Testimonials

“DA is always about the art, the community, and the voices it was inspiring. Those values have been the defining reason behind my art. That alone is what separates DA from other organizations.”

 “DA provides a completely safe space where the only thing that you're expected to bring to the table is 100% YOU. I don't think that I would be half the person I am today if it wasn't for DA.”

"THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR: STUDY OF THE ARTS CONTRIBUTES TO STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND SUCCESS."
- CRITICAL EVIDENCE: HOW THE ARTS BENEFIT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT - THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF STATE ARTS AGENCIES

 “We really created works that represented who we were as individuals and that showcased our own sets of skills and personalities. I was always treated like a young artist who was expected to deliver - and I loved it!”

"THE ANALYSIS FURTHER SHOWS THAT SCHOOLS OFFERING STUDENTS THE MOST ACCESS TO ARTS EDUCATION HAVE THE HIGHEST GRADUATION RATES."
- STAYING IN SCHOOL: ARTS EDUCATION AND NYC HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE - CENTER FOR ARTS EDUCATION

We have also witnessed the Impact first-hand. ​
That’s Why We Are So Passionate About Arts Education
And we want to make an difference.

DEVELOP > EMPOWER > CONNECT

That's Our Impact Statement.  It’s in our name.  We Develop Artists.  We provide opportunities to find and refine artistic voices and proclaim ourselves as artists. But it goes beyond that.  We Empower individuals to chase and conquer their fears. We provide the tools to confront life challenges. But we can't do it alone.  We must Connect to our community to affect change. The lessons learned through our process - focusing on the collaborative nature of art - translate not only to one’s artistic growth, but directly impacts one’s sense of confidence that empowers the individual’s understanding and connection to the community in which they live. We believe that learning and teaching go hand-in-hand: We embrace the importance of passing along the evolving knowledge to the next generation.

...You've opened up a world to me that I didn't know really existed. 
- Bryan