This article discusses Creative Communities, a collaboration between the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the National Endowment for the Arts. The program partners community schools of the arts with housing authorities to provide free arts instruction by professional artists during non-school hours to youth living in housing projects. This is the first program of its kind implemented on a national scale. Its goals are to strengthen communities by building self-esteem and teaching practical skills to youth.

This article discusses Creative Communities, a program which partners community schools of the arts with housing authorities to provide free arts instruction by professional artists during non-school hours to youth living in housing projects.