Maywood Fine Arts Association

Maywood Fine Arts (MFA) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization which provides affordable quality arts and fitness education for children and families in Maywood and surrounding communities to enrich and transform their lives. Overseen by a voluntary Board of Directors, we serve nearly 4,000 children each year from ages 4-18 years, with 850 enrolled, non-duplicated students participating in our year-round, out-of-school programming; and 3,000 children participating in our school-based outreach activities.

MFA offers group classes in dance, visual arts, drama, tumbling and karate and individual instruction in piano, voice, guitar, and drums. We also have various Outreach programs such as the Get off the Streets and On Your Feet youth employment/leadership program, the Classical Ballet for New Audiences program, and the Fit & Fun fitness program.

 MFA serves children and families from western Cook County communities, including Maywood, Bellwood, Melrose Park, and Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. Most of our students come from low-income, under-served, working-class areas where families experience high rates of unemployment and inflation. To counter these stressors, MFA offers a year-round place where children can explore the arts and fitness programs that the schools and the village cannot provide. MFA’s students are 60% African American, 27% Latino, 8% Multi Race, and 5% Caucasian.

MFA’s primary goal is to keep its rates affordable so that “no child is turned away”. Therefore, tuition is 100% subsidized and scholarships are provided to 46% of enrolled students. MFA is committed to providing opportunities where few exist for its students.