CREC's Center for Creative Youth - CCY

Approximately 150 talented high school students from Connecticut, across the United States and abroad, spend five weeks at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, where CCY has taken place since 1977. Students from widely divergent geographic, ethnic, economic and racial backgrounds, many of whom are underserved in access to arts training or enrichment programs, grow and learn together through the commonality of art.

Students study in daily 3-hour major art form classes and 2-hour interdisciplinary classes, taught by professional Artist/Instructors. Guest Artists, off-campus study trips, weekly performances and exhibits deepen class learning, augmented by Open Class Family Day, (nee “Share Day”!) Arts Leadership Projects, College Fair, and Fall Symposium. Students share a positive, enlightening educational and social experience living on a college campus, mentored with social guidance designed to foster personal responsibility and respect for the individual. CCY earned our first National Endowment for the Arts grants for 2011 & 2012. The academic rigor of CCY is exemplified by the 82 districts across Connecticut which currently provide from .5 – 1.5 academic high school credit for students who successfully complete the program.

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