The Arts Commission’s Young Artists at Work (YAAW) Kicks Off its 32nd Year! Art Sale on July 23

Daily Dose  |  07/13/2026 3:00 pm

The Arts Commission is proud to share that the Young Artists at Work (YAAW) is in session for its 32nd season! The 2026 program is returning with exciting projects and exhibition opportunities that engage creative youths from the greater Toledo area. This year the YAAW program welcomes 45 apprentices and 6 teaching staff.

The Arts Commission invites the public to join on July 23rd, from 5–8pm, for the annual Apprentice Art Sale and Alumni Exhibition Reception at The Portal at Toledo School for the Arts.

2026 PROJECT OVERVIEW

“Worlds Within” at Artomatic 419

Artomatic 419 is back September 18-20 at the Erie Street Market and the Young Artists at Work apprentices are ready to make their mark. A team of young artists led by Breyana Kemp and Emily Rogers are making a large-scale interactive installation composed of multiple apprentice designed portal sculptures. Each piece represents an imagined “inner world”;  a physical translation of thoughts, emotions, memories, and personal realities. Viewers will be able to take a step inside these installations and be immersed in the creativity of young artists. 

LISC Project

Young Artists at Work is working to create a vibrant and inviting office space for LISC Toledo. LISC, Local Initiatives Support Corp, is the nation’s leading community development organization with 34 offices nationally. They provide a wide variety of services that support economic development through affordable housing, financial literacy, and small business loans. LISC has been an invaluable resource for Toledo Lucas County, a great partner to the Arts Commission and is a wonderful organization for the young artists to learn about. The young artists’ installations will adorn LISC’s office within Innovation Post. 

Live Arts Toledo Installation

A team of 15 apprentices is creating a mixed media project for the Toledo Center for Live Arts led by Sarah Vandersall and Cariana Carrillo. The youth will create artwork for the Timothy and Suzanne Van Tuinen lounge area that students of all ages use between classes. Live Arts Toledo, formerly the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA), is the region’s artistic hub for live performance, cultural education, and community connection that brings together the Toledo Symphony, Toledo Ballet, Toledo Jazz Orchestra, Toledo Symphony School of Music, and Toledo Symphony Youth Orchestras.

The teen YAAW apprentices designed a work that uses wood, polytab, and ceramics to honor all of the arts Live Arts Toledo supports and pay special homage to their signature performance, The Nutcracker.

2026 STAFF

Director of Youth Services: Natalie Gray

Instructors: Breyana Kemp  (YAAW Alum), Sarah Vandersall, and Timothy Leistner

Assistant Instructors: Emily Rogers, kp Pace, Cariana Carillo 

Alumni Exhibition Coordinator: Amanda Gargac (YAAW Alum)

Program Assistant: Olivia Anderson

Issue Box Theatre guest artist: Rosie Best

YAAW Marketing Coordinator: Parker King (YAAW Alum)

This year, YAAW Apprentices represent 20 schools: Anthony Wayne High School, Bedford High School, Bowsher High School, Central Catholic High School, Gateway Online Academy, Glass City Academy, Horizon Science Academy, Jefferson Junior High, Jones Leadership Academy, Maumee High School, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Northview High School, Penta Career Center, Perrysburg High School, Scott High School, Sherman Elementary, Southview High School, Springfield High School, St. Johns Jesuit, St. Ursula Academy, Sylvania Southview High School, Toledo Early College High School, Toledo School for the Arts, Toledo Technology Academy, Waite High School, and Whitmer High School.

PROGRAM SPONSORS 

The Arts Commission is extremely grateful for support of Young Artists at Work: University of Toledo Department of Art, Lucas County Jobs and Family Services, Bank of America, City of Toledo Department of Neighborhoods and Economic Development Community Development Block Grant, City of Toledo Parks and Youth, TARTA, Toledo School for the Arts, Toledo Museum of Art, John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation, The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, Rudolph Libbe, Huntington Bank, Sheetz, SSOE, WesBanco, Directions Credit Union, Tim Valko, Jim Moore, Robert Zollweg, Sara Jane DeHoff, Margy Trumbull, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Ohio Arts Council.

MEDIA DAY

We invite you to join us for a media day on July 15 from 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm at the University of Toledo, Center for the Visual Arts. There will be photo and interview opportunities with apprentices and staff. 

ART SALE

Join us for the annual Young Artists at Work Art Sale on July 23 to browse and purchase original artwork created by youth apprentices during the 2026 YAAW program.

Throughout the summer, the apprentices work alongside professional artists to develop their creative skills while producing high-quality, original artwork. Meet the young artists behind the work and support their creativity while taking home a unique piece of local art!

When: Thursday, July 23 | 5–8pm
Where: The Portal at Toledo School for the Arts

Admission is free, and all are welcome.

ALUMNI EXHIBITION 

The Arts Commission is proud to host a YAAW Alumni Exhibition featuring art by over 30 past YAAW apprentices and instructors. A reception will be held on July 23rd at 5pm, in conjunction with the YAAW Art Sale.

Exhibition on display: July 10-23, Toledo School for the Arts Porter Gallery

Gallery Hours: Monday- Saturday, 12pm-6pm

About YAAW

YAAW was founded in 1994 by Arts Commission Honorary Trustee, Sara Jane DeHoff. An Arts Commission board member at the time, she was inspired by Gallery 37 in Chicago and brought the model back to Toledo in support of education and employment in the arts for 14-18 year olds with a focus on those who did not have access to these opportunities.  

Since her vision became reality The Arts Commission has employed more than 2,000 apprentices in the program including some second generations of family members who participated in YAAW in the early years.

About The Arts Commission

The Arts Commission is the longest standing arts commission in the state of Ohio, founded in 1959, administering the City of Toledo’s One Percent for Art Program since 1977. The Arts Commission is supported in part by the Ohio Arts Council and by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.