ACT was created to serve under-served, at-risk students and communities. While that is still at the root of what we do, and will always be a focus, we have now grown and extended our reach to serving various communities and students, including our intent to be inclusive and provide equitable access to high level arts education for all students. Building self-esteem, confidence, and connections with peers and mentors are all pivotal in building strengths of our youth and also the future of our communities. Founded in 2012, with headquarters in St. Petersburg, Florida, ACT offers world-class training and performance opportunities in Music, Theater, Dance, Film, Art, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship.

ACT is dedicated to serving under-served and at-risk communities, using the arts as a catalyst to prepare students for high school graduation, higher education, and the workforce. 84% of our scholarships are awarded to underprivileged students. Many of our students have cultivated their gifts and talents in the performing arts and have gone on to the likes of Berklee College of Music and Otterbein University and have established careers in television, film, the music entertainment industry, and Broadway.

In 2012, two creative thought leaders, Alex Harris and Herbert Murphy, founded the Arts Conservatory for Teens. Harris and Murphy together have more than 40 years of experience in the arts, youth development, and philanthropy. Seeing a need in the local community for teens (use of opiates, crime, school dropout, lack of adequate access to opportunities to excel), the two men developed a curriculum that has a strong appeal with teenagers providing programming that is fun, educational, empowering, and culturally enriching. The model developed by Harris and Murphy is not your typical after school program — it is unique, innovative, and life changing. Since its inception, Arts Conservatory for Teens has helped to change over 5000 middle and high school students’ and families’ lives.

WHY WE NEED THE ARTS——

According to the Public School Review, research shows benefits for children academically, along with improvements in behavior and attendance when they participate in arts education programming. The Arts Education Partnership performed a meta-analysis of 62 studies that revealed that students who study music have increased achievement and proficiency in math. Reading and cognitive development were found to increase, as were verbal SAT scores. ACT is designed to enhance students’ problem-solving skills, self-esteem, and critical thinking skills through intensive creative study.