Their mission is to ensure that young people are able to express their own voices, develop their futures, and gain new opportunities through access to art and a welcoming community.
Marwen finds itself with strong community leaders, and in particular, alumni from Marwen that create a unique experience for the younger generation. As the current students grow up, they do not lose their status as a Marwen student — they merely become alumni and can reconnect with students of the next generation.
As long as students are able to commit to Marwen’s multi-week program, students find themselves creating more than just artwork — at Marwen, students can find themselves developing skills for the future, such as college readiness and collaboration. While art is a large aspect of Marwen’s classes, they also offer many different resources to help youth find their own path.
Art is more than just an outlet for creativity — it is also a way for people to create their own voice. While Marwen features traditional art, they also offer different programs that can give young people a platform for their own voice, such as podcasts and coding. For young people who may not have access to art, the opportunity to create is invaluable. Most students at this age may not have access to a dedicated studio space, including a studio through the school’s art department. By providing instruction, materials, and a safe environment, students who attend Marwen’s classes find themselves in a community that learns together.
By dismantling the barriers between a student’s access to art, Marwen inspires the next generation to create art that can speak to them. The artwork currently displayed in Marwen’s front gallery were created by the students, featuring a variety of classes — with many of these classes covering the basics, it also allows students of different skill levels to join Marwen’s program to either develop their existing skills or learn new ones. Classes and programs exist in a similar fashion to a school year — spring, summer, and fall — lasting for approximately ten sessions.
Students in high school (with some extra requirements) can even develop their skills through internship opportunities, some of which are fostered directly through Marwen and the rest partnered with Marwen. These opportunities enable a student to begin building their skills and experience before they enter college. With limited space in some of these programs, youth are expected to sign up early to secure a spot.
Other programs offered through Marwen, such as career and college fairs, can also be a great way for students to decide on their future. Hosted by Marwen, these fairs allow a student to gain further insight, by giving students a chance to highlight their abilities. Marwen serves as a safe community for people of all backgrounds to find resources for the next generation, offering a chance for students to take their next step in art.
As a part of a course, young people aged 16–18 were hired as commissioned artists to create merchandise that would be sold to the community. The course was not just limited to artwork — it also covered the specifics of being a commissioned artist. The artwork developed in this course (Fall 2025) has a mythological theme.
As Marwen’s art classes and programs remain free for those who need it, all proceeds from merchandise sales go directly into supporting Marwen’s free visual arts programming. In order to help support their mission, people can donate or buy merchandise from Marwen’s website.
Want to send your child to Marwen for art classes or other programs? To register for classes, read more about Marwen’s programs, or view more of Marwen’s mission, visit marwen.org.