Still Young at Heart: Young Audiences of Louisiana Celebrate 60 Years in Arts Education
Young Audiences of Louisiana (YALA) was founded on October 18, 1962 with one simple goal: bring chamber music to New Orleans children in order to expand access to the arts. Sixty years later, YALA is still working to increase student connection to the arts, but in a variety of ways and through multiple art forms. While YALA’s works across the state of Louisiana as the leading provider of arts education services, the nonprofit’s story began as a humble pilot program of another organization.
When members of New Orleans Friends of Music (Friends of Music) heard about the work of Young Audiences, Inc. in New York, NY, they began working to bring the program to New Orleans. In November 1957, the Friends of Music initiated programs in 14 New Orleans schools as a pilot experiment, outlined by Young Audiences Inc., now known as Young Audiences Arts for Learning. Seeing the success of the program, members of the Friends of Music believed the educational project needed a group of members solely dedicated to its mission. Nearly five years later and through the efforts of many, the founding chair, Joan Durland (Mrs. W. Mente) Benjamin, signed the charter for the New Orleans chapter of Young Audiences, Inc in her home on Walnut Street. Since its founding YALA has evolved, expanding services and artform offerings to meet the needs of children and to reflect the region’s deep arts history.
African drumming, ballet, jazz, and storytelling became integral parts of the YALA performance roster in the 1980s when Executive Director Mary Nass, with the support of the board, moved to include additional artforms into their performance offerings. This was just the beginning of the expansion into more creative learning opportunities. In 2008, under the leadership of Executive Director Rickie Nutik, YALA partnered with school leaders to bring the arts back into their schools through arts integration. YALA teaching artists began customizing residencies and planning with classroom teachers through their Arts Partners Program.
In fact, YALA’s commitment to arts integration led them to an entirely new endeavor in 2013. YALA founded Young Audiences Charter School, where students can enjoy a fully arts integrated education at one of four campuses in Jefferson and Orleans Parish. While the two entities operate under separate boards, YALA is a community partner for YACS, and supports their arts and arts integration programs.
However, YACS is not the only school working with YALA to bring art to the community. Currently, YALA partners with 255 schools, community institutions and early learning centers, serving more than 37,000 children annually through their in-school, afterschool, and library programs.
“The increased engagement and joy in learning created by our partnerships is so undeniable. We see increased classroom attendance and improved school culture,” said Renee Benson, Director of Programs. “In fact, during the pandemic, in our virtual learning residencies, we saw not only increased attendance but students showing up early to class ready and excited to learn! Children are collaborating and applauding each other’s efforts. In this work, not only are the children dancing and singing, but the teachers, school staff, and school leaders are creating art in ways they had not imagined. Every year we are humbled by how our YALA family continues to grow.”
Another catalyst for growth occurred when YALA made an intentional effort to connect with caregivers and early learners who may not be in a traditional educational environment. In 2010, YALA became the Louisiana Affiliate of Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, a recognized leader in early childhood arts-integrated learning and instruction. Through community programs, like Community Arts & Literacy, YALA Baby Artsplay!™ and YALA Artsplay!™ Presented by The Helis Foundation, and YALA Online workshops, caregivers can promote cognitive and social-emotional development.
“YALA became an affiliate of Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts because we know that high quality early learning experiences are crucial to future success. Arts-based learning taps into young children’s innate need to learn through movement, song, and imagination,” said Jenny James, Executive Director. “Recognizing that caregivers are children’s most important teachers, we are thrilled to share arts-based learning strategies with families through our community-based workshops and events, and are honored to witness the joy these opportunities to bond bring to children and caregivers alike.”
Joy is a major component of YALA’s work and, over the years, YALA has endured through the unique challenges faced by New Orleanians, in large part, due to the joyful experiences created by dedicated teaching artists, community partners, and funders who offer their time and financial support. However, YALA also endures because of the children, families, and educators who continue to inspire and make the work worthwhile. This fall, join us as we celebrate 60 years of arts education and the people who made it possible.
Join Our Arts Education Celebration
Like the city of New Orleans, YALA likes to celebrate! YALA’s “birthday” festivities will kick off on October 18th, but community members can continue the celebration through the end of the year.
Social Media Stories: Follow YALA on social media to hear program participants share their stories and the impact of #60YearsIn60Seconds. Do you have a story about how a YALA program has positively impacted your life? YALA wants to know. Share the story with the hashtags #60YearsIn60Seconds #YALAStories
Interactive Timeline: Travel through time with YALA’s interactive timeline, scheduled to be released this fall. Are you a community member with a historical connection to YALA? Contact Omote Ekwotafia-Thelin, YALA’s Director of Communication: omote@ya4la.org.
Winter Celebration: Eat, drink, and be merry with YALA at the YALA Fa La La, scheduled for December 8, 2022. The return of YALA’s winter cocktail party will also mark the culminating celebration of the YALA’s 60th Anniversary Celebration.
About Young Audiences of Louisiana
Young Audiences of Louisiana (YALA) was founded in 1962 to bring chamber musicians into local classrooms. Over the years YALA has adapted and evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of youth throughout the state, becoming the leading provider of arts education and integration programs in the state of Louisiana. YALA offers a comprehensive and creative approach to educating children. Fortified with 60 years of experience, they draw upon the region’s strong culture to provide young people with tools to impact their worlds using art. Through school performances, arts-integrated residencies, extended learning programs, community workshops, and professional learning for teachers and teaching artists, they not only impact the children of New Orleans, but make intentional contact with the influential adults in their lives. Learn more at www.ya4la.org.
About Young Audiences Arts for Learning
Founded in 1952, Young Audiences Arts for Learning is the nation’s largest arts in education network, serving more than 5 million young people each year. Young Audiences works to support its diverse network of affiliated organizations that are each dedicated to playing a decisive role in young people’s personal, artistic, and educational development. Learn more about Young Audiences and its mission to inspire young people and expand their learning through the arts at www.youngaudiences.org.
About Wolf Trap
Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts is a recognized leader in early childhood arts-integrated learning and instruction. Wolf Trap Institute is scaled nationally, with 17 affiliated organizations and numerous partners in 30 states that deliver arts-integrated education experiences to 60,000 teachers, parents/caregivers, and students annually. Young Audiences of Louisiana is the Louisiana Affiliate of Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts.