Students Reimagine Community Spaces in Professional Development Workshop
Grand Arts and Inner-City Arts students come together for a professional development workshop to support community partner Nest Global LA
As part of the gallery’s ongoing learning programs and initiatives, we introduced a new weeklong program called Digital Drawing School with local partners Inner-City Arts and Ramón C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts. Digital Drawing School brings unique opportunities to youth aged 14 – 18, to expand participants’ professional knowledge and deepen their engagement with local creative communities.
Students in the program were paired with Nest Global, a prominent community gallery partner whose organization focuses on the development and education of children and families experiencing forced migration and poverty. The drawing school project invited students to act as if the nonprofit was a client commissioning a redesign of its new location’s outdoor spaces, which included a play area, community garden and artmaking zones.
Digital Drawing School commenced with an introductory session and site visit to Nest Global, where CEO Lindsay Weissert provided an insightful presentation about Nest Global’s mission. She emphasized the organization’s commitment to serving children and outlined the community’s specific needs. The students had the opportunity to explore Nest Global’s space firsthand, documenting their observations and ideas, followed by daily work sessions at the gallery, guided by the Learning and Digitech teams who project managed their activities.
The project focused on utilizing research and creative thinking to reimagine various aspects of the Nest Global location. Students were introduced to tools like SketchUp and learned how to create maquette models to better visualize their ideas. They were divided into teams to collaboratively develop their plans, engaging in intensive brainstorming, sketching and prototyping sessions throughout the week.
The Digital Art School culminated in a final presentation where each team showcased their innovative proposals to gallery staff and Lindsay Weissert from Nest Global. The presentations not only highlighted the students’ creativity and technical skills but also demonstrated their understanding of community engagement and practical design solutions.
By bridging art, technology and community service, the Digital Drawing School empowered students to envision and create impactful solutions for real-world challenges. This initiative not only fostered artistic growth but also instilled a sense of social responsibility among the participants, paving the way for future collaborations and community-driven projects.
‘Participating in a learning program that merges art and technology with Nest Global was incredibly eye-opening. From starting with a simple piece of paper to creating immersive 3D spaces, the transformation was astonishing. Nest Global's dedication to creating impactful experiences for children and families through their innovative projects is truly inspiring.’
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Learn more about Nest Global, Inner-City Arts, Ramón C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts.
All Images: Sarah M. Golonka | smg photography
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