The Arts Branch
The Arts Branch of the YMCA was founded in late 1999, with a mission to enrich lives through education in the visual, literary, and performing arts. Since then, we have grown fast… now we serve over 4,000 Central New York residents each year through our arts education programs.
Current programs include:
The Downtown Writer’s Center – CNY’s only community center for the literary arts, offering a wide range of courses, author readings and lectures, and the DWC PRO creative writing certificate program for advanced students.
The Arts Studio at the East Area Family YMCA – A full-featured visual arts studio at our branch in Fayetteville, offering courses in pottery, painting, drawing and more, for everyone from preschoolers through adults. The East YMCA also features a community gallery for visual artists, and dance lessons for all ages.
The YMCA Music Lesson Program – The YMCA offers individual lessons in piano, voice, guitar, violin, drums and wind instruments. Lessons are available at all local YMCA branches.
Y-Arts Camp – Each summer, the YMCA offers 10 weeks of Arts Camp, through the East Area Family YMCA Arts Studio and Camp Iroquois.
The YMCA After School Arts Program – The Arts Branch serves over 500 inner city children each week through its free after school art programs at Elmwood, Roberts, Salem Hyde and Delaware Elementary Schools.
gallerY – Our newest program, gallerY, is an art gallery located within the Downtown YMCA in Syracuse.