Mission

Heritage Works, a Detroit-based cultural arts nonprofit organization, has contributed to the cultural vibrancy of our region, providing the metro Detroit community with authentic cultural arts education and experiences since its founding in 2000. We believe that cultural arts and traditions provide rich resources for promoting understanding, as well as personal and artistic excellence. Our mission is to promote youth and community development through cultural traditions, arts and education.

What We Do

Heritage Works accomplishes its mission through two major programs: Youth Works and Community Works.

Youth Works consists of Heritage School and the Heritage Works Youth Ensemble.
1. Heritage School is an arts education and cultural enrichment program that primarily serves youth in grades 4th - 12th. The program is offered before, during, and after school and during summer months.
2. Work Arts, an outgrowth of our ensemble training program, provides work experiences to youth interested in careers in the creative sector.

Community Works serves the metro Detroit area by using cultural arts in innovative ways to address the needs of our communities as well as meet the demand for a fuller sense of culture and experiences that inspire joy and understanding. Programming includes:
1. Visiting Artists/Tradition Bearers Series provides workshops, salons and residencies, featuring tradition bearers (e.g., master drummers, dancers, kora players, and folklorists). Through these events, HW is able to provide access to experiences that promote cultural insight, cross-cultural exchange, and professional development.
2. Community Works also includes Story Scaping, a creative placemaking program that uses arts and culture in innovative ways to engage residents in articulating, planning and bringing into being their vision for their neighborhood.