Youth Art. Real Work. Big Projects Ahead.
Art Behind the Wall - Murals in MD Juvenile Facilities
Baltimore Youth Arts (BYA) has been working inside Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) facilities for over a decade. Our program began in 2015 within the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center. In partnership with DJS, we are currently leading a mural project across facilities, including the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center and Western Maryland Children's Center, where youth and staff are working together through the full design and painting process from concept to what ends up on the wall(s).
The collaborative process is intentional. BYA facilitators bring professional instruction and materials, but the ideas, themes, and decisions come from the room. We believe young people and staff already have creativity, vision, and perspective worth building on, and that doing this work together, consistently, is one of the most meaningful ways to build real relationships inside these spaces.
We are actively recruiting artists and arts educators to join our mural project team working at juvenile justice facilities across Maryland. This is challenging, meaningful, and important work. If you have mural experience or strong arts facilitation skills and want to make a real impact, please reach out.
Contact: gianna@bmoreyoutharts.org or fill out the interest form below.
SPRING & SUMMER 2026 @ BYA
This spring, our Studio Apprentice Program (SAP) is back!
We are kicking off an exciting new project in partnership with the National Aquarium that will run through the summer. BYA youth will be creating a public art piece as part of the Aquarium's Harbor Wetland project. Visitors will be able to see and interact with BYA youth-created artwork for the next few years! Alongside the installation, we'll also be developing an activity book. Stay tuned for more as this comes together.
A huge thank you to the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund (BCYF) for making summer programming possible and to the National Aquarium for working with us on such an exciting project!
***We are currently hiring for the following positions to support this work***
Graphic Design Facilitator
Baltimore Youth Arts is seeking a Graphic Design Facilitator to support Apprentices in the Spring/Summer 2026 Apprentice Program. This role facilitates workshop-style classes. BYA's project-based curriculum will engage youth in developing a collaborative coloring book and a commissioned public art installation exploring how young people envision Baltimore's Inner Harbor over the next century, in partnership with the National Aquarium.
Fine Art Facilitator
Baltimore Youth Arts is seeking a Fine Art Facilitator to support Apprentices in the Spring/Summer 2026 Apprentice Program. This role facilitates
workshop-style classes. BYA's project-based curriculum will engage youth in developing a collaborative coloring book and a commissioned public art installation, in partnership with the National Aquarium, exploring how young people envision Baltimore's Inner Harbor over the next century.
THANK YOU!
None of what BYA does happens without the support of people and organizations who believe in Baltimore's young people. We want to take a moment to say thank you.
Recent funding support:
Bloomberg Philanthropies - for recent funding and for supporting BYA as part of the EMBRACE Initiative
Baltimore Children and Youth Fund (BCYF) - for funding that is making our summer 2026 programming possible
We also want to extend our heartfelt thanks to every funder, foundation partner, and organization that supported BYA's work in 2025. Your investment in our organization and in Baltimore's young people carried us through the year and made our work possible. Thank you to the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation, the Abell Foundation, the Maryland State Arts Council, United Way, and the Baltimore Mayor’s Office.
And to every individual who donated to Baltimore Youth Arts last year: thank you. Whether you gave $10 or $1,000, your generosity is felt by the young people we serve. This work belongs to all of us who believe it matters.
Baltimore Youth Arts operates under the fiscal sponsorship of Uplift Alliance, LLC. EIN: 93-2244713
To donate by check - please address your check to: Uplift Alliance and write “BYA” in the memo line
Mail your gift to:
Baltimore Youth Arts c/o Uplift Alliance
220 Arch St., 14th Fl. Baltimore, MD 21201