Summer programs for even younger artists return to Youth Arts Collective, which prepares for a 24-hour ARTathon.

Youth Arts Collective in Monterey, commonly known as YAC, has been around since 2000, a creation of artists Marcia Perry and Meg Biddle with the goal to provide space to local high-schoolers and college students to gain experience, after school, in a real art studio.

In 2022 a leadership transition took place, with Perry and Biddle remaining as mentors and a new generation of YACsters taking over: Jesse Juarez as the new executive director, Marissa Serna as the program director, Natalia Corazza as an administrator and Grace Khieu as YAC’s videographer.

Now it’s 2024 and YAC has managed to bring back its Teaching Across Generations summer program (TAG), which was canceled during the pandemic. The main target is middle-schoolers, ages 11-13 who again have a chance to learn painting, ceramics and composition. Enrollment for the next few months is almost at capacity.

“TAG has been very much needed,” Serna says. “Some of these kids are very mature. We want them to get comfortable with the space and meet other YACsters.”

Serna points out that many students come to the program not knowing anyone. They make friends and sometimes visit daily. “Many TAGsters become YACsters,” adds Juarez, who spent half of his life with the organization. “It’s about laughing and making art.”

There are other exciting things coming up for YAC. On Saturday, June 22, an ARTathon will take place. This year, 70 YACsters and their mentors are coming together to raise money for the nonprofit by taking up the challenge of creating art for 24 continuous hours, from 10am Saturday, June 22 to 10am Sunday, June 23. (The public can watch, for less than 24 hours.)

Much of the art produced during ARTathon is exhibited in the upcoming Summer Art Show. It will be on display online and in-studio, with an opening reception on Friday, July 26 – and it has to be said that YACsters’ work can easily compete with the work of many mature artists in Monterey County.

“We always have many people interested,” Serna says. “Parents come to see their children’s art, bringing friends along.”

YAC will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year. “Now that the leadership transition is in our rearview mirror,” Serna says, “we’ve hit our stride.”

ARTathon is 10am Saturday, June 22-10am Sunday, June 23. Summer Art Show opens Friday, July 26. YAC, 472 Calle Principal, Monterey. yacstudios.org