Open Mic
Experience the Creativity of Young Artists!
Step into our vibrant community hub dedicated to emerging youth artists expressing the complexity of navigating systems that inhibit their well-being even as they share the rich culture, relationships, and dreams that contribute to their thriving.
We invite submissions of additional creative work by using this form.
Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective
Location: Saint Louis, MO
Website: storystitchers.org
About: Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective is a creative hub dedicated to promoting the power of young people through the arts. They focus on community storytelling, historical education, and youth development through various artistic mediums.
Keep On Marching On
Description: "Keep On Marching On" is the finale of the Story Stitchers' new production, The WHY of MY City - Fairground. This project blends historical fiction with music, providing a creative narrative driven by the contributions of the Saint Louis Story Stitchers. The story centers around a 19-year-old Army Reservist who finds inspiration from a Civil War tale, demonstrating the enduring power of youth in driving progress.
Performed by: Cast & Company of Saint Louis Story Stitcher
Project Themes: Social Justice/Activism
Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago
Location: Chicago, IL
Social Media:
Website: www.soribeat.org
About: The Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago is dedicated to promoting Korean culture through music and dance. Their SoriBeat program engages youth in various cultural events and performances.
Asian Student Association Showcase
Description: SoriBeat members contributed to the first AAPI showcase in their district, featuring speeches from community figures and cultural performances by students. The success of this event led to SoriBeat being invited to perform at other AAPI events throughout the district.
Performed by: SoriBeat members
Project Themes: Cultural Connection
Trombone Shorty Foundation
Location: New Orleans, LA
Social Media:
Website: www.tromboneshortyfoundation.org
About: The Trombone Shorty Foundation is dedicated to preserving and advancing the musical heritage of New Orleans by providing music education and mentorship to young musicians.
Take Me To The River
Description: The Trombone Shorty Academy participated in the Grammy-winning film "Take Me To The River," which celebrates the rich musical heritage of New Orleans. The Academy's involvement represents the future of the city's music scene.
Performed by: Trombone Shorty Academy
Project Themes: Youth Employment, Cultural Connection
Oaktown Jazz Workshops
Location: Oakland, California
Social Media:
Website: www.oaktownjazz.org
About: Oaktown Jazz Workshops is a transformative organization that empowers youth through jazz music education and mentorship, fostering creativity, personal growth, and cultural connection.
Meet the Youth Mentors
Description: Discover the transformative Oaktown Jazz Workshops in this captivating four-minute video. Follow the journey of five Youth Mentors who grew up with Oaktown Jazz© and now inspire a new generation.
Performed by: Oaktown Jazz Workshops
Project Themes: Youth Employment, Mental Well-being, Cultural Connection
Guardians of Sound
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Social Media:
Website: www.gosound.org
About: Guardians of Sound is a Hip Hop Orchestra that empowers youth through music, fostering creativity, personal growth, and cultural connection.
Drowning in Projection (Ready or Not/Motive Mashup)
Description: Students chose songs to create a mashup, with Young Leaders collaborating to combine different parts of the songs. Amina, 14, created a rap verse, wrote the chorus, and performed it. The mashup uses Creepin' by the Weeknd (a sample from Ready or Not by the Fugees) and Motive by Ariana Grande. The song is titled after the student-written lyrics "Drowning in Projection."
Performed by: Hip Hop Orchestra
Project Themes: Youth Employment, Mental Well-being, Social Justice/Activism, Cultural Connection
National Institute of Flamenco
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Social Media:
Website: www.nifnm.org
About: The National Institute of Flamenco is dedicated to preserving and promoting the art of flamenco through education, performances, and cultural events.
Beatrice Appleton at Tablao Flamenco Albuquerque
Description: Tablao refers to both the floor flamenco dancers use to create percussive accompaniment and the space where an improvisational conversation occurs between singer, guitarist, and dancer. Beatrice Appleton performs an Alegria, a style of flamenco typically used to open Tablao performances, characterized by its joy and lightheartedness. She uses elements of repertory learned throughout her flamenco education, deciding moment to moment where to use footwork and upper body movements in a way that makes sense with the cante and guitar.
Performed by: Beatrice Appleton with Tablao Flamenco Albuquerque
Project Themes: Cultural Connection
Marian Anderson Young Artist Program
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Social Media:
Website: www.playonphilly.org
About: The Marian Anderson Young Artist Program empowers youth creative voices through music education and composition.
Winter to Spring
Description: This composition was created by young musicians learning the fundamentals of composition. The lyrics, music, and performance were all created by the students over 9 months in collaboration with the composition teacher.
Performed by: Anderson Artist Young Composers
Project Themes: Empowering Creative Youth Voices
Revival Of Cultural Arts
Location: Brownsville, Texas
Social Media:
Website: www.revivalofculturalarts.org
About: Revival Of Cultural Arts (ROCA) is dedicated to preserving and promoting cultural heritage through the arts, including their Mariachi program and ROCA Scholar Production team.
ROCA Mariachi Diamante
Description: This informative video highlights the Mariachi Program and its impact on its members. It was produced by youth on the ROCA Scholar Production team.
Performed by: ROCA Scholars
Project Themes: Cultural Connection
JAMM (Juneau Alaska Music Matters)
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Website: www.juneaumusicmatters.com
About: JAMM promotes music education by engaging youth in songwriting and guitar classes, empowering them to express their individuality and connect with their community.
JAMM Strummers & Songwriters
Description: 3rd-5th graders participating in JAMM’s after-school songwriting and guitar exploratory classes collaborated to write new lyrics to a familiar song centering on what they like about JAMM and how JAMM helps them express who they are.
Performed by: Meghan Johnson
Project Themes: Youth Agency, creativity, community
Hyde Square Task Force
Location: Boston, MA
Social Media:
Website: www.HydeSquare.org
About: Hyde Square Task Force empowers youth through music, theatre, and dance, promoting social justice and cultural connection.
La Comparsa de HSTF
Description: Hyde Square Task Force youth performed a multi-disciplinary original piece that includes elements of music, theater, and dance at the National Guild of Community Arts Conference in Washington D.C. The piece centers around a family preparing to perform in the community's annual Boston Latin Quarter comparsa. Throughout the piece, the youth wrestle with the need to preserve and uplift their culture while also addressing the issue of food insecurity and price inflation that impacts their community.
Performed by: Hyde Square Task Force JEA Ambassadors
Project Themes: Social Justice/Activism, Cultural Connection
The Bridge Music Project
Location: Olympia, Washington
Website: bridgemusicproject.org
Social Media:
About: The Bridge Music Project is dedicated to using music as a tool for mental well-being and cultural connection. They focus on empowering young people through creative expression and fostering a supportive community.
Dark Road Music Video
Description: "Dark Road" is a powerful music video created by young people at Green Hill School, a medium/maximum security facility for incarcerated youth. The video is part of an anti-fentanyl campaign, highlighting the dangers of substance abuse and the resilience of the youth involved.
Participants: Ron, Diante, Justin, Blake, Connor, and TJ
Project Themes: Mental Well-being, Cultural Connection
The Roots of Music
Location: New Orleans, LA, 70117
Social Media:
Website: www.therootsofmusic.org
About: The Roots of Music is a non-profit organization that provides music education and mentorship to youth in New Orleans, promoting cultural connection and well-being through the power of music.
Homegrown in New Orleans
Description: "Homegrown in New Orleans" is a song that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of New Orleans and its connection to mental well-being, happiness, and the creation of beautiful art. It is performed by students from The Roots Studio Academy.
Performed by: The Roots Studio Academy
Project Themes: Mental Well-being, Cultural Connection
Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit
Location: Detroit, MI
Social Media:
Website: www.mosaicdetroit.org
About: Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit is a creative youth development organization that empowers young people through theatre and music, fostering leadership, creativity, and social justice.
Stand By Lights
Description: "Stand By Lights" is an original work by Charisma Holley, a young artist and member of the Mosaic Youth Ensemble. Commissioned for Black History Month, the piece reflects on the contributions of Black creatives and draws from Charisma's experiences as a youth technician and her skills in storytelling and poetry.
Performed by: Charisma Holley
Project Themes: Youth Employment, Cultural Connection
Inetnon Gefpågo Cultural Arts Program
Location: Guam
Social Media:
Website: www.inetnongefpago.com
About: Inetnon Gefpågo Cultural Arts Program is dedicated to preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of Guam through music, dance, and the arts.
Fanohge CHamoru/ Sen Guaiya Håo Guahan Mashup
Description: Inetnon Gefpågo Cultural Arts Program's rendition of Guam's national anthem and the popular song "Sen Guaiya Håo Guåhan," released as part of Independent Guåhan's Na'lå'la' Vol. 4: Songs of Freedom.
Performed by: Dylan Duenas, Chelsea Cruz, Isaiah Buendicho, Kyana Tuncap, Pim Limtiaco
Project Themes: Youth Employment, Social Justice/Activism, Cultural Connection
Black Arts MKE
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Social Media:
Website: www.blackartsmke.org
About: Black Arts MKE is dedicated to empowering youth through theater, dance, music, and poetry, providing a platform for them to voice culturally relevant content and important social issues.
I AM. Youth Troupe Performance
Description: This is the culminating work of a group of youth who worked to create a new piece focusing on theater, dance, music, and poetry as ways to voice their culturally relevant content and important social issues.
Performed by: I AM. Youth Troupe
Project Themes: Youth Employment, Social Justice/Activism, Cultural Connection,
El Sistema Santa Cruz/Pajaro Valley
Location: Watsonville, CA
Social Media:
Website: www.elsistema-sc-pajarovalley.org
About: El Sistema Santa Cruz/Pajaro Valley provides music education and opportunities for youth, fostering their technical skills and creative talents.
New School Audio Recording Project
Description: This video features a project created by students in the Audio Production program at New School. The clip includes an original music piece composed, recorded, and produced by the students, showcasing their technical skills and creative talents.
Performed by: New School Audio Recording Project
Project Themes: Youth Employment, Mental Well-being
Rock to the Future
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Social Media:
Website: www.RocktotheFuture.org
About: Rock to the Future empowers youth through music education, promoting mental well-being, social justice, and cultural connection.
Original Song from Jose
Description: An original piano composition by high school student Jose.
Performed by: Jose; Rock to the Future Student
Project Themes: Youth Employment, Mental Well-being, Social Justice/Activism, Cultural Connection
Huntsville Community Drumline
Location: Huntsville, AL
Website: www.hcdrumline.org
About: Huntsville Community Drumline (HCDL) provides tuition-free opportunities for youth to learn percussion and increase their technological literacy through music production, sound design, re-mixing, mastering, and catalog creation.
Behind the Drums Documentary-Behind the Scenes
Description: This brief submission takes a "Behind the Scenes" look at the making of a documentary on HCDL, created by Nehemiyah Stevens, a volunteer turned paid video production instructor.
Performed by: Nehemiyah Stevens
Project Themes: Youth Employment
Boredomfighters, INC
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Social Media:
Website: www.boredomfighters.org
About: Boredomfighters, INC. offers free music production workshops to BIPOC youth in Northern Colorado. These workshops empower participants to create original tracks and choreography while they learn the ins and outs of producing a show.
New Bloodline - Love Comes First
Description: New Bloodline is a young hip-hop group that formed through an ongoing free music production series offered to BIPOC youth in Northern Colorado. They produced, wrote, and recorded their own original tracks alongside original choreography as direct support for Dead Prez.
Performed by: New Bloodline
Project Themes: Youth Employment, Mental Well-being, Social Justice/Activism, Cultural Connection
Spy Hop Productions
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Social Media:
Website: www.spyhop.org
About: Spy Hop Productions engages youth through various creative mediums, including writing and podcasting, to promote mental well-being and social justice/activism.
A Letter to Mom
Description: This story was produced for the Sending Messages podcast. Sending Messages is a radio podcast program provided by Spy Hop for youth within secure care and residential treatment facilities in Salt Lake City.
Performed by: AktivE
Project Themes: Mental Well-being, Social Justice/Activism