Our Beliefs

Empowerment of Youth through the Arts

We believe:

in the intrinsic ability of each individual to be creative;
that the development and discovery of one’s creative gifts builds self-knowledge and self-love as well as respect and tolerance for the interests and gifts of others.

Service to Community

We believe:

all young people should have access to affordable quality arts education and the opportunity to showcase their art;
our programs must reflect the input and represent the diverse interests and multiculturalism of our community;
our community deserves a first-rate community arts and performance center;
our programs are a response to a call of love and action for children, youth and their families, and are guided by a spiritual and thoughtfully conceived mission.

Commitment to Excellence

We believe:

in setting high standards for program curriculum, teaching, partnerships, education, administration and community service;
young people can achieve high standards when provided with the tools for success;
our arts training must involve self-discipline, accountability, collaboration and creativity;
we must provide a safe, nurturing learning environment with state-of-the art tools and facilities;
in teaching and learning -- evaluating our work -- and setting high expectations for both our students and ourselves.

The Power of Partnership

We believe:

in creating a network of artists, parents and volunteers to strengthen our programs, mentor and recognize the creative gifts of our young people;
in fostering mutually rewarding collaborations with neighboring service providers, community businesses and fellow arts organizations that strengthen each partner and the quality of their services;
in serving as a role-model for like-minded organizations by sharing our learning and successes.