Art for City Youth

Since 2001, ArtSpan's Art for City Youth program has connected local working artists with under-served youth in San Francisco. Each year Art for City Youth provides free arts education to public schools, serving over 600 elementary school students with art classes, guided learning in Visual Thinking Strategies, and interactive tours of the SF Open Studios Exhibition. ArtSpan believes that visual arts are an integral part of a child's education and works to support the next generation of San Francisco artists!

Arts Education Programming

spanning the gap between local working artists and city youth

SF Open Studios Tours for Youth

During the month of October, students are given the opportunity to participate in SF Open Studios and discover art in their own neighborhood. Art for City Youth artists lead students on one-hour tours of the SF Open Studios Exhibition in the SOMArts Cultural Center, engaging in guided discussions of artwork using Visual Thinking Strategies, interactive questioning, and fun creative art activities. Last year over 600 students participated in the tours.

Art & Literacy Program

Ideal for schools and groups with limited available class time, the 3-part Art & Literacy Program combines visual and language arts standards. The first visit consists of a guided discussion with a professional artist about their own work. The second visit is an artist-led writing activity based on the artwork they viewed. The final visit culminates in a hands-on art activity weaving together the lessons from previous visits. Formerly the Pre-Visit and Post-Visit activities, the Art & Literacy Program uses art as a gateway to creative writing skills, and is structured with the intent to offer second-language learners alternate ways to explore literacy.

Eight-Week Residencies

The Art for City Youth Artist-as-Teacher Residencies are an opportunity for extended classroom engagement, providing art lessons that build on a skill or theme. Past residencies have introduced K-5 students to techniques such as shading, color mixing, paper-maiche, and collage, and addressed conceptual themes such as performance in art, immigration, world cultures, and the environment. The residencies were formed out of a lasting partnership between Bessie Charmichael Elementary and Art for City Youth that continues to this day. Currently Art for City Youth provides residencies to Bessie Charmichael Elementary in SOMA and Buena Vista Elementary in the Mission.

      
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Neighborhood Engagement

connecting the next generation of creativity with community participation

Kaleidoscope

During the summer months, Art for City Youth brings art into the streets through partnerships with local projects and organizations. These one day themed activities are free and open to the public. Past Kaleidoscope events include events at the Zeum, Sixth Street Fair, Family Day in the Park, and Dia de los Ninos. In 2011 Art for City Youth will partner with Sunday Streets, the Artists' Guild, and the Red Poppy Art House's Family Art Program.

Youth Art Showcases

Art for City Youth provides an opportunity for select youth art to be featured in important art events in San Francisco. Every year youth projects from the eight-week residencies are submitted to the De Young's Young at Art Festival and are showcased at small shows at each school. This year Art for City Youth will have a special presence at ArtSpan's 2011 Benefit Art Show & Auction, and at Neither Here Nor There, a National Juried Exhibition in partnership with Kearny Street Workshop. Other showcase locations in 2011 will include the SF Main Public Library, Arc Skylight Gallery, and in local storefronts.

     
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1.  Teaching Artist Rob Lowrey leads a docented tour.
2.   A student with his art.
3.  Teaching Mercedes Segesvary in front of the classroom.
4.  Teaching Artists Rob Lowrey and Laura Williams.                                                                              
5.  Art on display at Bessie Carmichael.                                                                                                   
6. Teaching Artists Russell Herrman and Sherry Schaffer, ACY Committee Member Jeannie Pettigrew, Teaching Artist Ytaelena Lopez, ArtSpan ED Heather Villyard, and Teaching Artist Rob Lowrey.