Arts based Learning

Creative play is an essential part of being human and a much-needed relief from street life. The arts offer a compelling alternative that allows youth to set their own pace for healing and personal transformation.

Learning artistic techniques
Increased opportunities to build dexterity and success in new art processes and techniques builds self-confidence.

Self Awareness and Exploration
Arts activities provide a unique context within which to discover and express oneself. Young people need the process of becoming more aware of who they are, how they communicate, where personal limitations are, and where they have much potential.

Engaging Community
Through arts projects, youth can learn both the power of their own voices in engaging the community in positive ways and the possibility of igniting social change through the works that they create.

Job Skill Building
Through job readiness projects using the arts youth can learn the benefits of being punctual and committed to a project; how to work collaboratively; communicate visually and verbally; how to resolve conflict; work as a team; and develop logical and lateral thinking. Deliberate task setting and accomplishments increase employment readiness.

Youth Leadership
Youth have the opportunity to lead and design workshops at SKETCH. Youth co-facilitate in developing and implementing programs, assist in evaluation and are involved in governance.

Youth Entrepreneurship
The arts can be a way to earn income and a context to explore economic literacy. Youth entrepreneurs are provided opportunities to focus on computer or technical skills; accounting/financial and business skills; marketing and sales; people or interpersonal and communication skills; and organization and project management.