NY New Arts Program: Transformative Creators and Seekers Youth Arts program (CSYA)

Students practice working with color and perspectives in the classroom

Photo: IRC IN NY. Ui Jin Chong & Aaron Banen

Arts programming can be transformative for youth. It helps youth build the tools for self-expression and form a sense of belonging.

Having access to arts programming can be catalytic in helping refugee and migrant youth process their emotions. However, arts programming for this underserved population is not always accessible. Many of our youth students have been displaced abruptly and lived in multiple cities and countries before settling in New York City. Due to these experiences and the unpredictability that comes with integrating, students are often anxious, fearful, or may experience a sense of apathy. Participating in creative activities helps provide a mental break for newcomer youth.

So far, this fiscal year (October 2024-present), at IRC in NY, we have been serving 100 youth students across our year-round programs. With our experience providing year-round youth programs for refugees and migrants ages 5-21, we have seen our students lean into creative expressions to communicate, specifically where language may be a barrier.

We have observed newcomer youth's comfort in relying on visual forms of communication as they build confidence in their English language skills. Therefore, weaving visual literacy in an art class seemed like a natural complement to the programs that our department offers.

This spring, in response to the emerging needs of our youth students, we launched the Creators and Seekers Youth Arts program (CSYA).

The program began in April and ended in May 2025 and was facilitated by Aaron Banen, our Youth Education Specialist, and Ui Jin Chong, our Youth Education Supervisor. 12 students joined our first cohort of the CSYA program, which was a great success!

Thisfour-week course taped into elements of art therapy as well as improving visual literacy for effective storytelling. Students explored different methods of drawing and color theory through mediums of pen, pencil, pastels, and paint on paper. Topics included:

Color
Perspective
Lines and Shapes

It was essential to provide students with field trip opportunities to explore art outside of the classroom and connect with peers. Visits to the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and attending an event at Guggenheim helped our creative students find inspiration and develop a strong foundation in artmaking. Throughout the course, our students experimented with different media to create a final piece. They drew inspiration from what they may have seen in other works or used their imagination.

Take a look at the wonderful artwork created by our students below!

Student painting of flower still life

Photo: IRC IN NY. Ui Jin Chong & Aaron Banen

It was important for our students to have a sense of ownership, something tactile they could take home. The simple possibility of achieving a sense of permanence was also embodied through the art of taking polarized photos during the course. Overall, the strategy of offering an art education course during the school year has created a positive shift for students and parents alike.

Our IRC in NY Youth Education Supervisor, Ui Jin Chong, shares a special reflection:

“One of my favorite memories was when a pair of parents joined the students for a visit to the Guggenheim. It was great to see the parents interact with the students, developing a curiosity about the artwork together and being excited about creating art during the activities. There were a lot of family photographs taken!”

Ultimately, we hope we have relieved some of the trepidation affecting our students. By envisioning a more colorful future, setting goals, and thinking of their new lives, we hoped that our students would be able to ground themselves and carry that with them at home and in their classrooms. Our CSYA program will now serve as a blueprint for implementing trauma-informed arts education in the future, tailoring it to refugees and migrants. We hope to bring this class again to our Newcomer Youth Summer Academy program (NYSA), as part of our afterschool offering; our students are excited to attend the next iteration of this CSYA program, Summer CYSA.

Article written by: Malin Evertsz Mendez, Development Manager