By Tracey Hartmann & Wendy McClanahan
In many multipurpose out-of-school time (OST) organizations, the gym doubles as the theater, the cafeteria as the visual arts room, and dedicated storage is non-existent. But research shows that dedicated, inspiring, and welcoming spaces enhance the arts experience for young people and facilitates skills development.
So, how does a multipurpose OST organization address this tension as a way to engage young people who would like to explore the arts?
Research from The Youth Arts Initiative (YAI), funded by The Wallace Foundation and implemented by Boys & Girls Clubs of America, shows it is possible and that getting creative with space is a “transformative” step. This research codified key practices for high-quality arts programs into 10 Principles for High-Quality Arts Programs.
Research for Action and McClanahan Associates served as the research partners for YAI. Drawing from our learnings, we are publishing mini-briefs that explore each of the 10 Principles and offer actionable, practical strategies to implement youth arts programs in multipurpose out-of-school time settings.
In this mini-brief, we focus on Principle 3: Dedicated, Inspiring Spaces.
Stay tuned for the next mini-brief in our series!