Mission and History

CITYarts engages youth with professional artists in the creation of public art, including murals and mosaics. Through this creative process, CITYarts empowers, educates, and connects youth and children locally and around the world to become active participants in realizing their potential and transforming communities.

The goal at CITYarts is to hear the voices of our children and youth. We can ignite their curiosities and imaginations to keep peace alive in their lives and for all of us around the world. We want to build bridges of cultural understanding by bringing youth from around the globe into contact and dialogue with each other and with society as a whole through the creation of artwork with youth from around the world. With every CITYarts project, we are planting the seeds for much-needed creative and caring young leadership.

CITYarts, Inc. is a nonprofit public arts and education organization founded in 1989 by Executive and Creative Director Tsipi Ben-Haim after its predecessor, Cityarts Workshop, closed down in 1988. With a new name and a new mission, Tsipi Ben-Haim wanted the voices of our youth to be heard. She created 5 different programs that bring together children and youth with professional artists to create public art in New York City and beyond. CITYarts empowers youth through the creation of murals and mosaic that transform their community, impact their lives, and address social and civic issues.

To date, CITYarts has created and produced over 350 projects that have transformed communities and impacted over 100,000 kids, collaborated with more than 600 artists, partnered with over 1,500 sponsors, and engaged over 200,000 volunteers. CITYarts is widely credited as the pioneering force in the creation of the contemporary community mural movement in New York City. Because of CITYarts’ 34-year history of engaging youth in beautifying their own neighborhoods, Tsipi Ben-Haim can state without reservation – “when kids create, they do not destroy; they inspire us all”

CITYarts’ projects frequently foster community revitalization by galvanizing businesses, schools, and community organizations into developing youth programs and constructing playgrounds and gardens. Thinking globally and acting locally, CITYarts’ projects build bridges of cultural understanding, giving youth the opportunity to take an active role in shaping their own future.

In 2001, following the tragic events of 9/11, Tsipi Ben-Haim saw the need to facilitate a greater understanding among young people of different cultures. She started the Young Minds Build Bridges program to connect children around the globe by allowing them to share their vision of peace through art. CITYarts is now a global arts organization, connecting youth in over 120 countries on 6 continents, in over 1,400 schools, creating more than 12,000 works through CITYarts Pieces for Peace Project. By now, we all realize that “thinking globally and acting locally” is not a choice, but a necessity of our times – we truly live in a global community.

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Non-Discrimination Policy

CITYarts, Inc. does not and shall not discriminate on the bases of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.

CITYarts, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.