For every week in Youth Art Month 2025, we are spotlighting five organizations (or one each day), that uplift and connect Wisconsin's youths to the arts. Here are our five shining stars this week:
Day Eleven
Arts Board Grantee
Opera for the Young brings live, professional opera to elementary school audiences with annual Fall and Spring tours. Students appear onstage in chorus and cameo roles, performing for their peers right alongside OFTY’s professional artists. All productions are fully staged, sung in English and adapted especially for kids. Opera for the Young keeps school performances affordable through its own fundraising efforts. They are able to offer our programming at 40% of the actual cost through the generous support of individuals, corporations, foundations and government funding.
What have they been up to lately, and how are they using their WAB grant?
From Saira, General Director:
Opera for the Young's 2024-2025 tour of The Magic Flute is underway thanks to the support of the Wisconsin Arts Board!
A note from us:
"The Arts Board was invited last Friday to Opera for the Young's production of the Magic Flute, which was absolutely amazing! We are grateful to OFTY for the invitation to watch the show."
Day Twelve
Arts Board Grantee
Arts + Literature Laboratory is a community-based contemporary arts center supporting the visual and literary arts, music and performance, and youth and adult arts education.
What have they been up to lately, and how are they using their WAB grant?
From Ceara, Education & Outreach Director:
"Arts + Literature Lab's Youth Arts Programming has benefited greatly across many of our offerings thanks to the support of the Wisconsin Arts Board.
Each summer, ALL runs a 10-week long Youth Arts Camp that consists of a diverse array of art practices. From recycled sculpture, to watercolor, to hip hop dance, ALL’s camps have something for every student. Teaching artists from across our Madison arts community teach their expertise and spread their love of the creative process to our students. The camp program, in addition to our academic-year programming, also provides Teaching Artists with additional income streams to support themselves and their art practices.
Students attend camp for anywhere from one half-week to ten full-weeks, and many of our students come back each year. In Summer 2024 alone, more than 200 students attended camp. Out of the 525 camp spots we filled, 108 of those were by children receiving tuition assistance. We are very proud to offer 20% or more of our camp spots to students for free or significantly reduced cost based on financial need.
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Left: A student displays medallions she beaded in an Indigenous Beadwork Camp. Right: A student dances in a Hip Hop end-of-week parent showcase.
Along with our fantastic Summer Camp, we also offer academic-year youth programming. Many of these are MMSD Day-Off workshops and weekend workshops. Additionally, we offer weekly youth after school arts programs. Taught by local teaching artists, our youth classes and workshops cover a wide range of techniques informed by what students are interested in. Wisconsin Arts Board funding helps make it possible for our youth and family programs to be free or low-cost, making this truly a place for any youth who want to join.
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Students in Bernie Witzack’s Camp Zuzu MMSD Day-Off Workshop in Fall 2024
Another one of our powerful youth programs is our collaboration with University of Wisconsin Madison’s Schools of Social Work and Human Ecology to develop creative programming for contact visits for incarcerated parents and their children. Contact visits are an impactful experience during which families can work on art projects together to help break the ice and grow connection.
Arts + Literature Laboratory is a hub for youth arts, providing community for young people who love to create. We are devoted to making sure that every student, regardless of their situation, is able to access quality art education and contact with working artists. Funds like those from the Wisconsin Arts Board make this and more possible."
Day Thirteen
Arts Board Grantee
WYSO is a not-for-profit organization that provides transformational musical experiences and opportunities for young people since 1966. WYSO includes three full orchestras, two string orchestras, a chamber music program, a harp program, a percussion ensemble, a brass choir program and the WYSO Music Makers program. More than 5,000 young musicians from communities throughout southern Wisconsin have participated in WYSO during its 50+ years of existence.
Day Fourteen
Arts Board Grantee
Art Start uses the creative process to nurture the voices, hearts, and minds of historically marginalized youth, offering a space for them to imagine, believe, and represent their creative vision for their lives and communities. For over 30 years, they’ve worked with more than 25,000 young people with the help of 12,000 artist educators and volunteers. The Art Start model has won national recognition as a highly effective way to transform young lives.
What have they been up to lately, and how are they using their WAB grant?
From Hope, Program Director of Milwaukee Operations:
“With support from Wisconsin Arts Board, Art Start is proud to highlight the 2025 Art Start Emerging Artists. This cohort of Milwaukee-area teens and young adults ages 14-24 represent diverse artforms, including visual art, fashion arts, creative writing and poetry, graphic design and digital art, photography, and more. During their time in this 8-month paid residency program, Emerging Artists develop valuable career readiness skills, such as Adaptive Mindset, Creativity, Communication, Collaboration, and Critical Thinking, through activities such as:
- Twice-weekly cohort workshops, as well as networking and professional learning opportunities, college tours, small group projects, and creative placemaking;
- Hands-on creative Creative Sessions;
- Development, critique, and presentation of their creative portfolios;
- Access to wellness resources such as personal, career and college counseling; case management; and service plans, supported by Art Start social workers and academic advisor;
- Special industry projects;
- And more.
The 2025 Art Start Emerging Artists will showcase their growth and talent at Art Start's Annual Spring Retrospective on Monday, May 19, 2025, at Art Start Studios in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward.”
Day Fifteen
Arts Board Grantee
The School of Madison Ballet is committed to nurturing a love for dance across all ages and abilities, regardless of ethnic, sociological or economic backgrounds. They offer a progressive curriculum rooted in classical ballet.
How do they connect youths to ballet?
From Richard, Rehearsal Director and School Principal:
”School of Madison Ballet is deeply committed to fostering youth arts and arts education through a range of programs designed to nurture young dancers at every stage of their artistic development. We provide quality ballet training in a structured and inspiring environment, emphasizing both technical excellence and artistic expression.
Youth Performance Opportunities – Performance is a crucial aspect of a dancer’s education. Our students have the opportunity to participate in full-length ballets with our professional company and showcase performances, gaining invaluable stage experience.
Community Engagement & Outreach – We are dedicated to making ballet accessible to young audiences. Through school performances, lecture demonstrations, and community partnerships, we introduce dance to students who may not otherwise have exposure to the arts.
Scholarship & Financial Aid Programs – To ensure that ballet education is accessible to talented students regardless of financial background, we offer merit- and need-based scholarships that help young dancers pursue their training.
Educational Workshops & Enrichment – Our school enhances learning through master classes, career preparation seminars, and injury prevention workshops. These experiences provide students with a well-rounded arts education that extends beyond the studio.
Children’s & Youth Division – SMB welcomes young dancers as early as age 18 months to 18 years, fostering a love of movement, music, and creative expression from the very beginning of their dance journey.
By integrating these elements, we cultivate not only skilled dancers but also lifelong supporters of the arts. Our mission is to inspire the next generation of artists, audiences, and arts advocates through a commitment to excellence in youth arts education.”
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Keep up with the Youth Art Month celebration on our socials (Instagram, Facebook), and check back next week for the last week of YAM celebrations!