Inner-City Arts

ARTS EDUCATION TO POSITIVELY AFFECT THE LIVES OF UNDER-SERVED CHILDREN.

LEARNING AND ACHIEVING THROUGH THE ARTS (LATA): FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAM OFFERED AT INNER-CITY ARTS, PROVIDING ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS LEARNING IN THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS OVER MULTI-WEEK SESSIONS IN 2020-2021 FACILITATED REMOTELY THROUGH DISTANCE LEARNING. THIS FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAM IS TAUGHT BY PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS AND IS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN THEIR OWN CREATIVITY, STRENGTHEN LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, PROMOTE LITERACY, AND IMPROVE LEARNING OUTCOMES OVERALL. THE CORE OBJECTIVE FOCUS IS SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING COMPETENCIES, 21ST-CENTURY SKILLS, ART SKILLS, AND MENTAL WELLBEING.

OUT-OF-SCHOOL PROGRAMS:PROVIDE 9-10 WEEK CLASSES DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR TO 7TH-12TH GRADERS AND A 1-2 WEEK SUMMER INTENSIVE TO K-12TH GRADERS IN THE VISUAL, MEDIA AND PERFORMING ARTS. THE GOALS ARE TO CREATE POSITIVE EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS TOWARDS A CHOSEN PASSION OR DIRECTION, ACCELERATE PERSONAL GROWTH AND SYNTHESIZE LEARNING UTILIZING THE ARTS AS A TOOL FOR TRANSFORMATION. IN ADDITION TO ARTS SKILLS, INTEGRATED IN THE CREATIVE EXPERIENCE ARE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND 21ST- CENTURY SKILLS. PARTICIPANTS RECIEVE UP TO 20 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED 955 ART EXPERIENCES FOR 623 STUDENTS FROM 156 SCHOOLS.ACCOMPLISHMENTS: PRODUCTION AND CERAMICS.PARENT, FAMILY AND ADULT SERVICES:CAREER AND WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT. PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED DURING AFTER SCHOOL HOURS AND ON WEEKENDS FOR 2-6 HOURS PER WEEK AND INCLUDE: (1) VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS INSTITUTES: SERVING MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DURING THE WEEK AFTER SCHOOL HOURS AND ON THE WEEKENDS WITH INTENSIVE YEAR-LONG STUDY IN A CHOSEN ART FORM. WORKSHOPS OFFERED: THEATER ARTS, ANIMATION, DANCE CHOREOGRPHY & PRODUCTION, STAND-UPCOMEDY, GRAPHIC DESIGN, DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY, VISUAL ARTS, FILM PROGRAM SERVICE. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY-BUILDING, LEARNING AND FUN. WORKSHOPS ENGAGE PARENTS, IN EXPLORING AND CREATING ART TOGETHER.

WORK OF ART:WORK OF ART TAPS INTO THE STRENGTHS OF THE DIVERSE AND VIBRANT YOUTH OF LOS ANGELES AND SUPPORTS THEIR JOURNEY TO ASSUME THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE AS DRIVERS OF THE CREATIVE ECONOMY OF CALIFORNIA, THE NATION, AND THE WORLD. WE SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ABUNDANT SUPPLY OF NEW TALENT IN THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES. YOUTH ARE PAID INTERNS OF INNER-CITY ARTS AND PARTICIPATE IN MANDATORY YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITIES THAT DEVELOP THEM AS FUTURE PROFESSIONAL VISUAL, MEDIA, AND OR PERFORMING ARTISTS. WORK OF ART INTERNS ARE PAID TO CREATE CONTENT FOR INNER-CITY ARTS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DISCIPLINES. THAT CONTENT BECOMES PART OF THE PERMANENT COLLECTION. THE PILOT PROGRAM WITH EIGHT STUDENTS BEGAN IN 2013. NOW ESTABLISHED WITH YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITIES, WORK OF ART EMPLOYED 67 STUDENTS IN JANUARY OF 2020- JUNE 2021, PRODUCED 30 GRADUATES, WITH 98% OF THE GRADUATES ENROLLING IN A 4-YEAR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

-THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE ELEMENT OF PROGRAMS WAS PILOTED IN 2020-21 AS AN EXTENSION OF WORK OF ART TO TAP INTO THE STRENGTHS OF OUR GRADUATES AND SUPPORT THEIR JOURNEY TO ASSUME THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE AS DRIVERS OF THE CREATIVE ECONOMY OF CALIFORNIA, THE NATION, AND THE WORLD. THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS PROVIDE CREATIVE SERVICES FOR HIRE, FOR OUTSIDE CLIENTS, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF INNER-CITY ARTS MENTORS AND TEACHING ARTISTS. WHILE EMPLOYED AS "ENTERPRISERS," THE EMERGING ARTISTS RECEIVE TRAINING AND BUILD SKILLS THAT SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ABUNDANT AND DIVERSE SUPPLY OF NEW TALENT INTO THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES. IN 2020-21, INNER-CITY ARTS SUCCESSFULLY EMPLOYED AND OFFERED CONTINUED TRAINING TO 11 WOA ALUMNI. IN THEIR POST-SECONDARY PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT, ENTERPRISERS COMPLETED 7 COMMISSIONED WORKS FOR LOCAL CORPORATIONS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. -FACILITATION FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ADULT EDUCATION OCCURRED VIA ZOOM AND IN-PERSON WHEN SAFELY POSSIBLE. THE IN-SERVICE COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM SERVE TEACHERS FROM PRIMARILY LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND DURING THE PANDEMIC, EXTENDED INTERNATIONALLY. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS DEMONSTRATES HOW IT IS TO AN EDUCATOR'S ADVANTAGE TO FULLY INTEGRATE THE ARTS INTO TEACHING AND LEARNING PRACTICES. DRAWING EXPLICIT CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ARTS AND ACADEMIC CONTENT AREAS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE STANDARDS, INNER-CITY ARTS PROVIDES EDUCATORS WITH STRATEGIES AND EXERCISES ACCESSIBLE TO THE CLASSROOM TEACHER AND THE STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR EXPERIENCE OR COMFORT LEVELS IN VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.--PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS IS GEARED TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND STRATEGIES FOR SUPPORTING LEARNERS, UNDERSTANDING THE DEVELOPMENTAL AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS, AND INSIGHT INTO HOW THE ARTS ARE CRITICAL FOR HELPING STUDENTS REACH THEIR GREATEST POTENTIAL IN EDUCATION AND LIFE.