Detroit Neighborhood Arts Corps

Detroit Neighborhood Arts Corps (DNAC), a program of the College for Creative Studies’ (CCS) Community Arts Partnerships (CAP), supports the creative youth development of its high school age population by linking their interest in art to community engagement and a creative education/career pipeline. DNAC provides high school students with an interest in or aptitude for the arts opportunities to work with well trained, professional Teaching Artists to develop public art murals, installations, exhibitions, and events. DNAC is a project-based program which engages students in producing large-scale, highly visible artworks. Students learn about the vital links between creativity, entrepreneurship, and community service as they develop projects to beautify their schools and communities. DNAC was founded in partnership with the Skillman Foundation’s “Culture and Arts Youth Development Initiative” as an arts and youth development program and has been operating in Detroit communities since 2007. DNAC works to provide a practical, year-round creative youth development experience through school-year training and development linked directly to Detroit’s official “Grow Detroit’s Young Talent” summer youth employment program, high school graduation, and advanced educational opportunities.