Detroit Excellence in Youth Arts (DEYA)

Founded in 2020, Detroit Excellence in Youth Arts (DEYA) harnesses the collective action of young Detroit artists across a wide array of art forms, including dance, instrumental music, drama, visual art, and vocal music; arts providers; arts donors and parents to build the capacity of Detroit’s Youth arts ecosystem and deepened investment in the sector.

The organization seeks to remove the systemic insurmountable barriers to participation in the arts that Detroit’s youth face. By serving as a trusted partner for Detroit youth arts, DEYA allows public entities, national foundations, corporations, and private donors to focus or pool their funding in one central resource without each having to invest duplicative resources in developing research, diligence and staff capacity. DEYA ensures that smaller arts organizations battling for funding don’t have to go it alone by increasing the funding “pie” for youth arts in Detroit, not simply cutting it into more pieces.

DEYA’s work results in transformative youth arts opportunities that are more equitable, inclusive, accessible, and sustainable.