The Steel Yard

For many young people, meaningful access to arts education is shaped by affordability, inclusion, and the opportunity to feel seen and supported. At The Steel Yard, the White Family Foundation’s sustained support of youth summer camps since 2020 has helped remove financial barriers while creating a welcoming environment where young people can explore their creative potential and imagine what a future in the arts might look like.

Since the initial grant, The Steel Yard has been able to implement sliding-scale tuition across all youth summer programming, providing financial assistance to nearly 100 Rhode Island youth who otherwise would not have had access to these experiences. This support has allowed the organization to reach a broader range of students while maintaining the high-quality instruction and mentorship that define its programs.

Just as importantly, the Foundation’s investment helps ensure that young people are welcomed into a safe, supportive, and encouraging space—one where creativity is nurtured alongside confidence and self-discovery. Through hands-on exploration of metalworking and other disciplines, students gain both technical skills and a deeper understanding of how artistic practice can translate into real-world creative careers.

One youth participant reflected on the impact of their experience at Camp Sparkle:

“I’m feeling wildly grateful for being granted the opportunity to engage in Camp Sparkle. It was most definitely a transformative two weeks for my creator self, and honestly the same goes for my queer self. I’m eager to further explore metalwork, and am overwhelmed that I have continued access to all the Steel Yard has to offer.”

For many participants, the impact extends beyond creative growth to a powerful sense of belonging. Camps like Sparkle offer community at a formative age—particularly for youth who may feel isolated or misunderstood in other spaces. That sense of connection often resonates deeply with families as well.

One parent shared how meaningful the experience was for their child:

“Picking them up from Camp yesterday was so fantastic—seeing their face so happy and full of pride. They really benefited from having community at their age when they have felt quite lonely and misunderstood by some of their peers. This Camp reinvigorated them.”

The experience has sparked continued engagement not only for youth, but for entire families interested in returning to The Steel Yard for classes and instruction, reinforcing the organization’s role as a lasting community resource.

Stories like these reflect the broader impact of accessible, relationship-centered arts education. By lowering financial barriers and investing in inclusive programming, The Steel Yard helps young people develop creative skills, self-confidence, and a sense of connection that carries forward well beyond a single summer.

The White Family Foundation’s ongoing support makes this work possible. By investing in youth arts access and affordability, the Foundation strengthens opportunities for creative exploration while fostering spaces where young people—and their families—can feel welcomed, valued, and inspired.

Through partnerships like this, the arts become more than an activity—they become a pathway to belonging, self-expression, and lifelong creative engagement

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