Youth in Arts was founded in 1970 by local arts advocates dismayed by diminishing resources available for arts education in California schools. Our mission is to provide students with experiences and instruction in the visual and performing arts, and to enrich the community with cultural events.  Our programs are based upon the belief that a child’s balanced development and education must include the arts.  Approximately 85% of public and private schools in Marin are involved in at least one of Youth in Arts programs.  Over 40% of the students we serve are designated by the state as low income.
Youth in Arts provides in-school and after-school arts instruction and performances for serves over 20,000 preK-12 students each year.  Events including our Italian Street Painting Festival, Youth in Arts Day at the Marin County Fair and Performances by our `Til Dawn teenA Cappellaensemble draw an annual audience of over 100,000.