ARTPRENEURS INC
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Mission Statement
Arts on the Block (AOB) empowers creative youth to imagine and shape fulfilling futures, join the creative workforce, and contribute to the quality of life in their communities. AOB achieves its mission by providing real-world experiences in the arts and entrepreneurial training geared toward opening new pathways to learning, self-discovery, and achievement.
About This Cause
Arts on the Block, a nonprofit arts organization with an almost 20 year history in Montgomery County, is the only hands-on studio art apprenticeship program in the region offering youth and young adults the opportunity to learn about art, design, and business by engaging them in real-world public art commissions. We recruit, train, place, and support youth and young adults with art and design aptitudes who might not ordinarily be introduced to entry-level jobs and career paths in the creative industries. These youth are rich in promise despite challenging economic circumstances, limited educational attainment in their families, and tumultuous community environments. Founded in 2003 under the umbrella of a larger organization, AOB initially offered Pour Your ART Out (PYAO), a creative apprenticeship program, twice per year in Montgomery County, MD. In 2007, Artpreneurs, Inc. was formed and adopted Arts on the Block as its trade name. By July 2009, AOB had become an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit. In 2012, AOB expanded its programs to incorporate both high school and middle school age groups in multiple locations throughout Montgomery County, MD and Washington, DC- reaching over 2,000 young artists since its inception. Today, Arts on the Block operates a working mosaic studio in Silver Spring, MD; provides annual direct service programs for over 400 children, youth, and young adults from first grade to age 24 as well as 70 families who participate in our first dual-language (English/Spanish) program; and has secured multi-year, high profile art commissions with over 250 public art works that can be seen throughout the region. As young creatives, Youth Arts Movement (YAM) participants and their families are provided with the tools and technology to work through STEAM-focused creative learning activities in English and Spanish; reinforcing connections between art and science while supporting online engagement for young learners. Through Pour Your Art Out (PYAO) creative teens earn while learning about art, design practice, and creative jobs. Apprenticeships lead to increasingly interesting public art projects, placement on our studio crew, and a customized career path through Design Your Future (DYF). AOB programs are integrative and sequential; children as young as first grade are engaged through YAM, can become PYAO apprentices in high school, and then join one of our existing studio crews via DYF as young adults. With regular support (social, creative, emotional, and professional) and contact strategies, we journey with individuals and their families over several years.