EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - YouthARTS: research-based arts education programmes for at-risk youth

YouthARTS: research-based arts education programmes for at-risk youth

Introduction

YouthARTS has compiled a handbook for developing, implementing and evaluating research-based arts education programmes for youth at risk of juvenile delinquency and other behavioural problems.

Description

In 1995, a consortium of three American arts agencies began a collaborative three-year research effort on arts programming for at-risk youth in 1995. The arts agencies wanted to gather statistical evicence that these arts education programmes enhance youth development.

This consortium, known as the YouthARTS Development Project, had seven primary goals:

to define the critical elements and "best practices" of arts education programmes designed for at-risk youth populations
to design and test programme evaluation methodologies
to conduct a rigorous evaluation at three pilot sites of the impact of arts programmes on adolescent behaviour and the risk and protective factors associated with behavioural problems and delinquency
to design and test models of professional development and training that prepare artists to work with at-risk youth populations. These models should also prepare artists, social service staff, juvenile justice professionals, and educators to work collaboratively in developing and implementing arts programmes for youth at risk
to strengthen collaborative relationships among local and federal partners
to disseminate "best practice" models to arts, social service, and juvenile justice programme providers all over the United States
to leverage increased funding for at-risk youth programmes

Background information

Arts education programmes for young people focus on developing and enhancing their creative skills. The programmes can cover one or more art forms, e.g. painting, sculpting, photography, drama and dance.

Methodology

To meet the above-mentioned goals, YouthARTS

conducted a field scan of the literature on arts-based youth programming
interviewed representatives from model programmes around the United States in order to identify "best practices"
conducted focus groups with artists and social workers in each of the three cities involved in the YouthARTS project
reviewed the juvenile justice literature on risk- and protection-focused prevention and intervention. This would become the underpinnings of the YouthARTS approach: to develop programmes that are designed to reduce risk factors, while increasing protective factors.

Then, using this newly gained knowledge, the three arts agencies in the YouthARTS project either designed and implemented a new programme for at-risk youth populations, or modified an existing programme.

Finally, each site gathered data to support a national evaluation of its programme’s effects on participants' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours.

Conclusions

If properly designed and implemented, arts programmes really can have an impact on youth. They can enhance young peoples' attitudes about themselves and their futures. They also can increase academic achievement and decrease delinquent behaviour.
Implementing effective programmes for at-risk youth requires close collaborations at different levels of community. The programmes need to be well-integrated with existing programmes and services.
Using a planning model - an interactive and proactive planning tool that promotes collaboration - is an excellent framework to tie the different programme elements together and chart a road map for a successful programme.
Team training helps to build an effective and enduring collaboration and is the means by which all players gain an understanding of the critical features and "rules" of one anothers' domain.
Running arts programmes for youth at risk is costly and labour-intensive work, especially compared to the costs of other offered arts programmes. The important cost comparison, however, is between arts programmes and the costs of counselling, incarceration, and other societal and human costs of juvenile delinquency.

Contact info

Americans for the Arts
+1 202 3712830

Publication date

//1998

Researcher

Americans for the Arts: YouthARTS Development Project

Links

YouthARTS E-mail Americans for the Arts

YouthARTS Handbook: Arts Programs for Youth at Risk (PDF, Eng, 4MB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Quality of life

Keywords

Skills improvement