Mission

Urban ArtWorks empowers young people through professional opportunities in the arts.  By providing subsidized employment, volunteer, and entrepreneurial experiences, we improve young lives as well as the surrounding community.

Vision

ArtWorks provides a safe and liberated zone for at-risk youth with opportunities for:

  • technical skill advancement
  • quality job opportunities
  • training
  • positive expression
  • personal growth


Through this work participants make many positive changes. They gain a sense of community, team work, self-confidence, and their own employability. Ultimately, we provide steps to self-sufficiency.

We serve youth from many different backgrounds including those struggling as high school dropouts, immigrants, foster and low-income youth, among other identifiers. It is our goal to positively affect as many young lives as possible while we provide quality training and creative opportunities. This is why we maximize our outreach to kids and groups throughout Seattle and its surrounding neighborhoods.

We seek to collaborate and partner with other organizations doing similar work in order to share resources and build a greater sense of community.

We impact Seattle neighborhoods by providing public art for schools, parks and community centers. 

CORE VALUES & CODE OF ETHICS

Commitment to:
• Excellent Services
• Diversity
• Creativity
• Honesty
• Respect
• Trust
• Integrity
• Accountability
• Accessibility
• Commitment
• Passion
• Community
• Education
 

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Acting in:
 • The best interests of the youth

 Providing:
• Collaboration & Teamwork  
• A Safe zone 
• Personal Guidance
• Steps toward self-sufficiency
• Non-discriminatory service
• Open-mindedness and Non-Judgmental Practices
• Creative Outlet
• Positive and Trustworthy Role Models
• Education
• On the Job Training
• Alternatives to Detention
• Youth Leadership Opportunities
• Youth Networking Opportunities
• Community Building
• Support to Local Youth and Artists
• Support to Local Businesses

Cultivate and Expand:
• Collaboration & Teamwork
• Independence & Personal Competence
• Cultural Proficiency
• Social Awareness
• Sense of Community
• Consciousness of Societal Institutions and Alternatives to Corporate Dependency
• Understanding Alternative Lifestyles
• Responsibility
• Dependability
• Pride
• Appreciation of the value of art, creativity, and expression