2012, and students participated regularly at Powderhorn Park and Hennepin County Library. We have contracted with a local church for use of their van, which allows us a greater ability to address transportation as an access issue. With a goal to employ artists and arts educators from, and reflective of, the community served, 95% of the Urban Arts permanent and contract staff reside in South Minneapolis. Four staff members as well as several of our contract artists speak Spanish and are able to teach and communicate in Spanish where appropriate.