AYCD Background

Background of the Program

In spite of the overwhelming positive evidence in its favor, youth arts is still at a critical juncture in its development. The field suffers from lack of definition in the public arena, patchy funding, a dearth of applied research opportunities and, most importantly, few learning opportunities for current and future leaders. Even the most dedicated organization cannot survive without steady funding, connections and communications to a network of support, and the promise of leadership succession.

In the Arts in Youth and Community Development (AYCD) graduate program, academic coursework is intrinsically linked to community-based, hands-on learning and leadership opportunities at community-based organizations and public institutions in the youth development sector. This program is forging a partnership between grassroots expertise and theoretical knowledge to equip the next generation of arts leaders with the tools they will need.

The AYCD concentration of the Master of Arts Management is a partnership between the department of Arts, Entertainment and Media Management (AEMM) and the Center for Community Arts Partnerships (CCAP). This partnership is based on the belief that CCAP and AEMM each combine their unique resources and areas of expertise in order to offer as much guidance as possible to the AYCD program.