About us
Where Young Minds and Artistic Passion Converge
CALIFORNIA YOUTH & ARTS is a dynamic, non-profit organization that serves as a vital creative hub for young people throughout the Central Valley, offering robust, high-quality programs in visual arts, performing arts, and digital media. Our organization is built on the principle that every young person possesses an inherent creative potential that, when nurtured with expert guidance and a positive environment, can lead to incredible personal growth and achievement, far beyond the confines of the studio or stage. We staff our programs with highly qualified practicing artists and dedicated educators who bring real-world experience and a deep passion for teaching, ensuring that every student receives instruction that is both technically excellent and profoundly inspiring, preparing them not just for showcases, but for life. We commit to keeping our programs accessible to all families in our community, striving to remove barriers to entry so that the power of artistic expression is available to every child in Ceres and the surrounding regions, thereby enriching the cultural landscape of our entire area.
Our Story
The Journey of CALIFORNIA YOUTH & ARTS
The genesis of CALIFORNIA YOUTH & ARTS was rooted in a profound recognition of a need within the Ceres and greater Central Valley community for a dedicated, accessible space where artistic ambition in young people could be professionally nurtured. A group of local educators and practicing artists, deeply concerned about the limited availability of high-quality arts education outside of specialized private lessons, banded together with a singular vision: to create a vibrant, inclusive arts center that would be a beacon for all youth, regardless of their socio-economic background or prior experience. The journey began modestly in 2015 with a handful of dedicated volunteers and two initial painting classes held in a borrowed community room, quickly demonstrating the immense appetite for our offerings and confirming the founding team’s conviction that the arts are an essential element missing from many young lives. This early, resounding success validated our initial purpose and fueled the momentum to expand our offerings, solidifying our status as an essential resource dedicated to the cultural and educational enrichment of the region.
What We Do
Building Skills, Fostering Expression, and Changing Lives Through Art
At CALIFORNIA YOUTH & ARTS, what we do is fundamentally transform potential into tangible creative capability, providing a safe, challenging, and inspiring environment for youth ages four through eighteen to immerse themselves in diverse artistic disciplines. Our comprehensive program structure is intentionally layered, offering foundational courses that introduce concepts like color theory, composition, and basic drawing techniques, alongside specialized workshops in areas like ceramics, musical theatre, animation, and poetry, allowing students to deepen their focus as their interests mature. We operate year-round with semester-long courses, dynamic holiday camps, and intensive summer institutes, ensuring that artistic opportunities are consistently available and integrated into the lives of our young participants, establishing a reliable and enriching routine. Through these structured learning environments, every young artist is empowered to move beyond imitation toward genuine invention, finding their unique signature style and confidently sharing their imaginative world with others.
Contact Us
Contact Methods and Visit Information
We sincerely encourage all prospective families, current students, and community partners to reach out and connect with the CALIFORNIA YOUTH & ARTS team, as we are always ready to answer any questions about our programs, philosophy, or enrollment process. You can reach our administrative office directly by email at info@calyouth.site, which is actively monitored throughout the business day for prompt and detailed responses, We warmly invite you to schedule a visit to our welcoming facility, conveniently located at 2701 MITCHELL ROAD SUITE A, CERES, CA 95307, where you can take a guided tour of our state-of-the-art studios, observe a class in session, and meet our passionate mentors, providing a firsthand experience of the vibrant and inspiring creative energy that defines our community before you make any enrollment decision.
Join Us
Career Opportunities and Team Culture
CALIFORNIA YOUTH & ARTS offers much more than just a job; we provide highly fulfilling career opportunities for dedicated teaching artists, passionate administrative staff, and strategic program coordinators who share our deep commitment to youth development and the transformative power of the arts. We are actively seeking experienced professionals who not only possess advanced technical skills and credentials in their respective artistic disciplines, but who also demonstrate a genuine capacity for patient, empathetic mentorship and a contagious passion for teaching and inspiring young minds from diverse backgrounds. Our team culture is profoundly collaborative, mission-driven, and supportive, fostering an environment where continuous professional development is highly valued and every team member’s unique contribution is recognized, creating a workplace that is as creatively stimulating as our classrooms. Joining our team means becoming an integral part of a growing cultural institution that is actively shaping the future of the Central Valley through education, making every workday a direct contribution to the growth of the next generation of creative leaders and innovators.