“Creative art works for me, because it taught me that I didn't need to fear my mistakes.”

– Kathy Chalas, Public Art Youth Employment Alum

Public Art Youth 
Employment Program

Young adults 14-24 years old are given full-time summer jobs and part-time jobs after school to create large-scale public art in Manhattan, starting with the initial planning down to the final brush strokes and public unveiling. They gain tangible employment skills as well as general life skills such as leadership, teamwork, responsibility, and the power of taking initiative. By the end of the program, our young artists feel empowered seeing the permanent accomplishment that is their mural and its positive impact on the community.

Learn more about commissioning youth-created art for your workplace or public space.


“CAW has enriched our children’s lives with life-changing, everlasting experiences.”

– Justin Kravetz, Assistant Principal of P.S. 192 in Harlem

Out-of-School Time ArtWorks

Afterschool ArtWorks
A free, semester-long after-school program where students are paired with professional teaching artists to learn artistic, technical, and developmental skills in the creative area of their choice, from topics including Mixed Media, Photography, Urban Design, and Multimedia PSAs. A culminating project concludes the semester — kids present their work to teachers, artists, peers, and family allowing them to practice goal setting, public speaking, and self expression.

Saturday ArtWorks
Free programs in multiple venues throughout Upper Manhattan providing safe, creative and engaging drop-in environments for youth ages 4-14. Focusing on the 4C’s: creativity, cooperation, communication, and confidence, the literacy-based programs help kids develop social and problem-solving skills, self-expression, and artistic skills while creating a rewarding project.


“After trying other arts programs, we found CAW's level of commitment to our students, professionalism, and quality of program delivery to be of the highest standard.”

– James Cole, Assistant Principal of M.S. 328 in Washington Heights

In-School ArtWorks

CAW’s growing in-school programs, new as of 2012, aim to mitigate the removal of arts education from NYC public schools by providing an arts-based or integrated curriculum during the school day. Professional teaching artists collaborate with school teaching staff and administrators to help them meet mandated arts education requirements and align lesson planning with core curriculum, with demonstrated impacts on school attendance and performance. Curricula are designed in keeping with the National Core Arts Standards, New York State Learning Standards for the Arts, and the New York City Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts.


“My daughter and I were both completely enthralled and fascinated by the craft-making project ... I have been told that I "can never, never, never, EVER" throw this away!”

– Hike the Heights "Giraffe Path" Participant

Community ArtWorks

CAW provides youth-oriented, interactive art-making projects in the context of larger public events with partner organizations. Workshops and public art tours are designed to engage youth with their community and to allow them to experience and celebrate the power of art. Our largest Community ArtWorks program is the celebrated Giraffe Path, an integral part of the annual “Hike the Heights” celebration.