Artistic Noise

Who We Are

Artistic Noise builds community with system-impacted youth to enhance their lives through the empowering and therapeutic potential of art making. For over 20 years, we have explored the power of artistic practice alongside thousands of young people who are incarcerated, on probation, in foster care, or otherwise impacted by the juvenile court system. Through visual arts and entrepreneurship programs, participants give voice to their experiences, build community through collaborative projects and explore a variety of valuable life skills in the process. Artistic Noise programming creates safe and brave spaces where court-involved and system-involved young people can be seen, heard, and supported on their path to adulthood. We believe the practice of art making offers opportunities for young people and communities to transform and to grow. In particular, Artistic Noise helps young people share their individual stories to the public and advocate for themselves across their various communities. 

“Because I’m a mom, I haven’t been able to sit down and engage with art the way I wanted to. What inspires me to create are the moments where I feel very isolated. When I feel really isolated, those are the moments where instead of putting myself into a stressful situation I use art instead.”  

                                                                   –Samantha, Artistic Noise Alumni

Though people affected by the juvenile court system have a great deal to say they often have very few opportunities to be heard or seen by the public. There can be very few healthy opportunities to assume responsibility and demonstrate leadership, to experience personal accomplishments, grow professionally, or develop their creative voices. At Artistic Noise, we believe it is a healing experience for our artists to tell their own stories rather than relying on others to tell their stories for them. 

“Artistic Noise helped me turn my life around 180 degrees. I had a lot of free time after school, and I was getting into a lot of trouble from the ages of eleven to eighteen. I was barely home. Every other year I was incarcerated. Coming into the program it made me feel that I didn’t have to do those types of things anymore. I was too busy doing positive things, and I had money from the Art & Entrepreneurship Program in my pocket.”                             

                                                                  –Bishop, Artistic Noise Alumni

Learn more about our programs and history at www.artisticnoise.org