Part-time Arts programs
The Institute offers a wide variety of arts classes on weekday afternoons and evenings as well as weekends. Most classes are available for children aged three and up, although some courses, such as Chinese Dance, are offered to adults as well. Our summer programs are exclusively for children.
Full-time Arts programs
Through our non-profit school, The San Francisco High School of the Arts, the Institute offers a rigorous college-preparatory academic program in combination with pre-professional training in the arts. It is open to students in grades 6-12. Students choose to major in Visual Arts, Ballet, Chinese Dance, Music, or Theater Arts. The curriculum draws from a variety of Western and Eastern traditions, ensuring students are exposed to a wide range of world cultures and classical works. Our full-time program guides aspiring artists in cultivating the character and skills necessary for lifelong learning, independent thought, and creative exploration.
Arts Exposure Programs in Public Schools
In January 2013, The Institute became an ExCEL After-School Program Lead Agency in the SF Unified School District. The Institute has since partnered with the following public schools, Gordon J. Lou Elementary, Jean Parker Elementary, John Yehall Chin Elementary, E.R. Taylor Elementary, Alamo Elementary, Starr King Elementary, Jose Ortega Elementary, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School and Adda Clevenger school.
One prominent partnership is with E.R. Taylor, a local Title 1 elementary school. The Institute sends teaching artists to conduct in-school instruction in the fundamentals of classical and ethnic Chinese dance to students in grades K-5 over the course of ten weeks every spring.
Community Performances
The Institute holds regular music recitals by professional artists that are open to the public. We invite talented local artists to perform solo pieces and duets from a variety of genres and styles. A recent recital in the spring of 2019 focused on classical music, and included performances by viola player Christina Simpson, violinist Ani Bukujian, bassist Kenneth Miller, and saxophonist Andrew Barnhardt.
Since 2010
Our Mission
The Institute for Arts and Culture Inc. was founded in 2010. Our mission is to promote classical arts and culture in San Francisco by educating youth in performing and visual art forms from diverse cultures.
