The YEA! Mission
It is the mission of the Young Evanston Artists Foundation (YEA!) to provide the children of Evanston with a unique forum and experience for the exhibition and performance of their art. The Yea! goal is to nurture, enable and inspire the children we serve so that as they prepare themselves for the challenges of the future, they will do so with self-confidence, a creative spirit, and a caring heart. And in the hope of their doing so, we believe their influence will contribute to the well-being of their communities and their world.

Each year 40 +public, private and parochial schools, pre-school through high school, participate in YEA! Day. Held outdoors at the corner of Chicago Avenue and Dempster Street, nearly 6000 children are involved and over 4000 people attend. Approximately 1000 children participate in the visual arts and have the experience of seeing their art displayed in an art fair atmosphere. The performing arts involve as many as 400 children, singing, playing instruments, dancing and performing.

Kids collecting donations at YEA!

YEA! is blessed with a large group of enthusiastic and committed volunteers who understand and believe in the mission, and is dependent on the generous donations of community businesses, families and individuals.

We believe strongly that the YEA! experience has a formative influence on many children to nurture, enable and inspire them with confidence, wisdom and well-being as they face the challenges of adult life.

We are happy to provide the opportunity for the expression of their creative spirit, and are truly grateful for their willingness to participate with genuine enthusiasm and trust.