4471 Inglewood Blvd
Los Angeles, California 90066

Inspired by the mission of Loyola Marymount University ARTsmart was created in the fall of 2001 by the Department of Art and Art History. Each semester volunteers teach fine art lessons to Kindergarten through 8th graders at St. Gerard Majella School. Coming from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines—including fine art, graphic design, multimedia arts, art history, animation, and liberal studies—the volunteer mentors work in teams, each bringing his or her own interests into the classroom. Together they develop lesson plans and lead the classes in art projects that incorporate formal art issues, art history, visual culture, social justice issues, and standards-based education. The mission of ARTsmart is to provide underserved young people with access to an education in the visual arts that will provide both the instrumental and the intrinsic benefits necessary to become a well-rounded, productive member of a rapidly changing society.

The ARTsmart classroom is a place of vital learning where delight, creativity, and confidence are nurtured. Students are taught a myriad of skills and processes, including problem solving and critical thinking; the goal is to stimulate inquiry, hone technique, and provide a conceptual foundation. Ultimately, the ARTsmart goal is to create an appetite for exploration and visual literacy and thus enable a creative future for the individual in society at large.

Added by lmunews1 on April 14, 2008

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