The Leonard Davis Center for the Arts of The City College of New York
City College of New York61293 W. 138th StreetNew YorkNY10031212-650-6130
212-650-7649

Program: The City College Art Institute Year Started: 1989 Focus: Design & Visual Arts Youth Served: 15 Ages: 13-17 Budget: $45,000 "My ability for art has grown a large amount along with my ideas," remarked a 14-year-old participant in The City College Art Institute program of The Leonard Davis Center for the Arts. Designed to provide opportunities for minority youth who show exceptional potential in the visual arts, the Institute combines career-oriented visual arts training with literacy development and mentoring. The integrated program makes youth more aware of career options and how conceptual and studio training can prepare them for a career in the visual arts. Small classes of 7 to 10 students are the key to the program. "These kids are so starved for attention that classes larger than 10 lose their educational effectiveness," says Development Assistant Brian Haller. College faculty introduce students to fundamental drawing and design skills through a Foundation/Portfolio Workshop and expose them to sculpture, painting, photography, advertising and interior design through other special workshops. After-school and Saturday classes are held on campus once a week for 2 1/2 hours during the school year. A 3-week summer program includes career work- shops. Field trips to museums, sculpture parks and arts-related businesses nurture an appreciation of New York City's vast resources and demonstrate ways for teens to channel their talents as they become adults.