The Crucible

THE CRUCIBLE INSPIRES CREATIVE EXPLORATION AND EXPRESSION THROUGH WELCOMING, HANDS-ON ARTS EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCES FOR PEOPLE OF DIVERSE AGES AND BACKGROUNDS.

YOUTH PROGRAMSTHE PANDEMIC CONTINUES TO AFFECT THE CRUCIBLES SCHOLARSHIP AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS. THE CRUCIBLE OPERATED AT 50% CAPACITY IN 2021. WE LACKED BOTH STAFF AND BUDGET TO FUND SCHOLARSHIP ACCESS AND OFFER FREE AND SUBSIDIZED PROGRAMS AT THE SAME LEVEL AS 2019, BUT MANAGED TO INCREASE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS SIGNIFICANTLY OVER 2020 LEVELS. NEVERTHELESS, THE CRUCIBLES YOUTH INDUSTRIAL ARTS PROGRAM WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE OVER $315,000 IN SERVICES TO YOUNG PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ARTS THROUGH HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES INCLUDING, CLASSES, FIELD TRIPS, OUTREACH EVENTS, INTERNSHIPS, TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS, AND WORKSHOPS DURING 2021. 558 YOUNG PEOPLE WERE SERVED IN 2021 BY THESE PROGRAMS, 91 FREE OF CHARGE. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2010, MORE THAN 85 YOUTH HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE FUEGO YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. OF THE 85 WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE PROGRAM, 49 ARE STILL ENGAGED WITH THE CRUCIBLE AS FACULTY, ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, OR VOLUNTEERS. MANY HAVE GONE ON TO BUILD SUCCESSFUL CAREERS IN THE SKILLED TRADES, OR HAVE GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITIES AND ART SCHOOLS.THE CRUCIBLE PROVIDED INDUSTRIAL ARTS PROGRAMMING THAT EMPOWERS YOUTH TO BUILD TECHNICAL AND SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL SKILLS WHILE MAKING DEEPER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH THROUGH HANDS-ON, PROJECT-BASED INSTRUCTION. DURING SIX WEEKS OF SUMMER CAMP IN 2021, 444 YOUTH IN 107 CLASSES FABRICATED JEWELRY, BENT GLASS INTO NEON LIGHT SCULPTURES, HAMMERED HOT STEEL INTO PRACTICAL TOOLS, AND MORE. AN ADDITIONAL 163 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN AFTER-SCHOOL AND WEEKEND INTENSIVES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING AN EXPANDED BIKE PROGRAM WHERE YOUTH BUILT, FIXED, AND GAVE AWAY WORKING BIKES TO THE COMMUNITY. DURING 2021, DESPITE CONTINUED RESTRICTED OPERATIONS, THE CRUCIBLE OFFERED FREE AND DISCOUNTED WORKSHOPS AND IN-SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS TO STUDENTS FROM 4 SCHOOLS AS WELL AS PAID LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO 11 YOUTH AS PART OF OUR FUEGO YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM.ADULT PROGRAMSTHE CRUCIBLES MISSION IS TO INSPIRE CREATIVE EXPLORATION AND EXPRESSION THROUGH WELCOMING, HANDS-ON ARTS EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCES FOR PEOPLE OF DIVERSE AGES AND BACKGROUNDS REGARDLESS OF INCOME. AS AN INNOVATIVE HUB BUILT AROUND THE INDUSTRIAL ARTS, THE CRUCIBLE IS A CATALYST FOR INDIVIDUAL GROWTH AND VIBRANT COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS. THE CRUCIBLE IS DEDICATED TO INSPIRING CREATIVE GROWTH IN OAKLAND AND THE GREATER BAY AREA.2021 WAS A YEAR OF RECOVERY FOR THE CRUCIBLE. OUR CORE PROGRAMS ADULT CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS, YOUTH INDUSTRIAL ARTS EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MADE STEADY GAINS OVER 2020. THE CRUCIBLE INCREASED ITS CAPACITY TO 50% FROM 20% IN 2020. HANDS-ON ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS, BASED IN OUR WEST OAKLAND FACILITY, WERE BACK IN A LIMITED WAY IN SOME DEPARTMENTS. THIS PROGRAMMING PROVIDED MUCH-NEEDED ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY ARTS EXPERIENCES FOR PEOPLE OF DIVERSE AGES AND BACKGROUNDS. FROM BLACKSMITHING TO NEON, GLASS CASTING, CERAMICS, WELDING, KINETICS, AND FIRE DANCING, THE CRUCIBLE WAS ABLE TO OFFER HIGH-QUALITY, HANDS-ON ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO MORE THAN 2,750 ADULTS IN 2021. THIS WAS AN AMAZING CREDIT BOTH TO OUR EXTREMELY SKILLED INSTRUCTORS AND TO OUR STUDIO STAFF WHO WORKED SO HARD TO MEET AND EXCEED ALL COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS. TOGETHER, THEY WERE ABLE TO CREATE A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT AT A TIME WHEN MUCH HUMAN INTERACTION WAS ONLY HAPPENING ON SCREENS. THE CRUCIBLE PILOTED THE OPEN FOR BUSINESS PROGRAM, A INCUBATOR FOR BIPOC ARTISANS LAUNCHING BUSINESSES IN THE CREATIVE ECONOMY. 100% OF ITS FIRST COHORT -- CONSISTING OF 5 BIPOC ARTISAN-ENTREPRENEURS -- COMPLETED THE PROGRAM AND DEVELOPED PRODUCT LINES. TEAM BUILDSDURING 2021, THE CRUCIBLE PROVIDED WORKSHOPS FOR COMPANIES, SCHOOLS, AND OTHER GROUPS TO COLLABORATE ON FABRICATION OF INDUSTRIAL ARTS PROJECTS. STUDIO RENTALSTHE CRUCIBLE PROVIDED AFFORDABLE STUDIOS, STALLS, AND LOCKER SPACES TO TWO DOZEN WORKING ARTISTS. WE DEVELOPED THE CRUCIBLES EXPANDED ACCESS TO TOOLS & EQUIPMENT (CREATE) PROGRAM AS A WAY FOR CURRENT AND FORMER STUDENTS TO BENEFIT FROM BROADER ACCESS TO THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES OF THE CRUCIBLE. DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE WAIVED STUDIO RENTAL FEES FOR ARTISTS WHO HAD LOST INCOME. OUR CREATE PROGRAM WAS PAUSED DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS. EVENTSTHE CRUCIBLE INVITES OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY TO EXPERIENCE OUR INDUSTRIAL ARTS PROGRAMMING DURING OUR OPEN HOUSES, BIKE FIX-A-THONS, GIFTY ANNUAL HOLIDAY ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR, AND MORE.THE CRUCIBLE OFFERS UP TO THREE OPEN HOUSES ANNUALLY, WHICH ARE FREE OF CHARGE AND GIVE VISITORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TOUR THE CRUCIBLE'S 56,000 SQUARE-FOOT FACILITY, MEET FACULTY AND ARTISTS, AND WATCH DEMONSTRATIONS. WE ALSO PROVIDE WEEKLY OPEN SHOP HOURS, FREE FOUR-HOUR SESSIONS FOR DROP-IN PARTICIPANTS TO LEARN THE FUNDAMENTALS OF BICYCLE MECHANICS. WITH OUR QUARTERLY BIKE FIX-A-THONS, A TEAM OF BIKE TECHS REPAIR AS MANY BIKES AS POSSIBLE FOR FREE, GETTING OAKLAND RESIDENTS BACK ON THE ROAD WITH SAFE, FUNCTIONING BIKES. WE RELAUNCHED OUR FIRST IN-PERSON HOLIDAY BAZAAR, GIFTY, SINCE 2019 SERVING 3,000 PEOPLE; 20% OF WHOM WERE LOCAL BIPOC MAKERS/VENDORS WHO RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS TO SUPPORT VENDING COSTS.ALL OF THESE EVENTS HELP INTRODUCE PARTICIPANTS TO THE CREATIVE POSSIBILITIES OF OUR CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS AND OTHER PROGRAMS.TO STAY CONNECTED WITH LOCAL ARTISTS, MAKERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN VIRTUAL EVENTS, INCLUDING THE LIFE IS LIVING FESTIVAL IN DEFEMERY PARK.THE CRUCIBLE ALSO OFFERS CUSTOM FABRICATION OF ONE-OF-A-KIND WORKS.