For the past 15 years, the Arts Commission has sponsored the award winning Young Artists at Work (YAAW) program. This six-week summer employment opportunity enables diverse youth to benefit from an intense exposure to the arts.

The objective of YAAW is to provide an intensive arts experience that fosters artistic self-expression and a quality work ethic that can impact the youth throughout adulthood. The program encourages expression, refinement, cross-cultural sharing, and the exchange of ideas. The opportunity provides exposure to the concept of art as a business, as well as the creation of public art for the greater Toledo community.

YAAW serves the City of Toledo by instilling pride and the importance of shared experiences in the youth it employs as artists. To quote a past YAAW participant on the value of this program: “I cannot express my immense fondness of the time I spent at YAAW. Without it, I would not be leading the incredible life I am currently. Toledo needs YAAW. Every city needs a YAAW, really.”

Again this year, student apprentices between the ages of 14 and 18 were selected in a competitive process for 6 weeks of summer employment as working artists. 48 apprentices participated in YAAW coming from 26 different schools including private, parochial, charter and public. As participants, they work 30 hours a week under the mentorship and instruction of local artists creating a wide range of artwork.

This year YAAW partnered with Toledo School for the Arts who generously opened their art, dance, digital and performance studios providing space where the YAAW apprentices created their artwork.

The 2007 program exposed the youth to digital, visual, literary, and performing arts. One such project is a mural commissioned by The City of Toledo for Promenade Park. Such projects provide the students with the opportunity to work together, within time restraints and give them the experience of creating public art.