Skip to main content

About Us

About Us


Since 1955, Junior Players has been empowering young voices by providing free, high quality, arts programming to North Texas children and youth. 

Too many youth are silenced because of realities outside of their control. Income, language proficiency and school district funding can limit their ability to believe in themselves. Junior Players exists to encourage, empower, and enrich the lives of North Texas children and youth with the skills and abilities to confidently express themselves at home, in school, and in their professional lives. 

 

WHO WE ARE 

Junior Players is the oldest, longest running arts programming nonprofit in Dallas. Since 1955, we have provided innovative arts education for FREE to children and youth in North Texas and beyond. 

Through our programming, youth are transformed. 

Our camps and afterschool programs are targeted to arts deserts - those areas that are underfunded and underserved. There, we engage children and youth through the arts, providing them with the tools they need to navigate real life challenges confidently and competently. 

 

MISSION: Empowering Young Voices 

The mission of Junior Players is to encourage intellectual growth, mental well-being and the development of life skills in youth through mentoring, creative expression, and participation in the fine arts.

 

VISION:

To be at the forefront of developing and delivering innovative youth arts education that celebrates diversity, promotes thought leadership, and meets communities’ needs.

 

HISTORY: 

Junior Players was founded in 1955 and is the oldest nonprofit children's theater organization in Dallas. Over its existence, Junior Players has striven to meet the changing needs of the community. From 1955 to 1989, Junior Players presented traditional children's theater productions performed entirely by children and teenagers. In 1989, the Board of Directors changed the focus of Junior Players activities, deciding that Junior Players can best serve the youth of Dallas by providing free programming accessible to all the children of North Texas. Through free, high quality, arts education programs in local recreation and cultural centers, housing projects, elementary and middle schools, and through social service agencies serving youth at risk, Junior Players continues to empower young voices. 

 

EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Junior Players is open and available to all. We are committed to providing safe spaces for child and youth to learn, explore, grow and engage with one other, with freedom from discrimination, harassment or judgement. 

We recognize that barriers to services exist for members of diverse communities, particularly for equity-seeking groups, and we are committed to acting as a positive force in eliminating these barriers. To achieve this, Junior Players is committed to: 

  • Ensuring diverse communities have equitable access to our services, resources and decision-making 
  • Remaining non-discriminatory and promoting the goals of anti-racism, access and equity 
  • Taking reasonable steps to ensure our services, programs and decision-making reflect the communities we serve 
  • US Small Business Association - SVOG
    US Small Business Association - SVOG
  • City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture
    City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture
  • Hillcrest
    Hillcrest
  • Texas Womens Foundation
    Texas Womens Foundation
  • Texas Commission on the Arts
    Texas Commission on the Arts
  • American Airlines
    American Airlines
  • Tyler Foundation
    Tyler Foundation
  • Mid American Arts Alliance
    Mid American Arts Alliance
  • Fichtenbaum Charitable Trust
    Fichtenbaum Charitable Trust
  • George Family Foundation - Next Generation Fund
    George Family Foundation - Next Generation Fund
  • Moody Fund for the Arts
    Moody Fund for the Arts
  • Total IT
    Total IT
Close