As part of Americans for the Arts’ work on their Creative Youth Development Toolkit, they commissioned field experts to produce a set of seven landscape analyses about key topics within youth development. These papers identify trends in creative youth development, share recommendations for CYD practitioners, and suggest areas for future exploration. All of them are now available online:
“Trends in CYD Programs” Landscape Analysis Released
Americans for the Arts has commissioned field experts to produce a set of seven landscape analyses about key topics within youth development. These papers identify trends in creative youth development, share recommendations for CYD practitioners, and suggest areas for future exploration.
The areas of focus of these papers are:
- Program Development
- Advocacy and Policy
- Working in Social Justice
- Program Evaluation
- Preparing Artists & Educators
- Working with Youth
- Funding, Sustainability, and Partnerships
The second landscape analysis to be released is Trends in Creative Youth Development Programs, by Denise Montgomery.
From the Author:
Creative youth development is a dynamic field. A fierce commitment to young people actively shaping programs and to programs reflecting ever-changing communities, coupled with reflection and refinement, means that CYD program practices are continuously in development.
Drawing on the youth development literature, literature specific to creative youth development, and exchanges with CYD practitioners, in this landscape analysis I discuss five current trends in CYD program development. These five trends include: Holistic Approaches Growing as Needs Grow, Collaboration Across Sectors, New Generation of Program Staff with New Approaches, Scaling by Depth, and Establishing Creative Career Pathways. What forces are catalyzing these trends, and what do they look like in practice? Check out this quick read to find out more. The paper also includes an overview of the historical foundation of CYD program development and a summary of underpinning research.
Following discussion of the trends, you will find recommendations for action and for further exploration. As the field is ever-evolving, I invite you to be in communication regarding your work in creative youth development with any comments, ideas, and practices you would like to share or perhaps jointly explore at dmontgomery@culturethrive.com.
Read the “Trends in Creative Youth Development Programs” landscape analysis (PDF)
Register for the 2019 San Diego Creative Youth Development Summit
Join colleagues, collaborators, youth leaders, and distinguished national guests for a day of learning, sharing, and activation.
We know that San Diego is a leader in Creative Youth Development, with organizations coming together to implement the National Blueprint on a local level and continually improving practices to maximize our collective impact. And, we also know there are still many challenges we face as a sector.
This day-long Summit includes trainings and networking opportunities for administrators, teaching artists, youth, board members, funders, and partners to come together to ensure that all young people in San Diego have access to world-class CYD programs.
CYD Practitioner registration
Funders registration
Youth Leaders registration
Evening reception registration
Watch Stories of Youth Experiences in CYD
Thanks to the organizations who answered our call for youth videos! These incredible clips on our website showcase stories of youth experiences in leadership, racial equity and social justice, and collective action in their communities across the country.
Here’s the entry from SpyHop Productions:
“Working with Youth” Landscape Analysis Released
Americans for the Arts has commissioned field experts to produce a set of seven landscape analyses about key topics within youth development. These papers identify trends in creative youth development, share recommendations for CYD practitioners, and suggest areas for future exploration.
The areas of focus of these papers are:
- Program Development
- Advocacy and Policy
- Working in Social Justice
- Program Evaluation
- Preparing Artists & Educators
- Working with Youth
- Funding, Sustainability, and Partnerships
These landscape analyses are one part of a larger project led by Americans for the Arts to create a new, first-of-its-kind Creative Youth Development Toolkit.
The first landscape analysis to be released is Working with Youth, by Ashley Hare.
From the Author:
Paulo Freire has stated “There is no student who learns and teacher who educates, but a shared power relationship where both who are taught also teach”. Still, young people are the most ignored and yet the most controlled group in our society. So often we adults find ourselves in rooms making decisions on programming and policy we think are best for young people. We make these decisions without their voices, even though they are the ones who will be directly impacted by our choices. But as we are seeing nationally and globally, young people are speaking up to become their own agents of change. They are concerned about their future when we are long gone. They want to be involved now and not when they turn 18 and legally become “an adult”. They are showing us they are not our future leaders, but they are here today. To truly give them the space they are demanding, we must rethink what it means to co-lead with young people. This paper offers practices to consider when implementing youth-driven leadership models in classrooms, afterschool programs, and community spaces.
New Book Published on CYD and Music Learning
Music Learning as Youth Development, a new book published in June of 2019, highlights the role of community based Creative Youth Development organizations as catalysts and trailblazers for bringing youth development practices into all areas of music learning.
Utilizing case studies and stories from organizations around the world, the evolution and impact of CYD is traced alongside the development of the youth development field. Looking forward, this book is an important step in moving youth development into the center of music learning in schools, community based settings, higher education and professional performance settings.
Erik Holmgren of Mass Cultural Council authored a chapter called, “Changing the Ecology of Music Learning: Lessons from Creative Youth Development,” and the book was edited by Larry Scripp of the New England Conservatory and Brian Kaufmann from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
Youth Opportunity: Join the National Young Artists Summit 2019 Planning Team
Youth leaders currently in 9-12th grade are encouraged to apply by June 3, 2019, to join the National Young Artists Summit 2019 Planning Team. The Summit will be held on Saturday, November 2 in Austin, TX, in conjunction with the national Conference for Community Arts Education.
The Summit brings together youth, ages 13-24, from across the country to share their artistry; participate in workshops on topics such as leadership, racial equity, and arts entrepreneurship; and organize towards a collective call to action. It is a program of the Creative Youth Development National Partnership.
As a team member, you would be responsible for designing this year’s Summit, leading sessions, and reaching out to other young artists to participate. The Team consists of up to 10 youth members who serve for a minimum term of six months, and meets virtually once a week from June-October (usually Wednesdays, from 5-6pm ET). Team members are expected to attend all meetings; actively participate in all planning, coordination, and facilitation activities; and be present for the Youth Summit (arriving Friday, Nov. 1 in Austin and participating in the Summit all day on Saturday, Nov. 2).
The 2019 Conference for Community Arts Education is a national convening which aims to ensure all people have opportunities to maximize their creative potential.
Questions? Contact Ashley Hare, National CYD Coordinator.
Apply By June 3
Afterschool Matters Call for Papers
Afterschool Matters is a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to promoting professionalism, scholarship, and consciousness in afterschool education. Published by the National Institute on Out-of-School-Time (NIOST) with legacy support from the Robert Bowne Foundation, Afterschool Matters serves practitioners who work with youth in out-of-school time (OST) programs, as well as researchers and policymakers in youth development. They are seeking articles for future issues, beginning with Spring 2020. Scholarly or practice-based work on all aspects of OST programming for children and youth, from a variety of disciplines and academic perspectives, will be considered.
Submissions are due no later than May 25, 2019.
CYD National Partnership Co-Hosts Track at BOOST in May
The Clare Rose Foundation, in partnership with the CYD National Partnership, is proud to host the first BOOST creative youth development workshop strand in Palm Springs, CA on May 1-3, 2019. Pursuing the goal of bringing the impact of CYD work to a broader national audience, the BOOST Conference is an opportunity to engage with over 2,500 out-of-school time providers, administrators, and professionals.
Creative Youth Development: Leading Edge Practices Fueling Youth Engagement
CYD is in an unprecedented era of program innovation, cross-sector partnerships, and funding diversification. In this series of workshops, leaders from across the United States will share their pioneering work, including in CYD and social justice; new, youth-report assessment tools; initiatives supporting creative career pathways; and collaborations with sectors including health, education, and juvenile justice.
Regular registration closes March 31 and late registration closes April 15.
Fall Webinar Series Kicks-Off
We are pleased to announce the first two video chats in our 3-part online learning series this fall. This series is being development by the CYD National Partnership’s Field Building Action Team and is designed to provide opportunities for multiple stakeholders to connect with one another to learn, collaborate, and collectively advance creative youth development.
These conversational-style webinars are free and open to the public.
Healing Centered Practices through Creative Youth Development
Wednesday, October 17
3 – 4pm EST
FREE
Join us to learn about different healing centered practices and how an intentional focus on the principles of this approach: safety, choice, collaboration, trustworthiness and empowerment, can support your CYD program outcomes.
Speakers:
Shontina Vernon, Founder and Creative Director, Visionary Justice StoryLab, Seattle, WA
Jana Lynne Umipig, Creative Productions, New York City
Register Now
Supporting Youth-led Activism through Creative Youth Development
Thursday, October 25
3 – 4pm EST
FREE
CYD programs work across sectors to engage youth in high quality arts-based programs that make a real impact in our community. To that end, youth who participate in CYD become activists. Participants both learn about social justice issues and create art work that aims to inspire and activate social change. Join us to hear from CYD program leaders who are creating opportunities for youth to use their art to make a difference
Speakers:
Ebo Barton, Poet and Artist, Seattle, WA
The Youth Resiliency Institute Amir, Youth Artist, and Fanon Hill, Executive Director & Co-Founder, Baltimore, MD