About Youth Art Exchange & Leap Arts

Youth Art Exchange (YAX) is a San Francisco-based community arts organization and creative hub serving youth, artists, and neighbors across the city.

For more than 20 years, YAX has centered free, high-quality arts programming for public high school students, supporting youth as artists, leaders, and thinkers. Today, we have grown into a center-based organization – expanding access to the arts through shared creative spaces that welcome people of all ages while keeping youth leadership at the heart of everything we do.

We believe the arts are essential to personal expression, community connection, and collective well-being. At YAX, creativity is not a luxury – it is a public good.

Our Values

  • Racial Equity

    We prioritize equity in access, leadership, hiring, and program design.

  • Youth Leadership

    Young people are creators, collaborators, and cultural contributors.

  • Shared Creative Practice

    Artists and community members learn and make together.

  • Access & Belonging

    Our spaces are welcoming, inclusive, and community-centered.

  • Art as Civic Engagement

    Creativity is a powerful tool for expression, connection, and change.

Why We Are Here

Our mission at Youth Art Exchange is to spark shared creative practice between professional artists, public high school students, and the broader community – fostering youth leadership, artistic growth, and equitable access to the arts across generations in San Francisco.

We envision a city where every young person has a voice, agency, and access to the arts – where creative spaces bring people together across generations, cultures, and lived experiences.

We believe that engaging in the arts at a pivotal age gives youth tools to express themselves, exchange ideas, and shape the world around them. When artists and young people create side by side – they build community, resilience, and a more connected San Francisco. Simply put: art changes lives.

What We Do

Youth Art Exchange operates as a community arts center – offering creative opportunities that support youth, artists, and the broader public.

Youth Programs (at our core)

Our free after-school programs for public high school students remain the foundation of our work. Youth collaborate with professional artists to develop technical, creative, and leadership skills while using art as a tool for self-expression and civic engagement.

Community Arts & Adult Programming

Across our two locations, YAX hosts a variety of artist-led adult classes and workshops – including weekly Afro-Brazilian drumming meet-ups and monthly community gatherings such as stained glass workshops,  open-mic nights, and more.

Youth Camps

YAX also offers summer and winter camp programming for 3rd-5th grade students – introducing younger youth to hands-on art-making in a supportive, joyful environment.

Exhibitions & Public Events

Our galleries and communal spaces host rotating local artist exhibitions and free seasonal events – including community celebrations and maker markets that invite neighbors, families, and artists to gather, create, and connect.

Visitor Info

Visiting La Fenix

1950 Mission Street

You can travel to La Fénix on public transit using the 14, 14R, 33, and 49 MUNI bus lines, or from the 16th + Mission BART station (less than a 1-minute walk from BART). Located between 15th + 16th on Mission.

Street parking is limited to 2 hours in the immediate blocks and they will ticket. Past South Van Ness on 15th and 16th there tend to be some all-day spots available in the early morning, with a 10-minute walk or so to YAX.

There is a $20 all-day lot on Hoff off of 16th that is a good option with parking longer than 2 hours needed.

Visiting Kapuso

2330 San Jose Ave. & 400 Geneva

You can travel to KAPUSO on public transit using the 8, 8BX, 28R, 43, 54, 88, 91, 14, 14R, K, M, and J MUNI LINES, or from the Balboa Park BART station (less than a 1-minute walk from BART). Located at San Jose + Geneva.

Street parking is available and in close proximity; however, nearby it is limited to two hours. All-day spots are available a little further out.

There are visitor lots at CCSF that may be available for $5-6.50 per day with about a 12-minute walk to YAX.

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Make Creativity Possible. Donate Today.

Your generosity helps make art accessible to everyone. Support Youth Art Exchange and help keep free arts education, creative programs, and opportunities for self-expression available to young people across San Francisco. Every contribution helps nurture the next generation of artists, leaders, and changemakers.

Give back today. Donate Here!