Graffiti to gallery: Paris feeds young minds with ‘Art to Grow Up’
Project: an educational and cultural programme designed to embed culture at a young age
The Purpose
The Art to Grow Up program aims to support cultural access for all from an early age in Paris. It promotes “free” artistic education programs developed for young Parisians. The program’s purpose is to provide access to artistic and cultural practices, break social divisions, open up to others and the world, and stimulate young people’s reflections on the society they will build.
The Challenge
The challenge addressed is to ensure that all young Parisians have access to and engage with artistic and cultural practices. It involves fostering a sense of inclusivity, breaking social divisions, and offering artistic experiences to young children.
Art to Grow Up connects 150 cultural institutions with nearly a thousand educational and recreational facilities.
The Solution
The solution is the ‘Art to Grow Up’ program, which pairs cultural institutions with schools, leisure centres and high schools in Paris. It connects 150 cultural institutions with nearly a thousand educational and recreational facilities. The program introduces artistic practices to young Parisians, takes them to cultural venues, and introduces an artistic outreach component, such as artistic residencies in public daycare centres, focusing on early childhood professionals. The program aims to offer activities that awaken cultural senses in children, provide training for early childhood professionals, and widen access to culture from the earliest age.
The Impact
The impact of the program is seen in its early success, which led to an extension of the program to more childcare centres. It has received enthusiastic feedback from both staff at early childhood centres and the artistic teams. The program is set to continue expanding, reaching more childcare centres and continuously providing a cultural offer throughout a person’s lifetime.
Source: World Cities Culture Report 2022
