UPTURN ARTS FOR ALL

By Ben Schwartz, Ilayda Demirtas, and Jon Reed

Upturn Arts is a non-profit organization based in New Orleans, Louisiana that provides arts education and enrichment programs to young children in underserved communities. Founded in 2010 by Dana Reed, Upturn Arts aims to empower and inspire children through the arts, giving them the opportunity to express themselves creatively through arts and develop important life skills. With core values including community, creativity, fun, respect, diversity, equity and inclusion, Upturn Arts provides a positive, supportive environment for “upturns” to occur daily.

Through an extensive variety of programs and workshops, Upturn Arts offers instruction in dance, theater, music, visual arts, and more. All programs are taught by professional artists and educators who are fully committed to helping the young children grow and thrive. Upturn Arts also provides opportunities for children to participate in performances and showcase their talents to the New Orleans community. 

One of the unique aspects of Upturn Arts is their focus on New Orleans culture and history. Many of their programs incorporate elements of local culture such as music and dance traditions, as well as the city’s rich history of art and architecture. By grounding their programs in the local context, Upturn Arts helps to preserve and celebrate the city’s cultural heritage while also providing children with a deeper understanding of their community.

Upturn Arts’ impact on the community has also been significant. By providing access to an arts education, they help to promote creativity and self-expression among young children in the community. Arts education has been linked to measurable increases in confidence and self-esteem for young children, as well as improved social skills and academic performance.

In addition, Upturn Arts has helped to further foster a sense of community among the young children in New Orleans. By bringing together children from different backgrounds and neighborhoods, they have created a space where kids can learn from each other and form meaningful connections.

Upturn Arts has also been instrumental in promoting the arts in New Orleans. New Orleans, one of the oldest cities in America (approx. 300 years old), has a rich history and identity of art. By providing quality instruction and performances, they have helped to keep the arts alive and thriving in this city, known for its rich cultural heritage.

Overall, Upturn Arts is an extremely valuable resource for young people in New Orleans. Through their programs and workshops, they are not only promoting the importance of creativity, community, and self-expression, but also more importantly, helping to inspire the next generation of artists and leaders.

Interview with the Program Director of Upturn Arts – Samuel Rosenstein, Ed.D.

Samuel Rosenstein is the current program director of Upturn Arts. Sam is a Doctor of Education in Art Education, with additional focus on arts administration, via Florida State University. Sam also has a Masters in Public Administration with an emphasis in nonprofit administration and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education; both via the University of Georgia.

Click here for the interview.

Sign Up!

Upturn Arts has over 1,126 young artists and awarded $121,646 dollars of financial aid in 2022.

As part of Upturn Arts’ vision to provide “Arts for All,” Upturn Arts offers financial aid through their creARTive grants program to allow ALL young artists to explore and investigate the world around them through art. CreARTive grants are available year-round and determined by annual income.

For more information click here