Black Eyed Peas open California youth academy

The Black Eyed Peas opened a new youth academy in California over the weekend (06-07Aug11) to encourage underprivileged teens to get involved in the arts.

The hip-hop stars have teamed up with Adobe Youth Voices to launch a series of Peapod Adobe Youth Voices Academies across the country over the last two years.

The new site in San Jose, which was was unveiled on Saturday (06Aug11), is the fifth facility to be opened by the group.

An estimated 300 youngsters are expected to enrol at the academy every year to study film, music and art.

Rapper will.i.am says, "Every day we are inspired by the immense talent we see in young people. The Peapod Adobe Youth Voices Academies provide these youth with opportunities to advance their artistic and academic skills and channel their creative energy in ways we can only imagine. We are proud to help them make their voices heard."