Young Audiences of Houston was founded by violinist Fredell Lack in 1956 and received non-profit status in 1960 with support from Ms. Ima Hogg and Mrs. William P. Hobby. From the 1950s to the 1990s, YAH focused on presenting interactive in-school performances by Houston’s finest professional performing and visual artists.

Supporting the educational trends from the 1990s to the present, Young Audiences of Houston further expanded into presenting workshops and residencies that use the arts to support core-curriculum skills and allow individual artists to work more effectively with small groups through “hands-on” projects, as well as professional development training for educators, which equips teachers with the tools needed to integrate the arts into the classroom.

Now celebrating our 60th year, Young Audiences of Houston certifies, trains and supports 130 artists to provide high-quality and educationally sound programming that reaches 208,550 children each year.

Young Audiences of Houston is the managing partner for Houston Arts Partners, a collaborative partnership between area school districts and arts/cultural organizations.

Our mission: To educate and inspire children through the arts, to make the arts an integral part of the school curriculum, and to advance the field of arts in education through teacher professional development training and community partnerships.