ArtWorks

Learn About ArtWorks 20th Anniversary

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What is ArtWorks?

Program Details:

Open to 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
Application and interview required
No prior experience needed; just an interest in the arts and eagerness to learn
Participants are responsible for their own transportation
Receive a stipend for participation
Offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer sessions
Culminating event at the end of each session, ArtWorks Live!

ArtWorks is an Arts Education and Workforce Development program for 10th to 12th graders, where students work as paid apprentices mentored by Master Teaching Artists. Alongside developing their artistic skills, apprentices build essential workforce and life skills to prepare for success beyond high school.

Each session offers a variety of art forms, allowing students to explore new disciplines or deepen existing talents. Past sessions have included Visual Arts, Film Production, Dance, Podcasting, Photography, Spoken Word Poetry, Fashion Design, Mixed Media, Songwriting and Recording Arts, among others.

APPRENTICESHIP OPTIONS:

Afterschool: Semester-long, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4:30–7:30 pm
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Summer: 4-6 weeks, Monday–Friday, 9:30 am–3:30 pm
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ArtWorks Youth Leadership Council

The ArtWorks Youth Leadership Council is a leadership-focused extension of the ArtWorks program, offering returning apprentices opportunities to deepen their involvement and take on expanded responsibilities. Council members serve as co-op leads, assist with professional development activities, contribute to community service projects, and represent the program as ambassadors.

Youth selected for the Council are guaranteed placement in all three ArtWorks sessions during the year—fall, spring, and summer—and receive additional stipend funds for their participation.

Eligible students must have completed at least one previous session of ArtWorks and will be asked to complete an interview as part of the selection process.

Silhouettes of five people dancing with orange paint splashes in the background.

April 17, 2026 | 6-8 PM - ArtWorks Live!

Location: Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (11400 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106)

Parking: Available in nearby garages

About the event:

Join us on Friday, April 17, 2026, for the return of ArtWorks Live! at the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (for it’s third year!), where we’re excited to showcase the incredible talent of our 20 apprentices. This year’s showcase invites our apprentices to draw inspiration from past ArtWorks sessions, reimagining and creating new work that bridges the past, present, and future of the arts.

The event features two dynamic co-ops: Mixed Media Visual Arts with Kahzar Powell and African Diasporic Dance with Ron'Dale Simpson. Together, these co-ops will present a collaborative mix of visual art and dance performances, with some pieces incorporating spoken word, poetry, and other creative expressions.

As we gear up for the 20th anniversary of the ArtWorks program this summer, we’re excited to celebrate and reimagine the creativity that has been a hallmark of this program for two decades. This is an event that showcases the future of the arts through the eyes of youth.

ArtWorks Live! is free and open to all ages, with a suggested donation of $5–$10 per group to support youth arts programming at CAL. Parking is available in nearby garages.

Don't miss out on this incredible evening celebrating the next generation of artists!