Multipurpose out-of-school time (OST) organizations are experts in building strong, supportive bonds with and among youth. That’s why, when introducing high-quality arts programming, these organizations must expand these relationships to support creative risk-taking and skill-building.
When strengthening the quality of arts programs, multipurpose OST organizations can build on these strong bonds to foster connections with adults who model professional artistic mastery and peers who support one another as creative collaborators
How can multipurpose OST organizations deepen engagement and skill development in their arts programs?
Research from The Youth Arts Initiative (YAI), funded by The Wallace Foundation and implemented by Boys & Girls Clubs of America, reveals that for pre-teens and young teens, the social environment is often the primary driver of retention. 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 OST settings.
In this mini-brief, we focus on Principle 6: Positive Relationships.
Stay tuned for the next mini-brief in our series!