ArtsCorps

Arts Corps is a nationally recognized youth arts education organization that works to address the race and income-based opportunity gap in access to arts education. Through participation in our arts integration, out-of-school arts and teen leadership programs, youth experience the transformative power of creativity and gain a deepened belief in their own capacity to learn, take risks, persist and achieve. Arts Corps' mission is to revolutionize arts education by igniting the creative power of young people through culturally engaging learning experiences.

Live! May 9th @ 7:00pm

Youth Speaks - Wild Card Slam!

Arts Corps Presents: Youth Speaks Seattle Wildcard Slam. 8 Poets compete over two rounds for the last slot in our 2020 GRAND SLAM (Sunday May 31st)!

The audience does not need to have their video enabled. But cheering, digital snaps, and sharing your favorite lines in the chat is heavily encouraged

Our Approach

At the heart of ArtsCorps is a simple conviction: creativity is a fundamental human right, not a luxury reserved for those with private lessons and expensive supplies. Our programs are built on the principle of arts integration, a teaching method that weaves visual art, music, poetry, dance, and theater directly into academic subjects and youth development settings. Rather than treating art as an add-on, we use it as a vehicle for deeper learning, critical thinking, and personal growth. This approach has been refined over years of collaboration with classroom teachers, community partners, and young artists themselves.

We also prioritize cultural relevance in everything we do. Our teaching artists reflect the communities they serve, and our curriculum draws on the rich artistic traditions of the young people in our programs. When a student sees their own culture, language, and lived experience reflected in the art they create, engagement soars and learning becomes personal. This is not about a single style or canon; it is about honoring the many ways creativity shows up across race, class, gender, and neighborhood.

Finally, we believe in youth leadership. ArtsCorps is not a place where adults simply deliver lessons to passive students. Young people help shape program offerings, curate events, mentor their peers, and sit on decision-making bodies. The goal is to build a pipeline of creative leaders who will go on to transform their communities long after their time with us ends.

What We Offer

ArtsCorps runs three core program areas, each designed to meet young people where they are and move them toward greater creative confidence and academic success.

• Arts Integration Residencies: Teaching artists partner with classroom teachers in public schools to design multi-week units that use an art form to explore a core subject. For example, students might learn fractions through drumming rhythms, or study the Civil Rights Movement through spoken word poetry. These residencies are co-planned and co-taught, ensuring that both the art and the academic content are rigorous.
• Out-of-School Arts Classes: Free and low-cost classes in visual art, music production, dance, theater, and creative writing take place after school, on weekends, and during school breaks. These classes are open to all, with priority given to youth from under-resourced schools and neighborhoods. No prior experience is required—just curiosity.
• Teen Leadership Programs: For young people ready to take the next step, we offer paid internships, youth advisory boards, and peer mentor roles. Teens learn event production, public speaking, teaching skills, and arts advocacy. Many of our alumni go on to work as teaching artists themselves, completing the cycle of creative empowerment.

In addition to these core programs, ArtsCorps produces public events like the Youth Speaks Seattle Wildcard Slam, which showcase the incredible talent of our young poets and performers. These events are free and open to the community, and they serve as both a celebration and a recruitment tool for future participants.

Why Arts Education Matters

The opportunity gap in arts education is stark. Students in low-income schools are far less likely to have access to any arts instruction, despite decades of research showing that arts learning improves academic outcomes, social-emotional skills, and long-term success. ArtsCorps exists to close that gap, not by offering a diluted version of the arts, but by providing high-quality, culturally responsive instruction that rivals the best private programs in the region.

Research consistently shows that young people who participate in the arts are more likely to graduate high school, attend college, and become civically engaged adults. They develop grit, collaboration, and creative problem-solving—skills that employers across every sector now rank as essential. But beyond the data, we see the transformation in real time: a shy student finds her voice on stage, a struggling reader decodes complex text through songwriting, a group of teens learns to resolve conflict by creating a mural together. That is the power of art.

We also know that arts education is a matter of equity. When young people of color and low-income youth are systematically denied access to creative learning, they are denied a chance to develop their full potential. ArtsCorps is part of a broader movement to change that, working alongside organizations like AOC(S) and The Residency to build a more just and vibrant arts ecosystem in the Northwest.

Our Community

ArtsCorps is deeply rooted in the Pacific Northwest, but our reach extends beyond any single neighborhood. We partner with dozens of schools, community centers, housing authorities, and youth-serving organizations across the region. Our teaching artists are professional working artists who bring real-world experience and passion to every classroom. They undergo ongoing training in culturally responsive pedagogy, trauma-informed practice, and arts integration techniques.

We are also proud to be part of the NASH (Northwest Arts Streaming Hub) community, a collaborative network of arts organizations committed to expanding access to creative experiences through digital and in-person programming. Through NASH, we are able to stream events like the Youth Speaks Seattle Wildcard Slam to a wider audience, breaking down geographic barriers and inviting the whole region to witness the power of youth voice.

Our alumni network is growing, and many former participants now serve as mentors, teaching artists, and board members. They are the living proof that investing in young creatives pays dividends for decades. If you are a young person looking for a creative home, a parent seeking free arts programming, or a school leader wanting to bring arts integration to your building, we invite you to learn more about how to get involved.

Get Involved

There are many ways to support ArtsCorps and the young artists we serve. Whether you have time, talent, or resources to share, your contribution makes a difference.

• Volunteer: Help with event production, mentorship, or administrative support. We welcome volunteers with a range of skills and availability.
• Donate: Financial contributions allow us to keep programs free for participants and to pay our teaching artists fairly. Every dollar goes directly toward creative learning.
• Partner: Schools, community organizations, and businesses can collaborate with us on residencies, events, and youth employment opportunities.
• Spread the Word: Follow us on social media, share our events, and tell a young person in your life about our programs.

ArtsCorps is more than an organization—it is a movement to ensure that every young person, regardless of zip code or family income, has the chance to discover their creative power. We hope you will join us.