The Riverside Arts Academy is an arts-based youth development program in the City of Riverside that uses the performing arts as vehicles to help build skills and foster positive attitudes and behavior among under served young people through leadership and self-esteem building programming. THE BENEFITS OF SUPPORTING THE ARTS: • Creativity and innovation are vital to a child’s success in the world today • Through artistic expression youth are able to process their feelings, accept, heal, and grow • The artistic and creative process is therapeutic in itself and leads to a healthy, well-rounded life • The arts allow youth to express themselves in positive ways • The arts allow youth the opportunity to build a positive relationship and trust with adults and peers • The arts build self-confidence and self-esteem…youth learn to trust themselves • The arts build critical creative capacity that prepares youth for the workforce • The arts increase the ability to control behavior and emotions • The arts teach important life skills such as sharing, teamwork and problem solving • There is no "right" or "wrong" in the creative process • The arts help empower youth to reject negative influences such as gangs and drugs