New Report Shows How Community Arts Programs Shape Young Lives for the Long Term

By Rachel Sampson, UC Irvine Education

A new report, led by UC Irvine Education and Informatics Professor Kylie Peppler, is reframing how we understand the power of youth arts programs — and the ripple effects they create long after the music fades or the curtain closes.

Commissioned by The Wallace Foundation, Creative Expression, Caring Relationships, and Career Pathways: A Guide to Youth Outcomes in Community Arts Programs identifies the lasting benefits that come from participation in community-based arts programs. The report introduces a new “taxonomy” that categorizes long-term outcomes — from personal growth and confidence to career development and community connection — and highlights specific program features that make those outcomes possible.

“Adopting this framework gives organizations a shared language to learn from each other and collaborate more effectively,” said Peppler. “It also strengthens their ability to speak with one voice to policymakers and funders, showing the lasting impact community arts have on young people. Our goal is to make these programs’ contributions visible, valued, and accessible to all.

Unlike traditional evaluations that focus on short-term measures such as attendance or skill gains, this study followed alumni from 32 community arts programs in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia — many a decade removed from their experience. Through surveys and in-depth interviews, researchers captured how these programs influenced participants’ sense of identity, creativity, relationships, and professional pathways.

Two key outcomes emerged:

• Relational outcomes — how participants understand themselves and connect with others through self-expression, mentorship, and shared creative experiences.
• Opportunity outcomes — how programs open pathways to education, careers, and leadership through exposure to cultural and professional networks.
• Together, these findings show that youth arts programs don’t just teach creative skills — they help young people build the confidence, community, and direction that carry into adulthood.

The report offers arts organizations a practical framework for designing programs, evaluating impact, and communicating their value to funders and policymakers — strengthening the case for investment in creative youth development.

Read the report here.

Read the original article from UC Irvine School of Education