Arts for Learning WNY Receives $171,000 for Teen Arts Apprenticeships

Arts for Learning WNY is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $171,000 grant from the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust to present ArtWorks: Hired to Create. Inspired to Succeed., a paid apprenticeship program that combines artistic exploration with essential workforce skills, college readiness, and mental health support.

This generous funding will allow Arts for Learning to hire 72 Erie County teens in 2025, including 36 youth apprentices for the upcoming Spring Session, providing them with hands-on artistic training, career development opportunities, and the support they need to succeed as young leaders and entrepreneurs in their community.

Since its inception in 2015, ArtWorks has played a crucial role in addressing disparities in access to out-of-school programs for youth. Through this new funding, ArtWorks will be able to expand its programming, providing meaningful paid opportunities for more local teens to explore their creativity while acquiring valuable skills that will serve them in both their personal and professional lives.

The funding will support two 12-week apprenticeship Sessions in 2025—Spring (February-May) and Fall (September-December)—with 36 teens hired for each Session. Participants will have the chance to work alongside professional Teaching Artists in various art forms such as design, painting, theater, multimedia arts, and more. Apprentices will engage in collaborative projects, explore new artistic techniques, and create original works to be showcased at the end of each Session.

“We are incredibly grateful to the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust for this generous grant, which will directly benefit 72 local teens in 2025,” said Amelia Schrader, Executive Director for Arts for Learning. “This funding will provide these young people with the skills, confidence, and opportunities to thrive in both creative and professional pathways. We are excited for the impact this will have on our youth and the community as a whole, and we look forward to seeing the incredible work and growth that will come from this next chapter.”

In addition to the creative experiences, ArtWorks offers professional development workshops that cover topics such as resume building, interview skills, financial literacy, and career exploration. These workshops provide essential skills that will help apprentices succeed in the workforce, while the program’s emphasis on mental health and community building ensures that participants develop a strong sense of belonging and leadership.

Field trips to local art galleries, cultural institutions, businesses, and college campuses will further broaden participants’ horizons, giving them exposure to diverse career and post-secondary education paths in the arts and beyond. Each Session will culminate in a community showcase, where participants will have the opportunity to present their work and celebrate their accomplishments with family, friends, and peers.

“The William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust is honored to partner with Arts for Learning in Western New York to support the ArtWorks program,” said Nancy Cable, Executive Director of the Trust. “We appreciate the thoughtful, holistic approach the program takes to developing young people not only in the arts but also in other skills that will help them regardless of their professional path.”

ArtWorks has a proven track record of creating transformative experiences for teens, helping them overcome challenges and build pathways to personal and professional success. Many past participants have gone on to achieve academic success, secure scholarships, and return to the program as mentors, demonstrating the lasting impact of ArtWorks on the lives of young people in Buffalo and Erie County.

With this new funding, ArtWorks will continue its mission of providing underserved youth with the tools, skills, and opportunities they need to thrive and become leaders in their communities.