Spark your curiosity + expand your creativity

Academic Year 2024

Photo | Film | Animation | illustration

Fall WOrkshops

September 14 - December 10, 2024

Advanced Workshops: September 7 - December 10, 2024

No Class: October 15, 2024 • November 2, 2024 • Fall Break: November 26- 30, 2024

Venice Arts’ classes 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! 

Registration is Open!

Advance Workshops are Full

View the flyers for the Academic Year in English and Spanish

Free for low-Income
Families!

For all others, tuition is $550 per 12-week workshop.

We do our best to accommodate all children, however, low-income families receive priority. 

TuesdayS

4-6pm

  • Students will weave an unexpected tale based on their own memories to create a mini zine using a combination of analogue and digital illustration techniques.

    In this beginning illustration class students will learn foundational drawing skills and the fundamentals of storytelling to develop a character and illustrate a 5 act story based on a specific class theme. Students will learn traditional hand drawn and coloring mediums well as digital techniques to enhance their drawings. Presentation of work by relevant historic and contemporary illustrators will be shared, giving students exposure to diverse approaches to storytelling and students will build their ability to look critically at images and to engage in discussion with their peers.

WednesdayS

4-6pm

  • In this beginning animation course, students will learn the fundamentals of animation through the exploration of multiple animation styles and visual storytelling. Presentation of work by relevant historic and contemporary animators will be 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.

    This fall student will create their own 2D or stop motion animated short reflecting on a memorable moment that happened in their family history. 

ThursdayS

4-6pm

  • In this intermediate illustration class students will create a multi-page narrative illustration. They will expand on the fundamentals of storytelling and technical skills and while exploring both hand drawn and digital illustration with a focus on personal narrative. Presentation of work by relevant historic and contemporary illustrators will be shared, giving students exposure to diverse approaches to storytelling and students will build their ability to look critically at images and to engage in discussion with their peers.

    During the fall semester students will illustrate a story based on their own memories. Through traditional drawing and digital skills they will be challenged to illustrate their narrative in just 3 parts; complete with twists, turns and surprises!

Saturday AM

  • In this mixed-media class, students will experiment with observation, play, and reflection as a way to answer some “Big Questions.” For inspiration, we will look to nature, technology, the city, and what it means to be in community.

    Students will learn the basics of visual storytelling while exploring a variety of media techniques including the fundamentals of digital photography, filmmaking as well as a brief introduction to illustration and animation. Presentation of work by relevant historic and contemporary artists will be shared and students will build their ability to look critically at images and to engage in discussion with their peers.

  • In this intermediate level filmmaking class, students will advance their technical skills through hands-on engagement in the production process from ideation to completion. Students will develop their ability to think independently and work collaboratively while exploring creative possibilities, deepening their storytelling capabilities with a focus on personal narrative. Presentations of work by relevant historic and contemporary filmmakers will be 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.

    Students will work collaboratively to create hybrid documentary/fiction films based on their lives and explore their memories. Together they will experiment to create unique short films and decide whether they want to depict their stories as they occurred or embellish them through the conventions of genres such as fantasy, horror, mystery, comedy, or more!

  • This fall, students will explore the intersection of nature, wildlife and animals and their living spaces in the city of Los Angeles.  Each student will create a calendar and have the opportunity to capture environmental portraits of domestic animals in urban spaces.

    In this intermediate photography class, students will advance their photography skills through hands-on experience. Students will develop technical skills and explore creative possibilities, deepening their storytelling capabilities with a focus on personal narrative. Presentations of work by relevant historic and contemporary photographers will be 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.

10 am - noon

Saturday PM

1 - 3pm

  • From storyboarding to editing, students will work together to build a mixed media animation based on their identity; the memories, experiences, relationships, and values that create one's sense of self.

    In this interdisciplinary class, students will learn the basics of visual storytelling while exploring a variety of media techniques including the fundamentals of digital photography, filmmaking as well as a brief introduction to illustration and animation. Presentation of work by relevant historic and contemporary artists will be shared and students will build their ability to look critically at images and to engage in discussion with their peers.

Advanced workshops

September 7 - December 10, 2024 & February 6 - May 7, 2025    

Advance workshops are 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 and proof of attendance in related arts programs. 

Free for low-Income
Families!

For all others, tuition is $825 per 12-week advanced workshop/ $1,650 total.

We do our best to accommodate all children, however, low-income families receive priority. 

No Class

October 15, 2024 • November 2, 2024 • Fall Break: November 26- 30, 2024 • February 18 • Spring Break: April 15-19

Saturday

1 - 4pm

Grades 9- 12

Ages 15 - 18

  • Overview
    This advanced workshop is designed for students who have prior photography experience. Students will deepen their skills and knowledge in photography while conceiving and creating an independent or small group project around a chosen theme/subject and investigating techniques and stories that are personally meaningful to them. Presentations of work by significant historic and contemporary photographers will be 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 will further develop an 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 the Culminating Exhibition at the end of the academic year.

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

    Project Description
    Over the course of the workshop students will learn about the history of Japanese Internment during WWII and focus on how these events impact(ed) Los Angeles and our fellow community members. Students will research, photograph, and write about the connection between the internment, the resistance to forced removal, and how these stories impact and reflect contemporary life on a personal, local, and national level. This will include interviews with elders and field trips to historical sites including an overnight trip to Manzanar National Historic Site in Independence, California. At the end of the workshop students will complete a zine that reveals these connections to their own lives, write about what they’ve learned, and imagine a better future. The zine as well as a selection of their photographs will be displayed at the Culminating Celebration at Venice Arts as well as featured at the Venice Heritage Museum.

  • Overview
    This advanced film class is designed for students who have prior filmmaking experience. Students will deepen their skills and knowledge in filmmaking while they collaboratively consider how to explore the chosen theme/topic through varying contexts, points of view and historical perspectives. Students will be encouraged to investigate techniques and stories that are personally meaningful to them. Presentations of work by significant historic and contemporary filmmakers will be 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 will further develop an understanding of the medium and each student’s personal, aesthetic interests. Over the 24 weeks, students will develop a short film which will be included in the Culminating Exhibition at the end of the academic year.

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

    Project Description

    Over the course of the workshop students will be filmmaking through the subject of Los Angeles; its history, diverse communities and their contemporary stories. Students will utilize film language, in-camera techniques and editing to develop and express their distinct directorial voice through collaborative and independent short film projects.