Transportation Art By Youth

Engaging the Community and Youth through Public Art

In collaboration with the Tucson Department of Transportation and Mobility, with funding from the Pima Association of Governments, the Transportation Art By Youth (TABY) program hires youth artists to work with a professional artist in the development of public artwork for the City of Tucson.

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Taranm Akbary, TABY Project Planter, 2021. Photo by Julius Schlosburg

The Arts Foundation is seeking a qualified Teaching Artist to lead an twelve-week summer program to work with youth artists through the public art design process and production of artwork in a public transportation setting.

Learn more and apply

The Arts Foundation is seeking to hire six to eight youth artists between the ages of 16 to 18 to assist and learn from a professional artist in the design and production of public art this summer. The project is expected to begin in late May once school is out and continue through to the end of July (i.e. 9 weeks total 5/29-7/31).

Learn more and apply

2021 Transportation art by Youth (TABY)

Food, Mobility, and Culture on La Doce

“This year’s TABY uses visual storytelling to document the rich cultural traditions of South 12th” – Ward 1 City Council Member Lane Santa Cruz.

In 2021, $75,000 project came to life with 12 unique paintings wrapping around 12 four-foot clay planters. The artwork is installed in Ward 1 along South 12th Avenue, more commonly referred to as “La Doce.”

Tony Plak

2021 TABY Teaching Artist

Tony led the eight-week summer program with nine youth artists from across the region-primarily from the southside and westside. One of the goals of the program was to provide youth with an opportunity to be employed and participate in all phases of the design and installation of a public artwork under the guidance of a professional artist. The artist led the youth through the public art design process and production of artwork that will become part of the streetscape of one of the most significant commercial corridors in the city- South 12th Avenue. The artwork is a series of acrylic murals painted on 10 planters, that will be placed between the sidewalk and the roadway along the corridor. “I really like these types of projects,” said Plak. “Apart from me being able to work on a new project; I am helping young artists to start venturing into public art where they can experience the sensation of sharing their works of art, not only in art galleries or in studios but also in public streets where people can observe the art that young people are doing.”

Este tipo de proyectos me gusta mucho porque aparte de ello puedo de poder trabajar en un nuevo proyecto, estoy ayudando a que otros jóvenes y jóvenes artistas puedan empezar a incursionar en el arte público donde pueden experimentar la sensación de compartir sus obras de arte, no solo en galerías de arte o en estudios sino también en la vía pública donde la comunidad pueda observar el arte que los jóvenes están realizando.

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