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Every Wednesday at 9:00amAbout the Show
Artspeak Radio
ARTSPEAK RADIO is a live radio program on KKFI that airs every Wednesday from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. Host Maria Vasquez Boyd serves up information about the visual and literary arts community including live interviews with artists, writers, and performers.
Maria talks with Deana Bellamagany & Adam Goldberg about the MyARTS program.
MyARTS East, 315 N. Main St., Independence, MO 64050
MyARTS Downtown, 1522 Holmes St., KCMO 64108
Metropolitan Youth Arts and Technology for Students (MYARTS) is part of the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Arts Initiative through the Anti-Drug Unit of Jackson County, Missouri. MyARTS offers a safe learning environment for youth to explore their creative side while having positive effects on their academic achievement and social growth. Since 2006, the organization has served at-risk youth ages 14 – 19 through an all-year after school program. Participants apply for an un-paid 72-hour apprenticeship, working through a curriculum designed to give them the foundations of art. Upon completion of the apprenticeship, the youth are eligible to apply for a paid position, working in one of our five studios. Youth employees work on various projects throughout the year including artwork for events, gallery shows and clients. MyARTS conducts jobs for individuals and organizations such as murals, commissioned artwork, photo-shoots, logos & graphic design, matting & framing, and t-shirt jobs.
In 2006 MyARTS opened for programming in Kansas City’s Crossroads Art District. In 2012, MyARTS opened a second location on the Independence square, significantly augmenting its programming capacity. The organization has become not just an afterschool program; it has evolved into a community center serving children and adults with various services. Programming has grown to include weekend and summertime workshops. In 2014, the organization added weekly Comic Book Creation and Teenage Drama workshops for middle school and high school students. MyARTS also opens its doors at the Independence location every 4th Friday for the Showroom Open Mic Night. Performers of all ages and talents read poetry, play music, and tell jokes from 6-9pm. The event is free, and arts activities and refreshments are provided.
Beginning its ninth year of programming, MyARTS has provided youth with the things they need most: a safe place where they are able to build positive mentoring relationships; an opportunity to have a voice through working with MyARTS clientele and through their personal art shows; and the responsibility of paid employment that promotes their own economic development and acts as a springboard to post-secondary opportunities. At the heart of MyARTS is the belief that skills equal power and opportunity. The organization has become a haven for at risk teens from every corner of Jackson County.
