Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Donate
Stay Connected

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network.

Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen
Donate
Podcasts Take Two
Students bask in arts nirvana at state summer school
solid orange rectangular banner
()
Take Two Logo
Aug 5, 2013
Listen • 4:25
Students bask in arts nirvana at state summer school
515 students attended this year's California State Summer School for the Arts. The program has survived and thrived for 27 years despite arts cuts nationwide.
California State Summer School for the Arts students take part in an African music and dance class on Friday, Aug. 2 at Cal Arts. The four-week program selects talented high school students from throughout California and out of state.
California State Summer School for the Arts students take part in an African music and dance class on Friday, Aug. 2 at Cal Arts. The four-week program selects talented high school students from throughout California and out of state.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Students participate in a figure drawing class during the four-week California State Summer School for the Arts program at CalArts. More than 500 students take part in the program each summer.
Students participate in a figure drawing class during the four-week California State Summer School for the Arts program at CalArts. More than 500 students take part in the program each summer.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Barrett Cahalen, 16, of Santa Cruz, center, participates in a ballet class on Friday, Aug. 2 at CalArts. Students have concentrations in either music, theatre, video and film, visual arts, dance, creative writing, or animation.
Barrett Cahalen, 16, of Santa Cruz, center, participates in a ballet class on Friday, Aug. 2 at CalArts. Students have concentrations in either music, theatre, video and film, visual arts, dance, creative writing, or animation.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Avi Shorer, 16, of Berkeley, left, makes an abstract sculpture out of a plaster block during the California State Summer School for the Arts program at CalArts.
Avi Shorer, 16, of Berkeley, left, makes an abstract sculpture out of a plaster block during the California State Summer School for the Arts program at CalArts.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Alfred Ladzekpo, right, teaches an African music and dance class during the California State Summer School for the Arts program at CalArts.
Alfred Ladzekpo, right, teaches an African music and dance class during the California State Summer School for the Arts program at CalArts.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Mandy Zheng, 17, of Davis makes a stop motion animation using black sand. Zheng was inspired by a film called "The ErlKing" she watched at the beginning of the four-week program.
Mandy Zheng, 17, of Davis makes a stop motion animation using black sand. Zheng was inspired by a film called "The ErlKing" she watched at the beginning of the four-week program.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Mariela Figueroa, 17, of Puerto Rico cuts out her "Maestro frog" for a cut-out animation project.
Mariela Figueroa, 17, of Puerto Rico cuts out her "Maestro frog" for a cut-out animation project.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Teacher Lori Damiano and animation students Kannon Rickell and Kira Buro look at their classmate Devan Muchnij's progress in his project during the California State Summer School for the Arts program at CalArts.
Teacher Lori Damiano and animation students Kannon Rickell and Kira Buro look at their classmate Devan Muchnij's progress in his project during the California State Summer School for the Arts program at CalArts.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)

515 students attended this year's California State Summer School for the Arts. The program has survived and thrived for 27 years despite arts cuts nationwide.

More than 20 years ago, California lawmakers started a program they hoped would help retain the state's up-and-coming creative talent. It's called the California State Summer School for the Arts, and its summer home is the 60-acre Cal Arts campus in Valencia.

For part four in our summer learning series, KPCC reporter Mary Plummer paid a visit to this year's crop of aspiring artists.