PARENT

Living Arts, for me, is their voice. I feel like it is the place where they express their feelings, their emotions, their woes, their troubles. It's the place where they feel comfortable to be themselves and succeed

PARENT

Living Arts gives the kids a safe place, especially now with it being our own, our own place, and just to express themselves. My dream for Living Arts is for it to continue, all the youth that's coming up now, all the other little kids that come up now, just for them to enjoy the space, for them to enjoy the programs.

ALUMNI

To me, Living Arts practically means a family. I met some of my best friends at dance class. The tight knit community of people who do what you do and love what they're doing. Also Living Arts brought out my creativity side. I was able to express myself with words and with dance motions. I was very quiet growing up, I didn't really like speaking out loud. But now I'm able to do so, and it really helped me.

STUDENT

Living Arts is my home away from home because I get to be myself. I would say to my friends Living Arts is a great place where you can express yourself and make more friends.

TEACHING ARTIST

What sets Living Arts apart is really the support and the community that's built with both the teaching artists and with the students. The freedom that I'm given as a teaching artist, the trust that's put in me to follow my own passions, and the response to the students interests in their art practice.

OSA PROGRAM MANAGER & TEACHING ARTISTS

I think if I were a young person who was really looking for a place to connect with myself creatively, and I think this is the space for that to not only develop yourself as an artist, but to learn why art is important period. To meet people who have made art their life practice, and not just something that they engage with every once in a while. If I was a parent looking for a program that wasn't just trying to churn out another dancer, this is where we truly talk about how those things live in our everyday and live in.

CEO of LIVING ARTS

It's so important for youth to have a place where they belong, where they know that they're artists, and where that creativity is nurtured and celebrated. And I think that that's what sets Living Arts apart from other arts organizations, is we are not looking to create the next Emmy award winning actor. We're looking to create a happy, whole, confident child who feels success and proud of where they come from and who they are and how they interact with the world.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

It's a community that has amazing teaching artists that help students. These teaching artists understand and they get it, and they're able to guide them in a loving, positive way. I think, as for parents, we are able to connect and relate and take a breath that our kids are in a safe spot and they're learning good things, and we can be together.