Spark your curiosity + expand your creativity

Fall 2025

Photo ○ Film ○ Animation ○ illustration

Venice Arts’ workshops in photography, filmmaking, animation, and narrative illustration, for youth ages 10-18, will spark your curiosity and expand your creativity, while you develop projects using high quality equipment and software. Teens also receive support for college and creative career pathways, scholarships, awards, and more! Field trips, and in-class activities will support young people to express their unique perspectives. All materials and equipment are provided!

Apply in person at our Back to School Community Event on August 16th, 1-3pm, or call/email for an appointment.

Our Media Arts Programs are offered at no cost to low income families. For all other families, we offer Pay What You Can Pricing. At Venice Arts we serve students of all economic backgrounds and no one will be turned away due to lack of funds; however, low-income families do receive priority enrollment. Proof of low income status is required for priority enrollment.

We value our Media Arts Workshops at $600 for 10 weeks and our Advanced Workshops at $900 for 12 weeks

10 week workshops

10 week workshops will meet once a week for 10 consecutive weeks.

All students will have a chance to showcase their completed work at our community celebration on December 6th.

TuesdayS

4-6pm

  • Students ”go bananas” in this beginning-intermediate narrative illustration workshop. Over the 10 weeks, students complete a 6-10 panel comic focused on the idiom of their choosing. Students have the choice of either drawing an example of the idiom in the literal or figurative sense. For example, if they pick “go bananas” they could draw a character going wild or bananas going fast. Students learn traditional hand drawing and coloring, as well as digital techniques. Presentation of work by historic and contemporary illustrators is shared, giving students exposure to diverse approaches to personal and creative storytelling while building their ability to look critically at art and to engage in discussion with their peers. At the end of the 10-week workshop their final comic will be showcased at our community celebration.

Saturday mornings

  • During this food inspired workshop, students collaborate to create a group project while deepening their individual creativity and storytelling skills; all while being introduced to a variety of media arts including photography and filmmaking. Presentations of artwork by historic and contemporary artists are shared; giving students exposure to diverse approaches to art making while building their ability to look critically at art and to engage in discussion with their peers. At the end of the 10-week workshop the final project will be showcased at our community celebration. 

  • During this interactive workshop students explore multimedia storytelling using stop-motion animation and live action filmmaking techniques. Students collaboratively create a short film while advancing their technical skills through hands-on engagement in the production process from ideation to completion. Presentations of films by historic and contemporary artists are shared giving students exposure to diverse approaches to personal and creative storytelling and students build their ability to look critically at art and  engage in discussion with their peers. At the end of the 10- week workshop the final project will be showcased at our community celebration.

  • Students learn how to photograph portraits and landscapes and experiment with how these two genres can be used independently or mixed together to tell a story. Students work together to complete a group project while deepening their storytelling capabilities and technical skills. Presentations of historic and contemporary photographers are shared; giving students exposure to diverse approaches to storytelling while building their ability to engage in discussion with their peers. At the end of the 10 week workshop the final project will be showcased at our community celebration.

10 am - noon

Saturday afternoons

1 - 3pm

  • Using a variety of mediums, students explore how to tell stories by mixing traditional arts with contemporary technologies. Students learn the basics of photography as well as how to incorporate more traditional practices such as illustration, painting, and fiber arts. Working collaboratively on a final project, students simultaneously develop their own artistic voice and elevate their technical skills through weekly hands-on activities. Presentations of work by historic and contemporary artists are shared; giving students exposure to diverse approaches to storytelling while building their ability to engage in discussion with their peers. At the end of the 10-week workshop the final project will be showcased at our community celebration.

September 16-November 22, 2025

wednesdayS

4-6pm

  • Lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my! In this beginning-intermediate animation workshop, students build foundational animation skills and experiment with techniques such as: charcoal animation, flip books, stop motion, and more while completing a short film about their chosen animal. Students develop their ability to think independently and work collaboratively while exploring creative possibilities, deepening their storytelling capabilities. Presentations of artwork by historic and contemporary filmmakers are shared giving students exposure to diverse approaches to personal and creative storytelling and students will build their ability to look critically at art and to engage in discussion with their peers.  At the end of the 10 week workshop the final animation will be showcased at our community celebration.

ThursdayS

4-6pm

  • In this arts leadership class, teens explore multimedia arts as a means of self-expression, community engagement, and social justice dialogue. Students create themes and designs to showcase at Venice Arts’ seasonal community celebration, including fliers, and a visual art element. They'll also contribute to Venice Arts’ social media and office visuals, highlighting the organization’s mission. Through presentations of historic and contemporary artists, students learn about the artists/arts role in social change; and develop a community project to engage the public. 


    Students who attend all workshop classes and events can earn up to 36 volunteer hours towards school requirements.

Advanced workshops

September 6-november 22, 2025 

Venice Arts’ Advanced Workshops are for students who have been studying in their chosen medium for at least two years. These workshops are for students dedicated to attending all 24 weeks (12 fall / 12 spring) in order to complete an impactful project and build their portfolios. New students may be asked to provide supplemental materials such as examples of work or proof of attendance in related arts programs. 

Saturdays

1 - 4pm | high school

Advanced Photography Workshop

Project Description: Beyond Concrete

Every year, people move to Los Angeles because of its proximity to the ocean and the mountains. There are also smaller green spaces speckled across the city, but access is not always guaranteed for all Angelenos. Using their camera as investigative tools, students will explore green spaces that are hidden beyond concrete and highways, near or far, and craft a pocket map that reflects their unique perspectives. Students will be encouraged to think about sustainability, urban planning, environmental justice, gentrification, historic preservation, public transportation, and how they influence our interactions with a city. At the end of the fall term, students will also have the opportunity to showcase their mid-project progress at a pop-up exhibition at Peak Design!

Overview

This advanced workshop is designed for students who have prior photography experience. Students deepen their skills and knowledge in photography while creating an independent project investigating techniques and stories that are personally meaningful to them while simultaneously contributing to a larger group project around a specific subject. Presentations of work by historic and contemporary photographers are shared giving students exposure to diverse approaches to personal and creative storytelling and students will build their ability to look critically at images and engage in discussion with their peers.  Portfolio reviews and critiques  of student work further develop their understanding of the medium and each student’s personal, aesthetic interests. Over the 24 weeks, students will develop an independent portfolio, portions of which will be included in special public exhibit(s) in addition to the Community Exhibitions at Venice Arts at the end of each semester.

Students may need to work on their projects outside of class time to allow for critique and workshopping their project during class time.

Advanced Filmmaking Workshop

Project Description

Using sports as the catalyst, students will create a documentary short that explores thematic elements such as competition, perseverance, performance, or teamwork. Students will be encouraged to focus on what is happening in their local community and connect it to the large topics that concern Los Angeles, California, and possibly the world.

Overview

This advanced film workshop is designed for students who have prior filmmaking experience. Students deepen their skills and knowledge in filmmaking while collaborating on a short film that explores stories that are personally meaningful to them.  Presentations of work by significant historic and contemporary filmmakers are shared, giving students exposure to diverse approaches to personal and creative storytelling and students will build their ability to look critically at images and to engage in discussion with their peers. Critique of student work further develops an understanding of the medium and each student’s personal, aesthetic interests. Over the 24 weeks, students will produce a short film which will be included in the community celebration at the end of the academic year.

In addition to contributing to a group project around a shared theme, students have the opportunity to participate in career-building programming provided by the Center for Creative Workforce Equity (CCWE). This includes mentorship from professionals in film, television, and digital media; workshops focused on resume-building, interview skills, and portfolio development; and visits to production studios and creative workplaces. Students also have access to guest speakers from companies such as Sony, Warner Bros. Discovery, Disney, Lionsgate, Nickelodeon, and DreamWorks. These experiences are designed to help students explore creative career pathways, and develop the confidence needed to succeed.

Students may need to work on their projects outside of class time to allow for critique and workshopping their film during class time.