The Gateway Family YMCA Celebrates YMCA's Arts Week, Oct. 5-11

UNION COUNTY, NJ – Oct. 5-11 is YMCA’s Arts Week and The Gateway Family YMCA will host a week filled with activities to educate, inspire and connect youth. Arts Week is an annual celebration at Ys nationwide that spotlights the nonprofit’s commitment to arts programming, ensuring youth have an outlet to express themselves creatively and discover and enhance talents.

Held in conjunction with National Arts and Humanities Month in October, Arts Week at The Gateway Family YMCA includes events that are free to the public and feature activities for youth to explore art and showcase their creative expression. Activities will include dance, painting, drawing, digital arts, music and group activities at all branches and throughout Eastern Union County and Northern Middlesex County.

“Nurturing the potential of every child and teen is part of the Ys mission, and encouraging participation in the arts is an important part of their development,” said Krystal R. Canady, CEO. “Art comes in many forms, from dance to drama and music to visual and digital arts. During Arts Week we’ll give youth a platform to explore their talents through many of these areas,” added Melynda A. Mileski, EVP/COO, The Gateway Family YMCA

[1]According to research by the National Endowment for the Arts, youth, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, who regularly participate in arts programs tend to perform well in school, have higher career goals and become more involved in civic engagement, such as volunteering and voting. To help nurture the potential of youth, the Y offers a variety of arts programs such as vocal coaching, dance, painting, drawing and digital arts. “These programs help support the social-emotional, cognitive and physical development of youth, enabling them to build the skills needed to be successful in life,” stated Lara Kennedy, Arts Director at The Gateway Family YMCA – Rahway Branch.

To learn more about YMCA’s Arts Week or The Gateway Family YMCA’s arts programs, contact the Elizabeth Branch at 908-355-9622, Five Points Branch 908-688-9622, Rahway Branch 732-388-0057 or the Wellness Center Branch 908-349-9622. For more information about The Gateway Family YMCA, please visit www.tgfymca.org.

[1] Catterall, J; Dumais, S; National Endowment for the Arts, “The Arts and Achievement in At-Risk Youth”, March 2012