Special Programs

Ailey Camp

Urban Gateways partners with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the Chicago Park District and Chicago Public Schools to implement an innovative summer dance and youth development program that serves inner-city children grades six to eight. The camp provides young people with an invaluable opportunity to explore their creativity, learn to master their bodies, and strengthen respect for themselves and others within a supportive framework, giving an important foundation for their future. A combination of artistic and personal development classes are conducted for the students.

 

Art Options

Art Options is an apprenticeship program for middle and high school students which uses art-making as a vehicle for youth and community development.

Participants work on a community-based arts project that explores an issue, provokes questions, inspires critical thinking, and encourages change in the community.

Students work one-on-one with leading artists in a studio environment and participate in the entire artistic process from the conception of original design ideas, through instruction and implementation of multidisciplinary arts techniques, to the presentation of finished works. As apprentices, students receive a stipend for participation in the Art Options Program.

 

Arts and Technology Initiative

Urban Gateways believes that the marriage of science and technology to the arts has the power to transform the ways we see and know the world. Urban Gateways’ Arts and Technology Initiative (ATI) connects urban middle and high school students in technology and math and science programs to the language and practice of the multimedia arts, in order to more fully develop artistic sensibility, hone creative problem-solving skills and enable mastery of new media.

In collaboration with The Illinois Institute of Technology, Educational Development Center's YouthLearn program, Perspectives Charter Schools and Rowe Clark Math and Science Academy, Urban Gateways artists work with classroom teachers to develop and implement curriculum that harmonizes the artistic and academic learning, thus challenging students to work at the height of their creative  abilities. The out-of-school digital audio and video labs component encourages youth to play active leadership roles in their educational environment. This program prepares students for success in high school, college, and beyond.   




 

Consultant Projects

Urban Gateways staff and artists are available as consultants to assist corporate, cultural, civic, community-building, and health and social service organizations in achieving project goals in the arts. Our team of trained professionals is available to conduct projects in the following areas:
 

• Artist Training
• Project Management
• Program Development
• Program Evaluation
• Front-of-House Operations Management

Past clients include:
 

• Chicago Children’s Museum
• The Chicago Community Trust
• Chicago Cultural Center
• Chicago Park District
• Columbia College Chicago DanceAfrica Festival
• Harris Theater for Music and Dance
• Leo Burnett
• Wyland Foundation
• District 65 Schools, Evanston
• District U-46 Schools, Elgin