History
Since 2002, the Winston-Salem Youth Arts Institute has developed from the idea that young people who are labeled "at risk" need a voice in the community and at the table when their lives are discussed by agencies and organizations who wish to address youth violence, violence prevention and community safety. Because youth are most powerfully and easily engaged through the arts, and Winston-Salem is rich with professional artists it made sense to bring the two together!
In its early development the Summer Film and Theatre Arts Institute (as it was called) was an organic process emerging as local professional artists sat at the table with staff of the Housing Authority, the Mayor's office, Recreation Center directors, board members of the Southside Community Development Corporation, the NC School of Film, WSSU mass communication students, NC School of the Arts High School program, the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, the Center for Community Safety, the WSPD, the Southside Hispanic Center, the WS Arts Council and PS211/the WereHouse.
The cross fertilization of ideas among academic institutions, social and community services, students, local artists and the Institute youth participants has been rich and energetic, as we have worked to create a viable program for young people who would not ordinarily have the opportunity to discover their voices through artistic development. These partners continue to recruit youth apprentices, provide apprentice artist youth sponsorships, and bring in-kind resources to support the ongoing work of the WSYAI.
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