Our arts education mission is to connect the community through theatre, and address and confront the challenges we face as a society so we can move forward together and create positive change. Our Community Programs range across age groups and backgrounds to embrace the complexity and brilliance of this diverse community we call home. From Builders of the New World, which serves children experiencing homelessness, to our open-to-all Coming Together Through Creativity program and everything in-between, you’ll find a creative space for you to wrestle with the complexities and amplify the joys of life. Join us as we struggle, learn, and celebrate together through connection, empathy, and art.
ATW guides and teaches some of our most vulnerable young New Yorkers through our award-winning Builders of the New World program, created especially for children dealing with the tremendous instability of living in temporary housing facilities.
Our staff and a diverse group of volunteer mentors help create a warm, stable, homelike environment for the children where they meet new friends and enjoy delicious meals. We teach the children original theatre and education techniques that improve their reading, writing, and presentation skills. They learn to have an intention in life and draw and write about their visions for the future.
Creativity is a powerful force and tool in times of great change.
Join ATW for the next session of our inspiring, interactive class and lecture series led by Artistic Director and Founder Thurman E. Scott: Coming Together Through Creativity.
Mr. Scott will share insights and techniques to bring people of different backgrounds and beliefs together, and help us accept each other. When diverse people join together they feel their power and encourage others to speak up. Connection and unity give us energy, and the courage to accept our individuality and common bonds. Now is our chance to develop new tools to meet the challenges ahead and reshape our country.
Mr. Scott will share insights and techniques to bring people of different backgrounds and beliefs together, and help us accept each other. When diverse people join together they feel their power and encourage others to speak up. Connection and unity give us energy, and the courage to accept our individuality and common bonds. Now is our chance to develop new tools to meet the challenges ahead and reshape our country.
Sign up on our Events page to listen to new insights, learn, and experience change from a master teacher of creative process. Once you register a Zoom link will be emailed to you!
Watch previous, live-streamed classes on our Facebook page and leave us a comment on what you learn.
The Life Stories Program is a writing and performance program for veterans of the United States Military that gives them the opportunity to tell their stories through the creative, dramatic process, and share them with members of the community. In evening and weekend classes, veterans of all ages study ATW’s original writing technique and then write stories about the power of their unique experiences and journey. As the participants share their work in a final performance, the audience gains important insights and our veterans experience their place in society being upheld and supported.
When ATW first incorporated as a non-profit, we created an inspiring drama and education program for high school students from diverse economic and cultural backgrounds. The YPCW gives young people a place to exercise their immense potential, fulfills their pressing need for guidance, and encourages them to reach for their dreams. Please share this exciting opportunity with the young people in your life and encourage them to apply for our next session as we expand our commitment to ATW’s very first community program.
We regularly run programming to meet community and partner needs. This includes Life Stories, Young People’s Creativity Workshops, Coming Together Through Creativity for corporate partners, and other programs. If you are interested in discussing programming that addresses specific goals, please reach out!