We’re proud to announce the opening of our state-of-the-art sound studio at the Urban Arts Game Academy—powered by Google and built by Memphis-based artist/producer and UNAPOLOGETIC. Founder and CEO IMAKEMADBEATS. Our students helped build the space themselves—hands-on, with power tools and high-tech installations, making it a true reflection of our mission: creativity in action.
This one-of-a-kind creative hub will serve as a launchpad for the next generation of innovators, giving students access to professional-grade recording and production tools. The studio will support music making, podcasting, and game audio design—empowering our students to explore, create, and collaborate on original projects.
“Investing in spaces like this is an investment in the future,” said Philip Courtney, CEO of Urban Arts. “Our students aren’t just consumers, they’re creators—learning how to lead, collaborate, and innovate in ways that will shape their careers and communities. It’s about unlocking possibility.”
“At Google, we pride ourselves on being authentic, hand-in-hand partners with the organizations and leaders we support in our global data center communities, stretching from Texas to Taiwan,” said Arienne Thompson Plourde, Google Data Centers Community Development Manager. “Our work with partners like Urban Arts is collaborative, capacity-building, and impactful—and this studio build falls right in line with that ethos. We sought to refresh and reimagine a space where Urban Arts students, staff and board members could create multimedia content that tells all kinds of important stories. This new studio will do just that for hundreds of dreamers, coders, world-builders, and visionaries for years to come.”
IMAKEMADBEATS shared, “Fostering creativity in youth is one of the most powerful things we can do, especially in a time when most systems teach conformity and call it ‘preparation.’ Creativity builds problem solvers and visionaries. Helping young people become creators is helping them become visionaries of their futures, their communities, their families. I see myself in almost every young person I meet, because I know how much it matters to have someone believe in your ability to create something,”
“As a student here, I had no idea how much I loved making music,” said Darlyn ‘dayl!ght!’ Gutierrez, Urban Arts Alumni Ambassador and Studio Apprentice. “I would’ve never known if I didn’t go to the game-design programs here.”
We launched the Urban Arts Sound Studio on October 25 with live demos, an original release from dayl!ght! and IMAKEMADBEATS, student showcases, and conversations with partners from Google, UNAPOLOGETIC., and our community. See it in action! Schedule a site visit here Development@UrbanArts.org
