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Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee values the creativity and self-expression of our youth. Every member who picks up a pen, a paintbrush, a musical instrument, or a slab of clay to work through difficult times, or express a feeling of joy or creativity, is on the way to becoming a more productive adult. Research supports this:

  • Participation in the arts can improve social emotional factors such as tolerance, cultural awareness, and academic self-efficacy
  • Youth with limited incomes who are highly engaged in the arts are more than twice as likely to graduate from college than their peers
  • Youth who participate in the arts are 5 times less likely to drop out of school

Source: National Youth Outcomes Initiative survey, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, 2019

Partnering with local artists

Members are given the chance to meet with professional artists and tour art studios and museums in Milwaukee such as the Milwaukee Art Museum, as well as attend performing arts productions, such as those at The Milwaukee Rep.

In addition, thanks to significant support from Keith Mardak and Mary Vandenberg, youth have more access to the highest quality arts instruction and experiential learning. This generous support opens the doors to partnerships with members of the arts community such as First Stage Milwaukee and Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra.

The goal of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee’s arts programming is to ensure that every member is exposed to, and has the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of arts-based activities that cover all three pillars of the arts.

  • Visual Arts

    • Painting
    • Drawing
    • Mixed Media
    • Collage
    • Sculpture

  • Performing Arts

    • Spoken Word
    • Drama
    • Music

  • Applied Arts

    • Creative Writing
    • Graphic Design
    • Music Production
    • Photography

Boys & Girls Clubs offers high-yield activities in the arts for all members at each of our Clubs by exposing our youth to the arts through a variety of experiences, and then further encouraging their artistic expression and identities by building connection with others in the community.

Boys & Girls clubs of Greater Milwaukee is a proud UPAF Connect Partner.