Inspiring the Creators and Innovators of Tomorrow at Universal Epic Universe
In partnership with Universal Destinations & Experiences (UDX), we welcomed nearly 200 college and high school students from across the country to the first Inspiring Future Innovators Summit — a multi-day experience designed to spark ideas, build technical skills, and show students firsthand how creativity can open doors to careers in technology and entertainment.
Guided by mentors from Comcast and UDX, students participated in a design challenge where Universal Epic Universe was their innovation lab — and where gaming, storytelling, and thrill design were powered by their imagination.
The 2025 Yearbook is Here!
Get impressed! Packed with innovative programming, stories of impact, and intrepid youth.
The October PIXEL 🎃
The College Fellows Program We welcome our new cohort of paid alumni at Urban Arts. Our free College Access Program has piloted the College Fellows Program, pairing new high school seniors with a trained college mentor among Urban Arts alumni. These Fellows guide Game Academy seniors with step-by-step assistance with applications, essays, financial aid, and […]
Urban Arts Investigates AI and the Future of STEAM Education at Accelerator 2025
Redefining Learning in the Age of Automation NEW YORK, NY (October 2025) — While the headlines wonder if AI will replace skills like coding, Urban Arts knows what makes students irreplaceable: creativity and critical thinking. The national nonprofit—renowned for teaching video game design as a pathway to college and career—hosted their AI Accelerator from September […]
“The Vanishing Enigma” Honored in Congressional App Challenge
NEW YORK, NY (2025) — Urban Arts, a New York City-based nonprofit that teaches digital game design as a pathway to college and wide-ranging careers, is proud to announce that The Vanishing Enigma created by Studio Capstone team “The AristoRats” has won the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for New York’s Eighth District, hosted by Representative […]
Impact Report: Why We Teach Video Game Design 2025
WHY GAME DESIGN?
At Urban Arts, students don’t just play games—they create them. As the nation’s premier nonprofit teaching video game design, we prepare young people for college and career by blending coding, 3D modeling, animation, and storytelling with the essential workforce skills of collaboration, leadership, and design-thinking. Students learn to build original games from the ground up, pitch their ideas, and develop portfolios that colleges and employers notice.
Game design fuels creativity while building critical problem-solving and technical expertise for a $300B industry and beyond. The results speak for themselves: Urban Arts students have earned over $46M in scholarships and launched careers at Lucasfilm, Unity, Amazon, Salesforce, and more. With Urban Arts, creativity isn’t just encouraged—it’s the pathway to the future.
Impact Report: College Access 2025
Here! And below ⬇️
Joelle Blackstock Named 40 Under 40 to Watch
Urban Arts is celebrating our Director of Post-secondary Success Joelle Blackstock being included in Crain’s New York Business 40 Under 40. Per Crain’s: “New York is a city powered by ambition, and this year’s 40 Under 40 honorees are a driving force behind its momentum. These rising stars are tackling some of the city’s most […]
Why Learn Video Game Design?
Why Learn Video Game Design with Urban Arts? We program hard fun for the future’s hard challenges.
If you love video games, imagine turning that passion into a college degree and a career you’re excited to launch. At Urban Arts, the premier nonprofit teaching digital game design as a pathway to college and career, you’ll learn how to design, code, and build games while preparing for your future in the creative tech industry. Urban Arts students are creators, not just consumers.
Philip Courtney, CEO, Named Notable Leader in Philanthropy 2025
Philip Courtney Named a Notable Leader in Philanthropy in New York City
Urban Arts CEO Recognized for Visionary Leadership and Transformative Impact on Local Students
New York, NY — June 2025 — Urban Arts proudly announces that its Chief Executive Officer, Philip Courtney, has been named a Notable Leader in Philanthropy by Crain’s New York Business, a prestigious recognition honoring individuals who are driving meaningful change and championing social good across New York City.
Under Philip’s leadership, Urban Arts has emerged as a powerful force for equity and opportunity, particularly among underserved communities. Since stepping into the role in 2003, Philip has overseen explosive growth, producing profound mobility and personal success for students, including:
• Winning a 3rd highly competitive $4M Education Innovation & Research (EIR) grant from the U.S. DoE (totaling $12M),
• Stewarding the #CreativeCoders partnership with Minecraft Education serving middle schools nationwide,
• Gaining the @collegeboard endorsement of Urban Arts’ #STEAM curriculum that’s shared freely with all Title 1 schools,
• Crafting a college access program that has 100% of seniors matriculating to college, earning $46M in scholarships,
• Challenging the organization to a new goal—$100M in scholarships by 2030.