Edgehill Center, Inc.
935 Edgehill AvenueNashvilleTN37203
615-256-5108615-256-2573

Program: PAVE WAY (Preventive Arts and Video From Edgehill With Artists and Youth) Year Started: 1992 Focus: Visual Arts Youth Served: 29 Ages: 10-18 Budget: $18,000 Youth from low-income housing developments are being given opportunities to beautify the city of Nashville through commissioned outdoor murals in a program of the Edgehill Center, Inc. The Center hires professional, African-American male artists who work in a variety of visual arts. These artists are role models and guides for participants and come from the same background as the youth. Nonprofit organizations, schools and private companies request murals and designate a theme for the art. Youth talk about what the theme means to them and collaborate with the artists in designing a mural that encompasses their visions. Depending on the size of the mural requested, 7 to 10 young people participate in each project and may work nights and weekends, later returning to a regularly scheduled weekly 2-hour meeting. There is strong family participation in the program. The older youth are mentoring newcomers and their younger siblings. "When there are kids with a natural ability in the arts, often the parents have this same ability that never was developed," says Community Services Director Cathy Roberts. "The parents are being given opportunities to learn and grow with their children."