Founded in 1992, Side Street Projects is an entirely mobile artist-run organization that gives artists of all ages the ability and the means to support their creative endeavors. The artists at Side Street Projects are social entrepreneurs who work with communities to solve real world problems. We share what we have learned to strengthen the field of artists who work with communities, schools, and organizations. Simply put, we teach artists how to roll up their sleeves and do things themselves. Each year we serve 10,000 individual (adult) artists and over 3,000 children.
Student Programming
Our Mobile Youth Education program teaches tool based design and fabrication aboard mobile fabrication studios housed in buses and trailers. The program teaches children creative problem solving and how to use tools safely, effectively, and ultimately independent of adult assistance.
Our hands-on model is designed for a range of learning styles and multiple intelligences. This program serves youth all over LA County, through in school programming, after school programs, museums, community events, and special events. More than half of the students receive the program for free through grants.
Side Street Projects serves all 2nd and 3rd graders in the Pasadena Unified School District as a My Masterpieces Arts Partner. Our teaching artists lead all 2nd graders on a Public Art Walk through the Civic Center helping students understand that Pasadena is their town. Students discover public artwork while meandering through courtyards, alleys, and sidewalks.
In conjunction with a field trip to the Gamble House, 3rd graders receive an hour of woodworking in our mobile classroom. During the one-hour workshop, students build a functional object based on a preexisting design that they can keep. Our tool-based curriculum is aligned with the VAPA standards and core curriculum, particularly Math and Science.
Currently we are also partnered with Washington and Jackson Elementary STEM Magnets in a 16-week Kinetic Art Curriculum for the 5th grade. Our goal is to have artist-led, project-based learning that is integrated into a core curriculum.
Professional Development
The official “Skill Share” program is currently being piloted internally with our teaching artists. Each skill share has a “hand skill” and a “head skill”. We are currently using them as professional development for our staff focusing on things like pedagogy, and vehicle maintenance. We are evaluation this program internally before it becomes open to the public. Skill Shares are bi-monthly and will be open to the public by the beginning of FY 16-17. This structure will allow us to bring back in-person professional development workshops. We will also be able to offer more free programming to our community including the new free after school program for high school students which also reflects our values of horizontal learning though teaching design and fabrication.