Artworxla

🎓Congratulations to our amazing students who graduated this year! ⭐️ A special shoutout to Jocelyn Burgos, a graduate of Mujeres y Hombres Nobles County Community School and a Student Board Member for the LA County Office of Education. We are so proud of your achievements and can’t wait to see what you do next! 🎉

Highlighting the incredible Design and Media Arts Academy (DMAA) students! They showcased their extraordinary multimedia installation at MOCA during artworxLA’s Public Presentation!

They explored place making, identity, and archiving by creating a large-scale video sculpture. The installation features paintings of their everyday environments and looping films honoring special places and people.

Students learned cinematography, sound design, and video editing, deepening their understanding of land, connection, and history. We are so proud of our DMAA Students! 🎨

🎭⭐️On April 5th, artworxLA and Inner-City Arts hosted T4: Teens Take the Theater, at Rosenthal Theater in Downtown LA! Over 60 family members and friends enjoyed an amazing night of incredible talent, featuring Inner-City Arts’s rock band, multidisciplinary art projects from Advanced Programs, and stunning works from Visual Arts and Media courses. The evening was a vibrant celebration of creativity, complete with a 90s photo booth! Huge thanks to everyone who joined us! ⭐️🎨

We had a great afternoon at the Public Presentation at the MOCA Geffen! Congratulations to all the student speakers for their influential insights and to all the student artists who shared their creativity on art, identity, and the environment. Your hard work and passion are truly inspiring!

We are filled with immense appreciation for the incredible outpouring of support we've received during our Giving for Good campaign. Whether you directly donated, started a fundraiser, or spread the word on social media, your participation has allowed artworxLA to enter 2024 ready to expand our impact and reach more students than ever before.

While our Giving for Good campaign has come to a close, our dedication to nurturing creativity and empowering the next generation of artists continues. We invite you to extend your support into the new year by setting up a recurring donation and becoming a monthly donor. Recurring donations are easy to initiate, and ensure your support has a long-term impact. Click the link to learn more: https://give.artworxla.org/give/524301/ #!/donation/checkout

P.S. – If you’ve missed any of the videos of our students and program partners created for our Giving for Good campaign, visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2fTmmx9UMyzDs3vM7BtbIg

We are committed to paving the way for our students' success in creative careers. Beyond high school, artworxLA provides continued assistance to our alumni, guiding them toward opportunities in both creative professions and college pathways. This includes offering individualized support and facilitating access to internships and mentorship opportunities at renowned creative companies, like Film Independent and KAA Design.

Your support directly impact our students' access to these invaluable internships, opening doors to hands-on experience and mentorship that will shape their future careers.

Click the link to support our Giving for good campaign: https://give.artworxla.org/campaign/giving-for-good/c524301

At artworxLA, one of our most impactful initiatives is our Pathways workshop, where our students receive guidance from mentors as they create resumes and apply to some of the country’s most prestigious summer arts programs. artworxLA is proud to have several of our students receive scholarships to participate in these rigorous programs annually, from Otis College of Art and Design’s Summer of Art to CalArts Community Arts Partnership Summer Arts.

While these scholarships cover our students’ attendance to these programs, they exclude other key expenses, including art supplies, transportation, access to technology, and staff support. That’s where you come in. By supporting our Giving for good campaign, you make our students’ participation in these summer art programs a reality. Your generosity fuels our students’ creativity, nurtures their skills, and plays a crucial role in shaping their future.

Click the link to give today: https://give.artworxla.org/campaign/giving-for-good/c524301

artworxLA is proud to announce that we have been awarded not one, but two grants from California Arts Council. This funding will directly support both our impact projects and general operating costs, allowing us to bring our innovative arts programming to more students across LA County. We are so grateful for California Arts Council’s recognition and support.

Are you looking to get in on the giving? Consider supporting our Giving for good campaign and help us continue to spark creativity, foster skills, and shape the future of our talented students.

Visit the link to give today: https://give.artworxla.org/campaign/giving-for-good/c524301

At our after-school residencies, students have the opportunity to connect with working artists and instructors. Offered at partnering institutions like ArtCenter College of Design, Otis College of Art and Design, and others, these residencies provide immersive and supportive environments for our students to explore their full creative potential and apply these new skills toward fulfilling careers.

Your support plays a crucial role in making these residencies possible. Donations to artworxLA directly contribute to the success of these after-school programs, providing transportation and necessary materials for our students.

Click the link to give today: https://give.artworxla.org/campaign/giving-for-good/c524301

We are overwhelmed with gratitude as we reflect on the incredible outpouring of support on . Your generosity has painted a beautiful canvas of opportunities for aspiring young artists in our community, and we cannot thank you enough for making a meaningful impact on their artistic journeys.

While Giving Tuesday may have come to a close, our commitment to empowering creativity and fostering the next generation of artists continues. We invite you to extend your support by participating in our ongoing Giving for good campaign and sharing with friends and colleagues. Every donation, no matter the size, plays a vital role in sustaining our mission and ensuring that art remains a beacon of hope and inspiration for all.

Click the link for more info: https://give.artworxla.org/campaign/giving-for-good/c524301

This we’re looking to raise $5,000, and thanks to a generous donor every dollar we raise up to $5,000 will be matched. No matter the size of your gift, it’ll be matched up to $5,000!

Your donation allows us to provide transformative programs to combat Los Angeles’ high school dropout crisis. YOU empower a student to earn a high school diploma and pursue a plan for their future.

Join us and help high school students transform their artistic aspirations into a promising future: https://give.artworxla.org/campaign/giving-for-good/c524301

artworxLA celebrates the incredible contributions of Native American artists, storytellers, and creatives who continue to shape our world. Last Spring, we partnered with The Autry to give our students the opportunity to explore the museum’s exhibition “Waterways” and learn about Indigenous perspectives on water.

Opening at The Autry on December 9th, “Reclaiming El Camino: Native Resistance in the Missions and Beyond” will display the rich culture of Native life and the history of activism in the California borderlands region. Click the link to learn more: https://theautry.org/exhibitions/reclaiming-el-camino-native-resistance-missions-and-beyond

Our esteemed school partners are a vital aspect of our mission. artworxLA has a weekly presence at 30 alternative high schools, including juvenile camps and halls, throughout Los Angeles County. We are deeply grateful to all of our school partners.

Outside of the classroom, we offer enriching arts experiences by partnering with several major cultural institutions across Los Angeles County each year. From the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures to The Autry, we’ve partnered with nearly 100 cultural institutions across Los Angeles to date.

That said, our school and cultural partnerships would not be as impactful without the support of our donor partners. Your generous donations help sustain and expand these invaluable collaborations, ensuring the students that need and want our programs can access the transformative power of arts education. Click the link to support artworxLA today: https://give.artworxla.org/campaign/giving-for-good/c524301

Giving Tuesday is only a week away! Join us on November 28th as we unite to make a lasting impact on the lives of budding artists in our community. Your support gives our students the opportunity to explore their creative potential and gain valuable career skills for their future. Let's paint a brighter future for our students together. Save the date, spread the word, and get ready to give for good!

Click the link to support our Giving for good campaign: https://give.artworxla.org/campaign/giving-for-good/c524301

Today we are shining a spotlight on the incredible individuals who serve as the driving force behind our mission—the Teaching Artists of artworxLA. Over our more than 30 year history, artworxLA has partnered with nearly 400 Teaching Artists that empower our students by nurturing their creativity, inspiring their imagination, and setting them on a creative career path in the arts.

As we continue to expand our programs to meet the demand of students and schools requesting our workshops, we invite you to support our Teaching Artists and the invaluable work they do. Through Giving for good you are providing the resources, training, and support to positively impact the lives of our students.

Click the link to support our Giving for good campaign: https://give.artworxla.org/campaign/giving-for-good/c524301

artworxLA’s classroom workshops are at the heart of our mission, providing underserved high school students with access to arts education and career opportunities. This past year we provided 83 workshops in a wide range of artistic disciplines to more than 1,100 deserving students. These workshops serve as the cornerstone for fostering artistic expression, critical thinking, self-worth, and essential life skills for our students.

We're reaching out to you to ask for your help in sustaining and expanding these vital programs. Together we have the power to inspire and elevate the next generation. Visit the link to support our Giving for good campaign: https://give.artworxla.org/campaign/giving-for-good/c524301

We published our 2021-2023 Impact Report this week! This comprehensive (and colorful) report covers the strides our students, staff, and community have made during an unprecedented two years of programming and special events at artworxLA. See the growth your support makes possible: https://www.artworxla.org/annual-report

The season of giving is here, and this year, we’re aiming to raise $150,000 for alternative high school students through our Giving for Good campaign. This is no easy feat, but with your generosity, we’re confident you can help us sustain the programs that make it possible for our students to thrive. Click the link to learn more: https://give.artworxla.org/campaign/giving-for-good/c524301

artworxLA is able to provide innovative arts education to over 800 students annually thanks to the support of our many sponsors. Sony Pictures stands as a pioneering advocate among our supporters, championing arts education in Culver City Unified School District (CCUSD) since 1991. Funding from Sony Pictures has made artworxLA’s presence in CCUSD possible for more than 15 years, positively impacting the lives of countless young artists. Click the link to read more: https://ccef4schools.org/sony-champions-arts-education/

Welcome Isaak Salgado and Samantha Duran, our new Alumni Board Representatives! Isaak and Samantha were both avid participants of artworxLA Advanced Programs. Earlier this year, Isaak participated in Otis College of Art and Design's Summer of Art program, and Samantha produced her own short film presented at An Evening of Art. We can’t wait for them to bring their unique perspectives as former artworxLA students to our Board this year!

Click the link to view Samantha’s short film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S-XS-QoGWA

We honor and celebrate the rich heritage and invaluable contributions of Indigenous peoples to the world of art. Last spring, artworxLA students explored Autry Museum of the American West’s special exhibition Waterways and learned about Indigenous perspectives on water, traditional ecological knowledge, and our interdependent relationships with the natural environment. See our students’ work below 🎨

As students returned to the classroom, artworxLA Teaching Artists gathered for our annual Teaching Institute. Part of this training included learning socio-emotional strategies, trauma-informed care practices, and key knowledge about our upcoming cultural partners. Our incoming instructors also had the opportunity to learn from our Alumni Panel as they shared their personal journeys with artworxLA. We’re so excited for our new students to meet this incredible group of creative professionals!

As we continue our celebration of Latine Heritage Month, we spotlight Lalo Alcaraz, a former artworxLA Teaching Artist and the multi-talented creative force behind "La Cucaracha," a fixture in the Los Angeles Times and newspapers nationwide. Lalo’s influential work spans beyond print, gracing screens on programs like 60 Minutes, CBS News, and NBC. He’s also a sought-after Hollywood consultant and producer, contributing to projects like the acclaimed Pixar film "Coco."

Lalo’s journey underscores the power of art to inspire change, challenge norms, and shape generations. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Lalo for his dedication to the artworxLA students and community.

artworxLA extends heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for your support of our students as they head back to school. Your contributions help to provide essential supplies and resources to equip them for success in the classroom and beyond.

If you haven’t had a chance to contribute yet, there is still time to make a difference to ensure our students have access to the tools they need to achieve their educational goals year-round.

Click the link below to explore how you can make a difference in the lives of our talented students. To make giving easier, opt to have your donations automatically recur monthly. One click and you help shape a brighter future for our students: https://give.artworxla.org/give/211237/ #!/donation/checkout

As artworxLA continues to celebrate Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month, we highlight Sonia Romero, one of our early Teaching Artists whose remarkable talent has left a lasting impact in the art world. With her works finding homes in prestigious collections like the Smithsonian, LACMA Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture of the Riverside Art Museum, Romero is firmly established as a renowned artist. Beyond her studio, Sonia's art graces Southern California's landscape with over ten large-scale public art projects, including iconic murals at Mariachi Plaza and Westlake Macarthur Metro Stations. Sonia's art draws inspiration from Chicano culture, vintage graphics, and the natural world. Thank you Sonia Romero for sharing your passion, creativity and continued support with artworxLA!
🎨2: Wings of the Dead
🎨3: Sacred Heart
🎨4: El Sereno Sarape
🎨5: Teresa
🎨6: Hecho a Mano

Every year artworxLA students work with their mentors to secure scholarships at prestigious art institutions across LA, including University of Southern California’s Exploration of Architecture, UCLA’s Summer Art Institute, Otis College of Art and Design’s Summer of Art, ArtCenter College of Design, Brentwood Art Center, and more. These programs give our students the opportunity to work with award-winning arts instructors, experience university life, and pursue specific career-driven arts disciplines.

Your donation of $50 will fund an artworxLA student’s art kit. $250 covers all the supplies they’ll need for their full scholarship program experience. To make your giving easier, you can spread out your donations and have them automatically recur monthly. Click the link to give our students access to creative industry exposure, and help fund a future: https://give.artworxla.org/give/211237/ #!/donation/checkout

In celebration of Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month, artworxLA takes a look back at the many accomplished Latine Teaching Artists we’ve worked with over the years. This week we proudly spotlight Pola Lopez, a self-taught artist with a passion for color and community. Her legacy as a leading Latina/Chicana artist is marked by numerous awards, museum placements, and media recognition, including a prestigious White House showcase in 2006. Lopez’s art is a vivid and spiritually charged expression of Southwestern cultural heritage. Thank you, Pola, for your contributions to the community!

Images pictured:
🖌️2: La Quinceneara
🖌️3: Who Wins This Game?
🖌️4: La Nueva Adelita
🖌️5: Native ~ Indigenous Lamppost

At artworxLA, one of the ways we inspire our students is through field trips that take them beyond the classroom, opening their eyes to various career pathways and connecting them with a network of creative professionals. This year alone, our students visited The Autry Museum Of The American West, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Otis College of Art and Design, USC Fisher Museum of Art, Sole Folks, and more.

As transportation costs rise, we face a significant challenge in making these field trips accessible to all of our students. In order to continue to provide free transportation, ensuring attendance and graduation rates rise, we need your support.

With your donation of $50, you help sponsor a student’s attendance at one of our field trips. And $1,000 sponsors a bus for 20 students to attend tours at creative agencies and studios. To make your giving easier, you can spread out your donations and have them automatically recur monthly. One click and you give our students access to creative industry exposure, and help fund a future: https://give.artworxla.org/give/211237/ #!/donation/checkout

artworxLA welcomes Sabrina K. Garba and Leo Quintero to the Executive Board team! Sabrina served on our Board since 2022, and we’re excited to have her lead us as our new Board Chair. As CEO of Glass Ladder Group, Sabrina brings over a decade of experience in leadership development and communications to our Board.

Leo, our new Board Secretary, has over 15 years of experience leading high-profile initiatives for social change organizations, including Ghetto Film School and the American Film Institute. Leo is currently the VP of Learning and Innovation at Whole Whale.

We’re honored to have Sabrina and Leo bring their wealth of experience and impactful leadership to our organization!