Urban Arts Partnership

Urban Arts Partnership (f.k.a Working Playground) was founded in 1991 on the belief that the arts are essential to human development, education and culture. Our mission is to advance the intellectual, social and artistic development of underserved public school students through arts-integrated education programs to close the achievement gap.

For over 20 years, Urban Arts Partnership's (UAP) community-based, in-school, and after-school programs have helped New York City's youth to develop the creative and analytic skills that serve them as academic achievers, budding professionals, and healthy, empowered citizens. We specialize in developing targeted programming for at-risk learners, including previously failing students, English Language Learners, and Students With Disabilities. This year, UAP will provide more than 12,000 at-risk students and 450 teachers in more than 100 schools with innovative arts programming.

Our most recently audited financial statements indicate that Urban Arts Partnership spends an impressive 82% of its operating budget directly on programs.