Living Arts

Living Arts ignites creativity in the lives of Detroit youth through the performing, visual, and media arts. Founded in 1999 as Southwest Dance, Living Arts has grown exponentially over the years to meet the needs of the Southwest Detroit community and larger Detroit area. We are well-known for our three core programs, and we are currently in the process of expanding and adding a fourth major program wing.

First, we offer Detroit Wolf Trap (DWT) programming (nationally accredited through the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts) through artist residencies and workshops in school and community settings for children ages 3 months to 6 years. By integrating the arts into learning, our residencies support a child's path toward kindergarten readiness, as well as providing specialized arts-integration training for Early Childhood Educators.

Second, we provide in-school artist residencies for grades K-12. In-School Arts (ISA) classes cover a variety of specialties, including visual, performing, literary, and media arts. These programs also integrate the arts into grade level standards for math, science, social studies, and English language arts.

Third, we have our most in-demand program, Out-of-School Arts (OSA). These youth classes run year-round at the Ford Resource & Engagement Center (FREC) at the Mexicantown Mercado in Southwest Detroit. OSA provides a range of artistic disciplines; dance classes include everything from ballet to hip-hop, Latin fusion to Detroit Jit, jazz to primary, and beyond. Other classes range from beatmaking to video animation, elementary art to teen open studios, family involvement classes and visual arts. OSA community demand is so high we are operating this program at full capacity and maintain a large waitlist.

Lastly, we have the newly developed Community & Family Arts program. This program focuses on community- and family-based art experiences. Community & Family Arts is characterized by the fact that every activity falling under it will: be free to the general public, include food for all attendees, engage other nonprofits and community organizations, highlight and explore culturally relevant themes, uplift Detroit artists, inject revenue into the local community, and be directed by community voice.