About Us
Our Mission: to inspire and activate artists as community leaders.
City Studio nurtures a sense of self, encouraging young artists to find their voice; strengthening their conceptual thinking and foundational skills; and inspiring investment in a holistic creative life.
Our approach is intergenerational, young people of all ages work with professional artists and mentors in public settings and through organizational partnerships. Past participants have created public murals, exhibited their work in real-life art galleries, created billboards in public spaces, and created artwork in community festivals.
We believe that art is both rigorous and joyous. All our classes and projects are taught by working artists who create alongside the students, extending its reach and impact through intergenerational exchange.
Art is a powerful medium for finding your place in the world and making your own contributions.
Joining Forces.
When the pandemic derailed our work and lives, Berk, Hoover and Treggiari joined forces, bringing together Berk’s City Studio program and Hoover/Treggiari’s Collective Action Studio to meet the challenges of a growing community.
The core of City Studio has remained the same since its founding in 2005 – providing high quality, personal and intergenerational art instruction to diverse youth across the Bay Area. But as the needs of our community evolve, so do the ways that we deliver our services.
Shout out to past founders and directors Julio César Morales and JD Beltran and so many other amazing artists who have lead the program.
As an acclaimed visual artist and educator, Amy has been working with teens and youth in mentorship and educational capacities for over 30 years and is deeply rooted in the local arts ecosystem.
“City Studio holds a special place for me and its artist / mentors by giving teens a safe place in which to articulate their interests politically and artistically and to help them find the proper tools to do so, oftentimes in and with the public.”
Through participatory art projects and teaching at the college, and high-school levels, Chris’s projects have traveled the world and his art is in collections such as SFMOMA among others.
“Investigate how art can penetrate the public realm in a way that can connect wide people and neighborhoods. How can we highlight diverse community identities, shared histories, and personal stories in fun and creative ways?”
With a career based in both curating and art making, Justin unifies both artistic creativity with program management and has held positions both as a professional museum curator, and museum executive director.
“Take an active role in your community. Meet and share your ideas and elevate your voice through art. Let this become a method of learning leadership and self empowerment.”
Our Supporters.
City Studio thanks the many institutions and individuals past and present for their support. This funding allows us to better serve our students, teachers and communities and has been a crucial ingredient in our 15+ years of arts education in the Bay Area. Most recently we are proud recipients of a two-year grant made possible by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Community Partners.
City Studio thanks its community partners past and present including: Haight Street Art Center, Mission Arts Center, San Francisco Parks and Rec, The New School of SF, Malcolm X, SFUSD, Project Artivism, SOMArts, Columbia Park Boys and Girls Club, BGCSF Tenderloin Clubhouse, Mission Boys and Girls Club, Excelsior Boys and Girls Club, and Root Division. Other community partners include SFUSD Arts Collaborative, Ruth Asawa School of the Arts, Willie Mays Boys and Girls Club at Hunters Point, African American Arts and Culture Center, Cleveland Elementary, and George Washington Carver Elementary School. We are excited to be collaborating on innovative programming with Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center and MindCatcher and to announce a new partnership with the David Ireland House! Thanks especially to Lian Ladia, Cait Molloy (SFAI MFA), Laura Pacchini (SFAI MFA), Steven Loscutoff and Alex Ehmer (SFAI BFA). Additonally, our new partnership with Haight Street Art Center is particularly exciting and we wish to thank Director Kelly Harris and staff for their wonderful support.
Programs to
teach art empower youth connect diverse communities
Locations.
City Studio operates out of two Bay Area locations:
San Francisco
500 Capp St. Foundation’s David Ireland Historic Home, 500 Capp St. San Francisco, CA 94110
Oakland
306 14th St., Oakland, CA 94612