The Youth Artist Program (YAP) is a two-year afterschool arts training program for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors to support the development of art skills and academic competencies with the final goal of stimulating the pursuit of post-high-school education. YAP provides students an opportunity to build a solid portfolio of work for art college application or other post-secondary pursuits. Our program gives young artists tools they will need to thrive in a competitive academic arts world.

Through exploratory field trips, researching colleges and careers for their “college task lists,” spending time with and learning from successful visiting artists, and maintaining a close mentor relationship with the YAP instructor, students learn about possible career paths in the arts and get motivated in their artwork, homework and academics.

Students take classes at Taller three days a week after school, Mondays and Wednesdays, or Tuesdays and Thursdays. All students attend on Fridays for field trips, joint projects, or experimentation with new art-making techniques. Some field trips the YAP instructor has organized include: art galleries and museums, career fairs, college tours (the Community College of Philadelphia, area arts colleges), the library, and observational drawing outside.

To ensure quality instruction, the program presently accepts 15 students. Students make a two-year commitment so the program can fully foster their professional development. Classes form in the fall. For more information, please contact Carlos Pascual at 215-423-6320 or cpascual@tallerpr.org