Now available — the Creative Youth Development double issue of Extensions magazine, guest edited by Denise Montgomery → Extensions magazine — guest edited by Denise Montgomery →
About

Strengthening creative youth development — together, across borders.

GCCYD is an emerging hub for the people and programs advancing creative youth development worldwide.

Why a Global Centre

Creative youth development brings young people together with skilled adults to learn, create, contribute, and thrive through creative practice. Around the world, practitioners are creating powerful opportunities for young people to develop their creativity, agency, skills, relationships, and sense of belonging — yet too often, this work remains fragmented, under-resourced, and under-recognised.

The Global Centre for Creative Youth Development™ exists to help change that. We connect people and ideas across the field, generate and share knowledge, strengthen programme quality and practice, and advance policy and investment that support meaningful outcomes for young people and their thriving.

By connecting research, practice, policy, philanthropy, and lived experience, we aim to strengthen the conditions in which creative youth development can flourish — and ensure that more young people, in more places, have access to creative opportunities that contribute to their growth, wellbeing, and ability to thrive.

David's Harp Foundation founder Brandon Steppe mentoring a young person in the recording studio — creative youth development in practice
Our Approach

Local roots, global reach.

We build relationships, foster peer learning, and create the conditions for locally grounded innovation to emerge. By centering cultural context, lived experience, and community wisdom, we support approaches that are both connected to a global field and deeply rooted in place.

Global perspective, local rootedness Knowledge as shared resource Cultural humility Connection over competition Youth-centered practice Excellence through exchange
Denise Montgomery, founder of the Global Centre for Creative Youth Development
Meet the Founder

Denise Montgomery

Denise Montgomery, founder of the Global Centre for Creative Youth Development (GCCYD), is a strategist, researcher, and globally recognised expert and field leader in Creative Youth Development (CYD). With more than two decades of experience across the public, private, and social impact sectors, Denise has dedicated her career to expanding equitable access to creativity, arts, and extended learning opportunities for young people.

As a global thought leader in Creative Youth Development, Denise has helped shape and advance the field through research, writing, and international convenings. Her recent leadership includes a global keynote on Creative Youth Development at the Global Extended Learning and Youth Development Association (GELYDA) Conference in Seoul and editing a landmark publication on Creative Youth Development featuring 21 contributors from six continents.

Denise brings deep knowledge of the creativity and youth development landscape, a global perspective, and a commitment to advancing the field through research, collaboration, and shared learning. Her work connects emerging ideas, evidence, and practice to strengthen the field of creative youth development and expand its impact for young people around the world.

Advisors

Guided by practitioners and leaders across the field.

Our advisors bring practice, research, and field leadership from six countries and four continents.

Jillian Lakritz
Jillian Lakritz
Colorado, USA
Chunghan Lee
Chunghan Lee
Seoul, South Korea
Jason Otero
Jason Otero
Newburgh Creates
New York, USA
Ezenwa Okoro
Ezenwa Okoro
Lagos, Nigeria
Daniel Pak
Daniel Pak
Totem Star
Seattle, USA
Anthony Radich
Anthony Radich
Crete, Greece
Käthe Swaback
Käthe Swaback
Massachusetts, USA

Where We're Connecting

We're out in the world connecting with others who share our commitment to helping young people thrive through creativity and youth development. We'd love to meet you at:

Summer 2026
  • Marconi Institute for Creativity Conference 2026Bologna, Italy
  • International Society for the Study of Creativity and Innovation (ISSCI) General AssemblyPaper Development Lab
  • Global Extended Learning and Youth Development Association International ConferenceKeynote SpeakerSeoul, South Korea
  • World Creativity Conference 2026SpeakerSeoul, South Korea
  • Futurelab ForumPangyo Techno Valley, Seoul, South Korea
  • Global Creativity Community of Practice Forum
  • Americans for the Arts AFTACONAlbuquerque, New Mexico
Autumn 2026
  • Americans for the Arts Nancy Hanks LectureWashington, D.C.
  • Clyfford Still Museum 15th Anniversary Celebration
  • Global Creativity Community of Practice ForumFeatured Speaker
  • Grantmakers for Education Pre-ConferenceHarlem, New York City
  • Grantmakers for Education ConferenceNew York City
  • Creative Youth Development Funders ForumFeatured Speaker
  • NeuroArts SummitWashington, D.C.
2027
  • Global Leaders Institute Innovation SummitReggio Emilia, Italy
  • World Creativity Conference 2027Helsinki, Finland
  • Global Leaders Institute Innovation SummitChile
"Our work is to help people, organizations, and communities thrive — by increasing equitable access, participation, and innovation in creative youth development."
— Denise Montgomery, Founder