2025 marks 10 years of Baltimore Youth Arts. A decade of standing with young people. A decade of creating space for creativity, growth, and community. And a decade of proving what’s possible when youth are given the support they deserve.

At BYA, we offer paid job training through the arts, mentorship, court advocacy, and workshops inside juvenile detention centers. We meet youth where they are—with consistency, care, and opportunity.

But this year has brought serious challenges. We have been impacted by funding shifts, and our longtime fiscal sponsor unexpectedly dissolved. In the face of uncertainty, we have stayed rooted in our mission, but we need your support to keep going.

As we celebrate 10 years, help us build toward the next 10.
Your donation makes it possible to pay young people for their creative work, bring programs inside facilities, and support youth as they transition home and into adulthood.

Help Us Raise $15,500 for Our Summer Employment Program

Every summer, we create space for young people to build skills, earn money, and express themselves through art. Many of the youth in our program have experienced instability, court involvement, or systems that limit their opportunities. At Baltimore Youth Arts, we believe they deserve more.

The Summer 2025 Studio Apprentice Program is a 5-week, paid creative workforce program that will engage 20 Studio Apprentices and 4 Youth Leaders in hands-on artmaking, professional development, field trips, and community-building activities. Many participants return session after session, not just for the paycheck, but because they know their ideas and contributions matter at BYA. For newer youth, this is often their first paid job and the first time they’re in a space where they’re truly seen, supported, and valued.

Due to recent funding cuts, we’re facing a gap in support for our summer session. But we’re committed to showing up for youth regardless. With your help, we can still deliver the kind of creative, community-centered experience our participants count on.

$15,500 gets us there. Here's how every dollar will help shape the summer:

• $2,000 for art supplies so youth can design, create, and experiment

• $2,000 for field trips that connect youth to new ideas, people, and possibilities

• $2,500 for snacks, meals, and food for orientation and Mock Interview Day

• $5,000 for operational costs that make the program run smoothly

• $4,000 to pay youth leaders and staff who show up every day with care and consistency

Last summer, 95% of participants completed the full session, 80% returned to work with us again, and several re-engaged with education, jobs, or other community opportunities. With your help, we can keep building those pathways!