Spring 2026

Spark your curiosity + expand your creativity

During  our Media Arts Workshops presentations of historic and contemporary artists are shared; field trips are taken to relevant cultural sites; and in-class activities are created to increase media literacy and provide students with exposure to diverse approaches to storytelling, all while building their ability to express themselves creatively. While enrolled in a workshop, students will have access to professional quality equipment and software;  all materials and equipment are provided! At the end of the workshops’ term, student artwork will be showcased at our Community Day + Exhibition.

applications for Spring 2026 Open december 1

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 week

10 week workshops

10 week workshops will meet once a week for 10 consecutive weeks with the exception of SPRING BREAK March 30-April 4.

All students will have a chance to showcase their completed work at our community celebration on May 9th.

Tuesdays 4-6pm

  • During this beginning-to-intermediate Narrative Illustration workshop, students will learn the fundamentals of creating comic art using traditional methods (pencil + paper) and finalizing their work with the use of ProCreate. Students in this workshop will learn how to: draw using perspective, draw characters using basic shapes, use lineweight, and color to enhance their comics. Students will also develop their storytelling skills by outlining their comic as a narrative and adding text boxes and word bubbles to their final draft. At the end of the 10-week workshop, their final comic will be showcased at our Community Day + Exhibition.

Thursdays 4-6pm

  • All aboard for this beginning-to-intermediate animation workshop, students will  build foundational skills, explore character design, and experiment with animation techniques such as flipbooks, stop motion, and paper puppets. Students will learn how to: apply the principles of animation, hand-draw animation with traditional techniques (paper + pencil), animate on an iPad using Flip A Clip and Stop Motion Animator, and enhance their animation with audio elements. At the end of the 10 week workshop the final animation will be showcased at our Community Day + Exhibition.

  • In this arts leadership class, teens explore multimedia arts as a means of self-expression, community engagement, and social justice dialogue.  Through presentations of historic and contemporary artists, students will learn about the artists/arts role in social change; and develop a community project to engage the public at our Community Day + Exhibit. Professional development opportunities will be developed based on student interest and available mentors. Students will also receive opportunities to decorate the campus, contribute to social media, and be invited to volunteer at off-site events. 

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

SATURDAYS 10AM-12pm

  • Young designers jump into a mix of fashion, craft, and experimentation in this beginning-to-intermediate fashion workshop that celebrates creativity and personal style.  Students will learn the building blocks of fashion design through playful challenges that teach real techniques, including hand & machine sewing, felting, dyeing, block printing, anatomy & illustration, and work together on a collaborative final project. Together we will explore sustainability and transform everyday materials and old favorites into something spectacular. At the end of the 10-week workshop students will choose what pieces to showcase at our Community Day + Exhibition. 

  • Mixing up audio and visual elements, students will collaborate to create an immersive art piece that highlights their individual creativity and talents. Students in this workshop will learn how to: use a dslr camera to capture photographs and video, use Photoshop and Premiere for basic editing, and incorporate found sound and recorded audio to elevate their stories. Students will also have the opportunity to engage with traditional art making practices such as drawing, painting, and collage. At the end of the 10-week workshop the final project will be showcased at our Community Day + Exhibition.

  • In this beginning-to-intermediate photography workshop students will explore their relationship to nature and develop their technical photography skills while deepening their storytelling capabilities. Students in the workshop will learn how to: use a dslr camera in priority mode, use fixed and zoom lenses, use and manipulate natural light, and use Lightroom to edit their photographs. At the end of the 10 week workshop the final photographs  will be showcased at our Community Day + Exhibition.

SATURDAYS 1-3pm

  • This beginning-to-intermediate workshop students will learn the basics of design characters that can be used for narrative illustration or animation projects. The majority of the class will focus on drawing and illustration skills using traditional media (paper + pencil) and then advance to digital tools in the final weeks. Students in this workshop will learn how to incorporate shape language into their designs and how to make character turnarounds for animation. At the end of the 10 week workshop the final characters will be showcased at our Community Day + Exhibition.

February 17-May 2, 2026

Advanced Workshops begin February 7, 2026

Advanced workshops

February 7-May 2, 2026

Spring Break March 30-April 4

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.