YouthCAN empowers Asian Pacific American (APA) youth to explore their creative voices through hands-on, museum-based, out-of-school art activities. Youth not only learn about their heritage and develop artistic skills, but also create museum exhibitions and programs that address issues relevant to young APAs in our communities. Students collaborate with lead professional artists, museum staff and other youth across the city to explore the various art practices: aesthetics, self-expression, social change, and/or a career. For a list of past exhibition projects, please click here.

THE YOUTHCAN INITIATIVE ON STYLE
This year (July 2010-April 2011) we are exploring Asian Pacific American styles in youth culture. We understand style as an expression of taste, or the ability to distinguish between things and make judgments. These judgments are often made at the confluence of individual preference and societal pressures. To be stylish, then, means to engage in a fundamental conversation about self and society: how do individual styles relate to his or her community? Who determines whether stylized choices were made in good taste? As many APA youth find themselves in various communities that cross generational, neighborhood and racial lines, the question of style becomes critical: for whom should we be stylish for? Whose distinction matters? This initiative is designed to support Asian Pacific American youth to work through these questions and create diverse styles. If you are interested in participating, please click here for the most current information on our studios.

THE NATIONAL ARTS AND HUMANITIES YOUTH PROGRAM AWARD
Chosen from a pool of more than 400 nominations and 50 finalists, YouthCAN was one of 15 after-school and out-of-school programs across the country to receive the 2010 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award (formerly, the Coming Up Taller Award), the highest honor such programs can receive in the United States. The award honors community-based arts and humanities programs that make a marked difference in the lives of their participants by improving academic scores and graduation rates, enhancing life skills, and developing positive relationships with peers and adults. First Lady Michelle Obama gave YouthCAN representatives the prestigious award at a White House ceremony on Wednesday, October 20, 2010.

For more information
> YouthCAN PCAH/NAHYP Award News Release
> Invitation to the Seattle Celebration on October 29, 2010

About the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards
The National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award is the nation’s highest honor for after-school arts and humanities programs, particularly those that reach underserved children and youth. The awards recognize and support outstanding programs that lay new pathways to creativity, expression, and achievement outside of the regular school day. These programs excite and engage a range of students, cultivating imagination, collaboration, discipline and academic success, with demonstrable results. They also provide safe harbors after-school, weekends and evenings, for children and youth in some of our country’s most at-risk urban and rural settings.

For more information
> PCAH/NAHYP Awards News Release
> Visit www.pcah.gov