Metro Arts Summer Youth Employment
<<For more information about our programs follow the links on the side menu.

Since the summer of 2000, Metro Arts has provided area teenagers (15-19 years
old) with paid summer apprenticeships in various arts disciplines. The goal of
the program is to simultaneously provide opportunities for youth and enhance the community through the arts. For five weeks, area teens work together in groups to complete art projects under the supervision and mentoring of professional artists. Teens learn the artistic techniques and applications of their particular genre, while developing personally and professionally, gaining patience and self esteem, and learning responsibility and teamwork. As one printmaking apprentice said of their experience in the Metro Arts program, “I got to do something that I love and got paid
for it. It is an awesome opportunity to enhance one’s skills.”  The last day of the
program is a showcase and celebration of each teen's hard  work. Each group
works in one of several genres including the literary arts, performing arts & visual
arts. Genres change from year to year

2011 Projects

This past summer, from June 13 through July 15, our Metro arts teens worked on learning vital skills in the arts. Below is a summary of their projects.

   Mural Groups
   For the first time in Metro Arts history, 3 mural groups (43 teens) worked simultaneously
   on murals in Rock Island, Davenport and Bettendorf. You can check out the kids hard
   work at these locations:

• Rock Island: 16th St. south of 2nd Ave.
• Davenport: Intersection of Iowa & 3rd St.

• Bettendorf: Lincoln Rd. east of 18th St.
  
   

   Comedy Improvisation  
   With the help of Comedy Sportz/The Establishment Theatre, this new group learned
   the art of making people laugh. Each teen participated in hilarious skits to be performed
   at the final showcase celebration.

• Learn more about the Comedy Sportz »

   Dance 102
   So you think you can dance hmmm? These kids sure can! For five weeks the Dance 102
   group worked with professional dancers at Ballet Quad Cities to learn dance techniques
   in order to perform for the final showcase celebration.

• Learn more about Ballet Quad Cities »

Thank you Sponsors...

Quad City Arts Metro Arts is made possible by generous support from Bechtel Charitable Trust, City of Rock Island, Modern Woodmen of America, Downtown Partnership, City of Bettendorf, John Deere & Company, Moline Forge, Inc., Davenport Noon Optimists, Bituminous Insurance Companies, Davenport 3rd Ward Alderman Bill Boom, Davenport Alderman at-large Gene Meeker, Davenport Alderman at-large Jason Gordon, Moline Foundation: Karen’s Summertime FUNd, Junior Board of Rock Island, The National Bank. In-kind support has been provided by Ballet Quad Cities, Sergeant Pepper’s Auto Body Shop, The Establishment Theatre / ComedySportz, The YWCA, and our neighbors on Lincoln Road, Bettendorf.

 

For more information about Metro Arts contact our Community Arts Director, Jessi Black