with Dr. Christopher Adejumo
The Greater Tomorrow Youth Art Program has been dubbed by the Austin Chronicle as “the best free summer art program for kids in Austin.” art program developed and taught by tenured University of Texas Professor Dr. Christopher Adejumo provides free art lessons to gifted children in need living in Austin. The program serves approximately 25 youths each year. Due to COVID restrictions, the program is currently being held through Zoom meetings and workshops during the summer and early fall.
The Greater Tomorrow Youth Art Program was established in 1999 with the primary goal of providing gifted and economically disadvantaged Austin youths with beneficial experiences in art. Policy makers, parents, community leaders, corporate organizations, and institutions of learning all agree that a major challenge that faces American society is finding ways to engage children in productive activities during after-school-hours. This is the time frame that youngsters tend to be most vulnerable to crime and other destructive activities.
The Greater Tomorrow Youth Art Program (GTYAP) promotes growth through age-appropriate art enrichment activities involving slide and video shows, music, storytelling, art production and workshops by guest artists. Through methodically planned art programming, participants will acquire cognitive growth, develop habits that promote good physical and emotional health, and refrain from activities that are destructive to oneself or to others. In short, participants are taught skills, attitudes and values that will contribute to their abilities to become good and productive citizens.
The GTYAP promotes lifelong creative learning and, for years, has collaborated with community and cultural organizations to “utilize the arts as a means to address social and educational goals.” The GTYAP is free and open to all children in Austin, but mostly serves artistically gifted children from underprivileged, socio-economic backgrounds. It is AVAA’s great honor to be the sponsoring organization for this program since it began.
For more information on the program, please contact Dr. Adejumo at 512-471-5672, c.ade@mail.utexas.edu
This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.
