The Youth Public Arts Program: Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Outcomes for At-Risk Youth

Abstract

This article provides the findings of a program evaluation of the Youth Public Arts Program, a long-standing community-based art program that serves at-risk youth in eastern North Carolina. The program evaluation was undertaken to examine the art skills, social and interpersonal skills, and community involvement of the participants. The study included four focus groups and telephone surveys with a total of 38 stakeholders (program participants, parents of participants, program staff, and referral sources). Results indicated that the at-risk youth had gains in both interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, including family relationships, peer relationships, community interaction, increased art skills, confidence, and self-regulation. This article adds to the very limited literature on community-based art programs for youth.

KEYWORDS:

• art
• community
• creativity in counseling
• program evaluation
• youth

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Holly Garriott, Heather White, and the staff at the Pitt County Arts Council at Emerge Art Gallery for their commitment to community outreach, their ongoing dedication to the Youth Public Arts Program, and their willingness to be evaluated.