More than an innovative real estate project, PAAI is facilitating educational and professional opportunities that are specific to the needs of incoming artists and established communities. For neighborhood youth, PAAI’s Youth Arts Project makes the world of local creative leaders and their creative spaces more accessible by providing after-school artistic workshops that are close to home and free of charge. For artists, the Youth Arts Project is an exciting - and oftentimes challenging - introduction to professional opportunities in Teaching Artistry. Unleashing and guiding the immense creativity of youth enriches the neighborhood and the youth themselves. PAAI matches youth with local professional artists to create arts-related projects in small informal arts classes. Small grants called Micro-grants are awarded on a competitive basis to artists who present a viable and innovative plans for teaching and making a difference with neighborhood kids, some who are at-risk. Got a good idea but never taught kids before, no problem. PAAI Youth Arts Program provides professional development workshops with all PAAI Artist Instructors as well as networking meetings between artists to share ideas, experiences, challenges, and to create the potential for collaboration between classes. Request for Proposals occur three times each year. Grants range from $1,000 - $2,500 depending on the project. All final projects are exhibited or performed in conjunction with the PAAI’s events so the public can check out the works kids create. From poetry, photography, and drama to flower arranging and jewelry making, to digital recording and developing software for the LEGO Corporation, these artistic experiences set the stage for developing our youth – our next generation of community leaders and decision-makers.

For a teaching artist application, download it here , call 412.441.9833 or email Jamie VanderMolen at pennavenuearts@yahoo.com.