YOUTH ARTS & CULTURAL ORGANIZING COLLECTIVES (YACOC) PROGRAM

Our El Puente Arts Collectives are intergenerational (High School and College Age) youth resident artist collectives. What makes our program unique is the integration of Pre-professional Visual, Performative and Digital Arts training and cultural community youth organizing training where all Art forms meet Healing the young people that gather, will take part in excavation of their story of self, as reflected in their ancestry, upbringing, relational connections, generational experience and their beliefs about life.

What do we do?

Alongside their internal reflections, the youth performers between the ages of Elementary, Middle School, High School - Late 20s the collective will widen their scope of exploration and creation with connecting their stories to larger Social Justice issues that impact their communities.

Our programming

Our young people will be trained not only to be held in high regard in the development of their artistic mastery, but also to utilize their art as a tool for healing and change in their communities.

LOS MURALISTAS

Group of children standing in a line in a community center, led by a person with an afro hairstyle, while another person plays a drum. Colorful posters and artwork decorate the walls.

SOUTHSIDE SINGERS

(CANTANTES DE LOS SURES)

el puente dance

EL PUENTE DANCE ENSEMBLE

A diverse group of people, including children and adults, standing on a stage with vibrant decorations and banners. A person is speaking into a microphone at the front. The backdrop features the text 'We Dream a World' surrounded by colorful artwork.

TEATRO EL PUENTE

el puente breakers

WEPA! (Williamsburg El Puente All Stars) Kru

Indoor performance with actors on stage, audience seated, blue lighting, backdrop with illustrations, floral decorations.

DIGITAL ARTS BRIGADE

In the calendar year, each Collective will participate in seasonal performance programming inclusive of Collective Shows (full length play performance, dance recital, breakers cypher, community chorus, visual art exhibitions), integration in actions/mobilizations, and site wide El Puente seasonal programming.