Upturn Arts Celebrates 15 Years of Creative Impact and Community Care
New Orleans youth nonprofit has served over 10,000 families with accessible, year-round arts education, and it’s just getting started.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – In a city defined by creativity, Upturn Arts has quietly built one of New Orleans’ most impactful youth programs, meeting families where they are and growing with purpose since 2010. Now celebrating its 15th anniversary, the organization is pulling back the curtain on a story of thousands of young artists whose lives have been transformed by access to the arts.

What the Headlines Miss, Our Numbers Don’t:

Over 10,000 families have participated in Upturn Arts programs since 2010.
50% of students receive financial aid, ensuring access for all.
More than 3,500 artists have been engaged as educators, mentors, and performers, including Tank and The Bangas, Big Freedia, and David Shaw.
6,000+ meals served each summer to nourish young artists during camp.

“We’ve never needed the spotlight,” said Executive Director Dana Reed. “But after 15 years, we want people to see what’s possible when you invest in children, artists, and access.”

Childcare Crisis. Creative Solutions.
With summer childcare averaging over $300 per week in Louisiana, Upturn Arts offers full-day arts programming at a fraction of the cost, reducing fees by up to 94% through a sliding scale model. Each week includes art education, meals, and trauma-informed care.

“For our family, Upturn Arts was more than camp; it was a turning point,” said the parent of a young boy recently diagnosed with autism. “By the end of the summer, he began speaking and even performed on stage for the first time. It changed everything for our family.”

Another parent shared how their two boys, who had survived trauma, found healing through the program. “ Having a safe, reliable, and stable environment helped heal my children and got us in a more stable place as we got ready to go back to school in the fall.”

More Kids Are Waiting.
Open every school break and all summer, Upturn Arts remained a lifeline during the pandemic, offering virtual and hybrid options to maintain consistency and care. Today, with over 50 kids on a growing waitlist, the organization is ready to expand but still faces funding gaps.

“This isn’t just a celebration,” said Reed. “It’s a call to invest in a future where every New Orleans child has the space, support, and tools to become who they’re meant to be.”

About Upturn Arts
Founded in 2010, Upturn Arts is a New Orleans-based nonprofit that provides “arts for all” through affordable programming in dance, music, visual art, and theater. With a focus on accessibility, trauma-informed care, and creative confidence, the organization serves nearly 1,000 children annually and supports the next generation of New Orleans artists.

Appetite for Art 2025

Upturn Arts’ Annual Appetite for Art Gala presented by Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust promises to be an enchanting evening of creativity and celebration on Thursday, November 13th, 2025, at Capulet from 5:30-9:30 pm.