The Arts Experience (TAE), a national and state award-winning non-profit 501c3 organization, builds bridges for youth through arts education that fosters cultural understanding, self-discipline, social development and academic achievement.

Located in the greater Charlotte region, TAE was founded in 1992 as a backyard music camp. TAE operates year-round with the following core programs:

• The Arts Experience Children's Choirs & Youth Oratorio
• TAE All County Choral Festival
• The Summer Experience
• Professional Development Workshops
• Student Art
• After-School Cultural Enrichment Studios (ACES)

Click here for Directions to TAE Administrative Office

TAE is now celebrating the twelfth anniversary of our choirs!

In 2003, TAE was honored by Governor Easley with an award for outstanding volunteer service in North Carolina and was selected as a finalist in the Nine Who Care awards presented by WSOC-TV. In 1999, TAE was honored with a national award from the National Endowment for the Arts and the American Composers Forum. We were the only site in North Carolina selected to participate in Continental Harmony, a national millennium project.

TAE works one-on-one with area youth in an effort to promote cultural understanding, build self-confidence and to encourage self-expression and creativity through the arts.

Need
Our programs are designed to build bridges of communication and understanding between youth of differing economic and cultural backgrounds. Because we believe the arts are essential in the development of youth, we provide educational experiences that foster cultural understanding, self discipline, social development and academic achievement. By offering scholarships, positive role models and a nurturing, safe environment, TAE provides youth with a needed support system to help them achieve goals and reach their potential. In 2001, TAE became a partner in POST - Partners in Out-of-School Time. Through POST and our programs, we are committed to providing a safe, supportive and stimulating environment for children when school is out. We continually strive to ensure that our activities are accessible and available to all youth interested in participating. Our ability to provide this assistance plays a vital role in ensuring our success as a program for the whole community.

Community Outreach
TAE forms partnerships with schools, agencies, church and community leaders to identify interested youth.  By offering affordable tuition and scholarships, TAE provides economically challenged youth an opportunity to participate.  One third of the youth participating in our after school cultural arts programs require tuition assistance annually. The majority of the youth requiring scholarships are minorities.  No child is ever turned away for inability to pay participation fees.