Urban ArtWorks

A nonprofit organization

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$5,000 Goal

Show Up for Youth, Artists, and Communities!

Urban ArtWorks is a Washington-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to engage youth, artists, and communities in the creation of public art that inspires connections and honors their voices. Since 1995, we've collaborated with thousands of young people and hundreds of artists to bring art to publics spaces throughout the PNW. We are proud to be a 2023 Governor's Arts & Heritage Awards Honoree!

Thirty years ago, what began as an effort to address graffiti in the SODO neighborhood became something much bigger -- a movement to engage young people, artists, and communities to transform our neighborhoods with art.

Today, Urban ArtWorks is a home for creativity, mentorship, and belonging. Through paid mural apprentice programs for teens, partnerships with K-12 schools, and commissioned and community murals, Urban ArtWorks is breaking barriers - one wall at a time.

“Urban ArtWorks has given me a space to grow as a human being and an artist. Everyone you meet has something to teach, and I'm grateful for a space where I can contribute to my community.” - Youth Apprentice

We envision a world where all people have access to the transformative power of creating public art. We achieve our mission and vision through:

1. Youth programs that create a pathway for youth to become future muralists, teaching artists, and arts leaders. Our paid mural apprentice programs engage young people in arts-based employment, prioritizing youth facing barriers to art, education, or job-training Beginning with the Mural Apprentice Program (MAP), youth gain art, collaboration, and leadership skills as they design and install murals for social service organizations. MAP graduates can join the Base Crew, a paid year-round mentorship and training program for teens to deepen their arts and design experience. Youth artists aged 18-22 can take on further leadership and professional development through the Youth Advisory Council.

2. School-based programs that engage K-12 youth to work alongside Teaching Artists to explore themes and issues, design, and install art within their schools. Each school program we offer is customized to fit the needs of each school or classroom and can be integrated into the standard curricula of each grade level. Outside of school, we offer summer camps for young artists aged 8-12 through the Creative Walls Summer Camps.

3. Commissioned and community murals that partner with local artists, community organizations, and business owners to facilitate interactive community engagement around the research, design, and installation of murals and public art in specific communities - often with help from volunteers!

Impact & Highlights

Last year, Urban ArtWorks co-created 100 public artworks with 2,400 youth, artists, and community members in 16 Seattle neighborhoods and 11 additional cities. In 2025:

172 teen apprentices engaged in paid arts training, earning over $85,000 in stipends: 77% of youth apprentices were from BIPOC communities, 38% were LGBTQIA+, 49% were low-income.
878 K-12 youth created 35 murals, including 705 students at 6 schools, youth attending camps and other community programs.
90 teaching and professional artists mentored youth and designed and installed murals.
750+ volunteers joined community paint days!