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About St. Louis ArtWorks

Created in 1995, St. Louis ArtWorks has served more than 1400 youth by providing a unique job opportunity in the visual, literary and performing arts.

Overview

In collaboration with the community, young adults, 14 through 19 years old, are hired for 6 weeks each summer and 12 weeks in the fall and spring to work as apprentices with some of the region's most notable artists.

Apprentice Working Working with our partnering Arts Teaching Organizations and their Teaching Teams, we create a curriculum which teaches not only the artistic discipline, but also the business of being an artist. Working on commissioned artwork, apprentices have the experience of meeting their clients, preparing a project budget, and seeing their work installed.

Definitely not your average job, St. Louis ArtWorks is an innovative way for teens to gain life skills, boost self-esteem and pocket a hard-earned paycheck.

Artwork produced by the Apprentices is sold at a public sale, commissioned for public and private clients, and performed publicly. Apprentices take away a lasting set of experiences, as well as a resume and portfolio of real work and references.

Mission

St. Louis Artworks collaborates with the community to provide work experience through apprenticeships in the arts for youth in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Apprentices, many from urban neighborhoods, benefit from developing creative thinking and employment skills and discovering and exploring interests and talents that may influence career and educational opportunities.

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Testimonials

The one experience that I enjoyed at ArtWorks was that in my group, the Shade Shelter, our group designed a shade shelter for the teens who worked on the science corner. So when they went on break they wouldn’t have to sit in the hot sun. I also enjoyed going on all the field trips like the sculpture park. I really enjoyed myself. To be an artist I think it means to be creative and different and have your own personal style. My experience from working with ArtWorks influenced my ideas about art. The artist that I worked with taught me how to think outside the box and don’t be afraid to take chances. I also think that this is a great experience for all teens who love to make art.

Ratissia Johnson
Junior, Parkway North HS