The Arts Council of New Orleans has conducted summer arts programs over the past 4 years and in January of 1995 initiated an after-school program. These programs have been funded with Job Training Partnership Act monies from the Orleans Private Industry Council. The number of young people served each year varies, depending on available funds. In 1992, over 50 young people (ages 14-18) were introduced to the visual arts. In 1993, the Arts Council broadened the Program to include instruction in five arts areas--visual arts, dance, music, theater and computer graphics--and involved 250 young people. In 1994, the Arts Council implemented the Program with 43 students as part of the Brandeis Summer Beginnings Project. Students worked in small crews to create public art projects for community groups. Major learning activities took place through "real work" projects. Students were heavily involved in nearly all aspects of development, implementation and evaluation. Once students identified a project that they thought would provide a valuable service to the community, they conducted research to determine what it would take to execute the project, designed it, carried it out and helped to evaluate it. For the summer of 1995, the Arts Council of New Orleans initiated an integrated work and learning program for 105 youth in three areas: visual arts, theater and video. The classes took place at Southern University and Xavier University. The Arts Council hired 13 artist/teachers to mentor students and serve as role models. Youth created stylized sculptures representing the letters "R", "E", "A" and "D" that were installed in the window of a library; another team made mosaic tile murals for a health center.