Art Bias community programs directly involve artists in community outreach as we empower artists to amplify art’s positive impact on society. Art Bias aims to deliver collaborative community art programs that reflect San Mateo County’s diverse demographics and to expose populations to arts and culture who have previously not had access to such opportunities.
Thank you to the California Arts Council, Dragonfly Community Arts, and Redwood City Arts Commission for their support so we can offer these free opportunities.
ART BBIAS X Sequoia High School
Sequoia High School students participate in a mentorship at Art Bias with the goal of building the creative confidence of youth while fostering a collaborative community that brings together a diverse range of voices. The mentorship consists of hands-on art making, portfolio development, and field trips led by Art Bias artists. The artists chosen to serve as mentors are experienced in a variety of techniques such as printmaking, weaving, sewing, painting, portraiture, and much more. Each student receives approximately 40 weekly meetings of 2 hours/80 hours of instructional time with the artist mentors annually.
hip housing
Art Bias artists travel to 3 HIP Housing Senior properties to offer free hands-on art classes. Over the last 18 months, the seniors have received over 55 classes in a wide variety of media such as mosaics, flower pastels, ikebana, Chinese brush painting, linocut printmaking, watercolor, seascapes in gouache, cyanotype, felting, beading jewelry, collaborative painting, collage, encaustic, mountain landscape painting, fabric stamping, and much more. Participation in these creative group classes spark meaningful connections for seniors with classmates, teaching artists, and neighbors in addition to building bonds, offering opportunities for socialization and contributing to the seniors' health and wellbeing.
ONE STEP BEYOND
Participants of One StepBeyond in San Carlos receive art classes in Studio 114 at Art Bias and provide the students opportunities to use art to express themselves nonverbally, engage their minds in nonlinear and productive ways, and build relationships with teaching artists, peers and staff.
Casa Circulo
Art Bias hosts Casa Circulo Cultural's youth summer campers for bilingual art classes in Studio 114. Class content is co-designed by Casa Circulo Cultural staff, Art Bias artists, and associated community artists. Teachers have been Aaron Alvarez Mendoza, Elizabeth Gomez, Ellen Brook, Betsy Beier. The classes are free to all youth and healthy snacks are provided. Youth also get tours of the art studios and meet lots of artists and are introduced to all kinds of visual art media.