Inner-City Arts: Providing Arts Education to Skid Row Students Since 1989

Widely regarded as one of the most effective arts education providers in America, Inner-City Arts is an oasis of creativity, learning, and achievement in the heart of Skid Row in Los Angeles. Dedicated to helping create a safer and healthier LA, Inner-City Arts was founded in 1989 by Bob Yates, an artist and teacher, and Irwin Jaeger, an entrepreneur, after budget cuts eliminated arts instruction from public schools in the late '70s. Yates and Jaeger were determined to bring the benefits of the arts to underprivileged children in the Skid Row area who were already struggling.


In its first year, Inner-City Arts served 60 elementary school students. Since then, countless elementary, middle, and high school students have visited the non-profit's award-winning campus to study visual, performing, and media arts under the guidance of professional teaching artists in well-equipped studios.

Additionally, the Inner-City Arts – Annenberg Professional Development Program provides training for classroom teachers, graduate students, community partners, and others who wish to teach arts education.