The Only Magazine for Children's Art
Oct 14, 2026
"Seeing them respond with so much enthusiasm is always a moment of joy."
If you want to put it into chronological perspective, when CITYarts debuted in 1989 there was no internet, a pair of promising young upstarts named Barack and Michelle has just met, and most likely there wasn't a Starbucks (or three or four) in your hometown. What there was then that there is still now are young people striving - and sometimes struggling - to find their true voices.
And indeed, the now vital organization's stated mission was and still is to "engage youth with professional artists in the creation of public art, including murals and mosaic," helping them to feel empowered and to realize their potential through artistic expression. In doing so, these amazing, so-full-of-potential kids would also get to play an important role in transforming their communities via a shared vision and purpose.
The driving force behind CITYarts then and now is Tsipi Ben-Haim, who has never met a challenge she couldn't take on, and usually overcome. Under her leadership, nearly 400 public art projects have been completed across New York City, extraordinarily transforming the cityscape, as well as appreciably changing for the better the lives of the young people who have contributed to each of those projects.
But if you hoped to truly understand the essence and scope of their mission, witness how it has played out so particularly profoundly in the 'Young Minds Build Bridges' undertaking, launched in the wake of the unimaginable tragedy of 9/11 in 2001. It has since conducted youth workshops in more than 100 countries around the world, resulting in seven (and counting) 'Peace Mural Walls', as well as the widely traveling 'Pieces For Peace' exhibit, currently viewable online.
In celebration of America's 250th birthday, they currently are also installing a mosaic 'Peace Wall' in Washington, DC - a symbol of inclusiveness, rather than of the division that resounds daily across our screens.
As tigernoodles and our friends at CITYarts share a common mission to spotlight the incredible creativity of young people, we are thrilled to be able once again catch up with Tsipi to look back on their particularly impressive accomplishments over this past year.
(Note: For a sample of Tsipi's uniquely soulful insights on the beauty and meaning of art, please check out her recent tigernoodles story on the 'Four Seasons' exhibit at the newly re-opened Frick Collection.)
With 37 years of history now, how do you feel the CITYarts mission has evolved to meet our changing times?
Today, more than ever, I feel that CITYarts has a very important mission. Our youth have to be informed, educated, and given platforms to voice their opinions based on actual historical facts; and working with the artists gives them the opportunity to actively get involved through the arts in the community.
Young people really just want to be heard, don't they?
When we leave them alone and do not give them a seat at the table, they perform acts of ignorance that only hurt themselves and the community around them. We need to come together stronger than ever, to create as many education opportunities as possible for them.
What were some of your favorite moments in looking back at the last year of CITYarts projects?
Seeing our youth respond with so much enthusiasm to all of our projects is always a moment of joy. This year especially, we have a few artists who have built a history with CITYarts, one of whom is Bernard Wiggins, who started with us about 20 years ago - when he was only 12 years old. I love to say I found him on the street, and he was very excited to work on a mural project in dilapidated Red Hook. He enthusiastically painted with his community friends and professional artists; and now for the past five years, he has worked with us on projects at Brooklyn's School for Career Development.
Some of the artists go back almost all the way to the beginning, don't they?
Yes, for instance Bill Moakler. The first mural he painted as an artist was in 1992 in the Bronx, for a project we had called 'Habitat for Homeless Youth'. He was so engaged with the youth, whose families received their first apartments to live in, that he decided to become an art teacher. He was in art education for the past 25 years - and now at the age of 55 he has retired and come back to work with CITYarts as an artist in our schools.
This shows how CITYarts has impacted their creative lives, as well as giving direction to young people - which is of course very important.
What's next for CITYarts, and what are your hopes for the organization?
Next is always more of the same - but the same is never the same! Each project is very unique. Our '50 States of Peace' initiative, that we started about three years ago, is now active in every state; and we hope to bring our 'Pieces for Peace' traveling exhibition to all of those states as well.
We are also working on our seventh 'Peace Wall' in Minneapolis; and hopefully one day every state will get to create one!