Our Programs

Our center is a licensed child care center certified by the Pinellas County License Board. Community Out of School Time program (C.O.S.T.) developed in 2005, is a year round after school program for youth ages 5-17. We serve approximately 80 youth daily. Our activities include tutoring, homework assistance, music composition, theory, ballet, tap, martial arts, hip-hop, yoga, health, nutrition and fitness boot camp, drumming, percussion, arts and crafts, health and hygiene, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) activities, career awareness, ROBOTICS, Podcasts, guest speakers, cultural diversity and financial literacy. The program is funded by JWB Pinellas and all children are on scholarship. 

Be True To You (BT2U) developed in 2006 and Sponsored by JWB Children's Services Board is a gender specific program for girls 9-17 years of age whose focus is to enrich character, build esteem, make girls feel empowered to find their own voice and validate themselves. Currently services are being provided to 40 girls at the ARTZ 4 Life Center. These girls are on scholarship and also participate in ARTZ 4 Life ACE programming conducted daily at the facility and the "Explore The Arts" Summer Camp. 

Young Gents is a boys gender specific program for boys 9-17 years of age also funded by JWB Children's Services Board and Florida Department of Cultural Affairs and specializing in developing leadership, employability skills and self-esteem curriculum within the framework of a STEM and ARTS program. These young men also participate in the A.C.E. Out of School Time Program, Summer Camp and all program activities related to charting a positive course for the future. We currently serve 40 boys during the school year and approximately 60 during the summer months.

"Explore The Arts," a summer camp program established in 2004 and also sponsored by JWB Children's Services Board and United Way, operates during the summer months from 7 am - 5 pm and services approximately 100-150 youth ages 5-17 and utilizes art as a means to diminish the learning loss during the summer hiatus. Youth receive classes in music, art, voice, theater, dance, set design, scriptwriting, indoor/outdoor athletics, attend swimming classes and field trips, and have lots of FUN! This year's 10-week camp will end in a final production presented to the community at a local venue. The performance highlights an original script created by the ARTZ 4 Life staff and students from the summer camp. We challenge the youth to explore ideas that provide inspiration and share activities and lessons learned from summer camp and overlays to develop a storyline that includes all concepts and things learned. We anticipate that over 400 parents, family members, friends, and youth from the community will attend the event. 

Dundu Dole (which means Life Force in Wolof Language) Urban African Ballet established 1991 now in existence for twenty eight years has provided entertaining, educational workshops, lecture demonstrations and cultural arts ballets for various schools, universities, churches, hospitals, conferences, corporations and major theater house throughout the United States. Dundu Dole has performed with and opened for artists such as Herbie Hancock, Ziggy Marley, Naomi Tutu, Kwesi M'fume, Angela Davis, Debra Cox, Kevon Edwards and many more. 

Jai Hinson's annual production "The Family Blessing"  weaves ballet, Hip Hop, jazz, tap, African Dance, Salsa, Native Dancing, Mexican Folklorico, Brazilian Samba, and Bollywood dance into an exotic tapestry of light, color, music, and movement. Join us as we follow the experience of our students, choreographers, and directors and expose them to diverse cultures, life skills, and business in the arts. Together, we encourage our communities to unify our differences through the love and admiration of the performing arts. We are part of history, along with our cast members, as we inspire families of all cultures worldwide through this unparalleled experience. "The Family Blessing" is presented by Artz 4 Life Academy as part of its mission to enhance education, promote diversity, and develop life skills through cultural and performing arts. All proceeds from our ticket sales go directly to Artz 4 Life Academy to assist in funding our performing arts programs.