What is it? The program works to provide classes in multiple art disciplines and introduce students to a variety of creative mediums. Classes are led by BIPOC artists and teachers and foster a safe environment for youth, specifically BIPOC youth, to experience a collaborative, supportive home for creativity and to thrive through access to art resources and tools. Each workshop works to explore work from historic and current BIPOC artists.

Why was this started? We have constantly received interest from parents that lack the tools to cultivate the creativity and artistic interests of their children. As a black female artist, Jena Holliday, did not have access to arts programming and resources as a child, so she desired to create a space where youth can come and feel safe to express themselves freely through art and creativity and be surrounded by a diverse community. Many BIPOC youth and children in local communities are often faced with challenges economically and socially that may not allow them the resources to participate in artistic expression, learning, or creative programming. CTBA was started to fill that gap.

What is the vision for this program? In 2022, Holliday was awarded a grant from Minnesota Humanities Center to help pilot this program. As this project grows, Holliday dreams of opening a local BIPOC led center of arts that has classes that offer a variety of visual art and creative making classes in the northwest suburbs.