overview
Root Division encourages and supports the integration of arts production and education for artists and communities. We take the talent of the local art world and put it into the hands of school children. As part of its arts education component, Root Division currently provides art classes for a few after-school programs in San Francisco. Two of the programs, Buena Vista Child Care and Fairmount After School, are located in elementary "immersion"schools. We work with middle school students at Hoover Middle School & James Lick Middle School, and have also done workshops & classes with students at Seven Tepees Youth Program and the Bayview/Hunter's Point YMCA. Root Division also hosts the Street Styles class for high school students. All of our programs serve a diverse group of students, most of which attend San Francisco Unified School District schools.

Root Division recruits volunteers from the local artist community to teach six-session art classes in drawing, painting, mixed media, sculpture, and/or other arts. A number of these artists are in the Studios Program at Root Division's 3175 17th Street studio space. Artists volunteer one hour per week and choose the types of projects and media they are interested in teaching, acting as "artists-in-residence" for a six-week session at the after school site. Root Division assists the artists in formulating effective, age-appropriate lesson plans and offers them guidance in working with youth. As a result, artists gain valuable experience teaching within the community, and young students are able to interact with adult mentors in the art-making process.

Other youth programs we have offered include The Paul Green School of Rock Boot Camp at Root Division and the Summer Youth Studio. Please check our website for upcoming information about these programs!

For more information, to register a student, or to volunteer, contact:

Mona Chitkara
Youth Education Coordinator
Root Division
(415) 863-7668
youthed@rootdivision.org.