Youth Art Exchange

YAX was founded in 2000 with the fundamental belief that youth need art. The public high school students we serve are primarily low income youth of color and we center them through free out-of-school time and in-school learning at the intersection of youth development and arts education. Our mission is to spark a shared creative practice between practicing artists and these students, furthering them as leaders, thinkers, and artists. We work to disrupt who has traditional access to the arts as a part of our effort to contribute to a vibrant San Francisco shaped by diverse voices. This work started with youth and artists of color and now extends to communities of all ages through free visual and performing arts programming. In our two new art centers located on the ground floor of 100% affordable housing sites, we aim to create safe creative third spaces where people can come together, learn, and exchange through creative expression.

Our core youth and community programming is free to increase access to the arts. High school programs in disciplines like architecture, fashion design, film photography, music production, and printmaking include public art projects, after school classes, in-school residencies, summer intensives, and creative sector internships. We have a Youth Advisory Board, teaching assistantships, and alumni internships. Our programs provide a safe third space for youth to explore themselves, build positive relationships, develop a foundation in the arts, and make San Francisco thrive.

We have long been a convener of arts and artist gatherings. We offer space and resources to diverse artists to pop up, teach workshops, hold events, and exhibit. We host the annual San Francisco Youth Arts Summit to connect youth and arts educators from throughout the Bay Area. We present free programming, events, exhibitions, and cultural workshops including Día de los Muertos, Lunar New Year, Black Artist Series, Carnaval, and LGBTQIA+ Pride, led by artists from those communities. By establishing two new permanent homes in the Mission and Excelsior in 100% affordable housing sites in 2023, we have expanded gallery space and opportunities for artists and audiences. Through youth programming, exhibits, public projects, our annual participatory (415) Public Gallery, events, adult classes and community workshops, we serve 600+ enrolled youth, 30 artists, and thousands of audience members per year.