Visual Arts
Through drawing, painting, sculpture, collages, murals and using recycled materials, vulnerable youth can find release from their traumatic experiences by exploring the visual arts for self-expression. At the end of the programs, the kids have lasting souvenirs that they can share with their families and friends. We also provide them with opportunities to publicly exhibit and sell their artwork.
Introduction to Art includes fun arts activities that teach children how to use a variety of supplies to create decorative crafts items. Introduction to Fine Art gives instruction in drawing, painting and sculpture, which culminates in an art exhibition.
Two of our most popular programs are Create A Mural Now and Create A City Now, which incorporates “trash” into building materials so students can design their own cities that might have a theme, such as good health or a green environment. Children love using their imaginations to express themselves in these programs.
Performing Arts
Performing Arts programs include Singing, Acting, Dance, Theatre, Comedy and Magic.
Create Now’s Talent Shows challenge children to set goals. When youngsters hear the cheers and applause after their performances, they experience what many of them have never known before – the appreciation of their community. Their confidence and pride soars.
Talent Shows include workshops in singing, dance and comedy/theatre taught by professionals. Students hone their skills and collaborate as a team to perform at the culminating event. Youth can participate as performers, or assist with behind-the-scenes tasks like costumes, set design, marketing and more. Even being an audience member will motivate other kids to develop their talents.
Music
Our Guitar workshops are very popular with the kids. They have the choice to learn electric or acoustic instruments.
The Music Recording workshop starts with a visit to the Grammy Museum. Students learn how to produce a beat and build the structure of their songs by identifying the intro, verse, chorus, bridge and outro. After writing their lyrics, they discover signal flow and the process of recording in Avid “Pro-Tools.”
Youth love to play our Drums and also learn a variety of Percussion instruments. During the Keyboard programs, they practice chords and can play at least two songs.
Our workshops last for 12-sessions and include lessons from professionals about how to break into the music industry. All of our music students have the chance to record their music and to take home a demo. The business of the music industry and how to break in are included in the lessons.
We provide our students with opportunities to perform at premiere venues and events.
Literary Arts
Literary Arts include Poetry, Journalism, Blogging and Creative Writing. Students’ work is collected into an anthology that can also include drawings. Youth learn about layouts and publishing when they work with a graphic designer, as well as how the industry works. Each student receives a copy of their book, which can also be sold by groups and schools to raise funds.
Our Screenwriting workshop can be offered separately, or ideally bundled with Video Production. Students relate to popular films by reading the scripts and writing their own stories in this format. All the basic elements of storytelling and screenwriting are taught, including structure, plot, characters, dialogue and conflict. At the culmination party, we present staged readings of the completed screenplays by professional actors.
We also provide children and youth with new books to encourage them to read. At our Book Fair in 2014, Create Now distributed over 4,000 books to hundreds of disadvantaged families in our Downtown neighborhood, thanks to a donation from Disney, Marvel and First Book.
Fashion
Our Fashion Design workshop teaches youth how to design their own couture and jewelry, which can be as wild as their imaginations can go. Create Now provides them with loads of fabric, beads, and other decorative supplies, along with sewing machines and additional tools. Professional designers help the children to put all the materials together to generate clothing and jewelry that fulfills their dreams.
They also learn about branding and the business aspects of fashion, since this industry generates over 100,000 jobs a year in Los Angeles, providing youth with opportunities to grow and excel as designers. The program culminates with a Fashion Show that the kids help to put together. They attend the casting sessions for the models, assist in preparing their models for the runway, and then become “stars” as their original designs are displayed on the runaway to applause and cheers from their families, friends and peers. They also love to show off the necklaces, bracelets and other jewelry, which can be given to friends as gifts.
Digital Media Lab
These workshops include Photography, Graphic Design, Video Production and Editing. Our Digital Media Lab teaches youth about graphic design, plus the cutting-edge technology of 360° full-dome theaters and virtual reality. Students share their personal stories on video using Photoshop and other programs. Youth work in small groups to develop “dome shows.”
They get to visit the Vortex Dome downtown. This is a phenomenal 50’ multi-media geodesic dome that’s located at LA Center Studios. Along with their families and friends, the children have an immersive experience as they see their videos and artwork projected all around them, accompanied by Surround Audio. They also get to experience the Oculus Rift virtual reality glasses and other pioneering technologies, along with career opportunities.
Cultural Journeys
Each year, Create Now organizes outings for thousands of the most vulnerable children in Southern California to experience concerts, plays, museums, circuses, studio tours and other special events at premiere venues, like Walt Disney Concert Hall, Cirque du Soleil, the Broad Theatre, Hollywood Bowl, LACMA, and much more.
Many of these troubled kids are reluctant to visit new places or venture out into the world because of the abuse and trauma they’ve had to endure. Often, they feel self-conscious and fearful that they won’t fit in with everyone else. Yet the social workers, therapists, probation officers and other staff at the youth facilities that we partner with tell us that after attending Create Now field trips, their youth are more focused and able to concentrate longer.
A study by researcher Terry Cheney found that cultural events help youth to develop communication skills, physical dexterity, mental concentration, discipline, creativity and imagination. Other research proves that exposure to the arts greatly enhances mathematical and literacy skills in youth.
We ask the children to create thank you cards for our donors to show their appreciation. Since many at-risk youth don’t have good writing and social skills, this is a great way for them to learn how to say thank you and encourages the kids to use their creativity. At the same time, our donors love to see the children’s reactions to their performances. They also use these letters and cards to obtain funding for educational programs. If you would like to donate tickets or other opportunities for our youth, please contact Ruby Medina at: (213) 747-2777 x 3 or email: ruby@createnow.org
Culinary Arts
Students learn nutrition, safety, cooking techniques, chopping skills, soups, stocks and sauces, presentation and more.