THE EFFECT OF ART EDUCATION ON IMPROVING THE ATTITUDES AND CULTURAL AWARENESS OF DISADVANTAGED YOUTH WAS STUDIED IN THIS PILOT PROGRAM. THE CALIFORNIA TEST OF PERSONALITY AND THE CHILDREN'S PERSONALITY QUESTIONNAIRE WERE ADMINISTERED BEFORE AND AFTER A SPECIAL, 12-MONTH ART PROGRAM TO 25 CHILDREN (AGES 8-12) FOR DATA ON PERSONAL AND SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS. AN INTERVIEW GUIDE WAS CONSTRUCTED TO INDICATE AESTHETIC LITERACY (PERFORMANCE) AND WAS USED BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER EACH SELECTED ART EXPERIENCE. INTERVIEW QUESTIONS WERE DESIGNED AND USED TO EVALUATE GAINS IN PERFORMANCE RESULTING FROM EACH LESSON OR EXPERIENCE. SOME PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS WERE (1) AS CHILDREN DEVELOP NONCONFORMING ATTITUDES AS PART OF SKILL ACQUISITION IN THE VISUAL ARTS, CONFLICT CAN BE GENERATED THAT REPUDIATES ATTITUDES CONDITIONED BY A SUBCULTURAL ENVIRONMENT, (2) ART EDUCATION IS NONESSENTIAL TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITY, AND (3) ENCOURAGEMENT OF CONFLICTS OR ATTITUDE CHANGES IS A NONESSENTIAL PART OF THE EDUCATION OF ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN. A FOLLOWUP TO THIS PILOT PROJECT WAS SUGGESTED FOR OBTAINING LONGITUDINAL DATA ON THE SAMPLE OF CHILDREN. (RS)