In 1995 the Rockford Area Arts Council created ArtsPlace, an innovative program that provides Rockford area youth ages 14-18 with job training in the arts. The "artist apprentices" work in teams under the guidance of professional teaching artists, selected with care by the Arts Council for their talent and ability to form positive working relationships with young people. The teams work in a variety of media, including furniture painting, garden mosaics, murals, pastels, theater arts and dance.

The artist apprentices learn valuable skills including attendance, punctuality, positive attitude and productivity which are applicable to future employment. They learn that to be successful at their jobs they must practice good teamwork skills, and they develop other skills vital to the workplace such as problem solving, teamwork, decision-making, and good communications.

Of course they also produce quality artwork sold at the retail ArtsPlace Store, and sell tickets to their performances. It's all part of the "business of art:" it's a real job!

ArtsPlace is...a program of the Rockford Area Arts Council from mid-June to mid-August.