Grantee Database
OUTSIDE THE LENS
Grant Year
2023-24
Grant Program
Impact Projects
Award Amount
$25,000.00
Project Description
With support from the California Arts Council, Outside the Lens (OTL), in collaboration with the Sherman Heights Community Center (SHCC), will present Sherman Storytellers, a K-6 after school program using digital media arts workshops and film screenings to explore the neighborhood’s 30-year history of celebrating Día de los Muertos. Using film, photography, and mixed media, youth will document, engage and celebrate their community’s culture in context of this long standing tradition. Projects will include works by both professional and local young artists, displayed in a final showcase.
In response to the neighborhood’s need for after school programming for children in elementary school, Sherman Storytellers provides the opportunity to document the cultural heritage of Sherman Heights residents using audio, video, and photography, honoring community identity and preserving the legacy of their Día de Los Muertos celebration.
Organization Summary
Outside the Lens engages the next generation of artists, storytellers, and innovators through media arts education. Through our programs, youth learn media arts skills, media literacy, socio-emotional development, vocational exploration, and civic engagement. Our Media Educators create a learning environment centered on trauma-informed practices, culturally responsive teaching, socio-emotional learning, and restorative practices.
K-8 Programs: Partnering with schools and districts, we enhance students’ learning by integrating media arts and technology into core curricula (Math, Science, Social Sciences, English Language Arts) for grades K-8. These projects deepen students’ understanding of core content, cultivate media arts skills, and foster a well-rounded educational experience. Our after-school programs and summer camps offer youth opportunities to explore their passions, develop new skills, and discover the transformative power of media arts.
Teens and Transitional Age Youth Programs: We provide specialized programming for teens and Transitional Age Youth (TAY) (18-25 years old) through community partnerships. Our projects enhance media literacy, promote social-emotional wellbeing, and foster intergenerational community connections. This programming develops creative pathways for career and college readiness, encourages self-discovery, and civic engagement, empowering teens to amplify their voices and effect positive change.
Media Makers inspires young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD)—facilitating independence and creative expression.
Educator Trainings: We offer arts-integration teacher training to help educators integrate art-based lessons into their curriculum. Available for individual educators, grade level teams, schools, or districts, these trainings provide innovative ideas, practical skills, and ready-to-use projects aligned with Media Arts and Common Core standards.
Summer Camps: Our Media Arts Summer Camps offer youth in grades K-8 to explore various artistic mediums, such as photography, filmmaking, graphic design, and animation.
Community Workshops: Our weekend and evening media arts workshops, open to families, teens, and adults, cater to both budding artists and experienced creators seeking further skill development.
Organization
Outside the Lens
Address
125 14th St
San Diego
92101
County
San Diego
Region
Far South
Phone
(858) 349-7578
Congressional District
District 50
State Assembly District
District 77
State Senate District
District 39
