The vast cultural resources of New York City are well known and the benefits derived from daily access to these resources are self-evident. Less familiar is the milieu of the large urban setting of the professional artist - that mix of people, places and events which constitute the artists environment, world, and immediate audience.

Students accepted to the GLCA New York Arts Program share this world through working apprenticeships with artists in the visual arts, performing arts, and the literary, publishing, film, and communication arts; and through this involvement develop an understanding of the intentions, problems, and means of the arts as currently practiced in this urban multi-cultural world.

The program has two main goals: To provide advanced experience and knowledge in highly focused arts areas (primarily through the apprenticeships) and to provide a broadened knowledge of all the arts as practiced in New York (through the Area Studies). The means of achieving these goals are adapted to the individual participants.

Since 1967 over 3000 participants have completed this unique program and over 800 apprenticeship sponsors have worked with the students in the program. The program maintains housing and offices, supportive facilities, and a full-time staff in New York at the program site.