SAY Sí ignites the creative power of young people as forces of positive change. We value artists, empower marginalized communities and advance culture.
As a leading creative youth development organization, SAY Sí is committed to creating a premier, inclusive, dynamic, and nurturing educational environment for San Antonio’s youth through:
- Creativity
- Leadership
- Equity
- Community
At SAY Sí, we extend our reach into various communities through our ABC (Artists Building Communities) program. Working with our network of alumni and contracted teaching artists, SAY Sí aims to reach different populations with creative development work, arts and cultural experiences, and training opportunities.
Now, as we have shifted our focus to virtual learning, you can experience the magic of SAY Sí virtually through ABC Art Studio Anywhere. Through this virtual learning hub, you can make the world your art studio with tutorials, art challenges and more!
Monday: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM |
Tuesday: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM |
Wednesday: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM |
Thursday: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM |
Friday: CLOSED |
Saturday: CLOSED |
Sunday: CLOSED |
ALAS operates as a collaborative ensemble known as the ALAS Youth Theatre Company. Committed to the creation of new and original performance work by, for, and about San Antonio youth, ALAS challenges students to draw from their own experiences, observations, and insights to produce theatre of relevance to their lives and their communities. Emphasizing leadership skills and civic engagement, ALAS creates work that addresses community needs and concerns, challenges prejudices and social injustice, and celebrates diversity and difference.
ALAS provides students with opportunities to develop their skills in acting, directing, playwriting, movement, spoken word, voice, technical theatre and stage management culminating in public performance. Students have ownership over their theatrical work, and a voice in the artistic, technical, and creative decisions involved in every aspect of the production process.
Requirements:
- Parental/guardian permission
- Reliable transportation to and from SAY Sí.
- Current enrollment in middle school or high school (public, private, or home school), grades 6-11.
Must be committed to:
- Good attendance year-round
- Complete all SAY Sí projects in a timely manner.
- Act as a positive influence in the studios.
- Attend weekly studio sessions and student meetings for high schooler.
Click here to learn more on the application process.
Free
SAY Sí’s Media Arts Studio is a film, photography, and digital art based program that focuses on storytelling through digital media.
Throughout the year, MAS students, along with the help of teaching artists and professionals in the media industry, collaborate through hands-on learning experiences with video production, digital and analog photography, animation, and digital arts. In the media arts studio, students explore relevant social justice issues through research and production of fiction and non-fiction digital media content. Youth voice is an essential aspect of all SAY Sí programs.
As part of the filmmaking process students have the opportunity to utilize their talents in all phases of the production. Once their digital content is finished, the students design the accompanying promotional and marketing materials for exhibits, film festivals, and movie premieres.
In addition, the MAS studio produces digital works for companies, organizations, and individuals outside SAY Sí. These commissioned projects give students the opportunity to build a professional portfolio and to develop entrepreneurship skills.
Requirements:
- Parental/guardian permission
- Reliable transportation to and from SAY Sí.
- Current enrollment in middle school or high school (public, private, or home school), grades 6-11.
Must be committed to:
- Good attendance year-round
- Complete all SAY Sí projects in a timely manner.
- Act as a positive influence in the studios.
- Attend weekly studio sessions and student meetings for high schooler.
Click here to learn more on the application process.
Free
WAM, SAY Sí’s multidisciplinary middle school program, is a year-round program in visual arts, theatre, media arts and new media. SAY Sí employs its junior and senior high school students to work as student instructors, allowing for reciprocally beneficial peer-to-peer mentoring. During the school year, WAM students meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The mentoring between our high school and middle school students is a unique aspect to this program. It gives middle school students the opportunity to learn from some of our advanced high school students and it gives our high school students real-world job skills and experience. Students in this program work on projects that develop cognitive skills, including; problem-solving, reasoning, and decision-making as well as interpersonal skills such as oral communication, teamwork, and self-fulfillment.
Middle School students can attend the same studios listed on our High School page.
Requirements:
- Parental/guardian permission
- Reliable transportation to and from SAY Sí.
- Current enrollment in middle school or high school (public, private, or home school), grades 6-11.
Must be committed to:
- Good attendance year-round
- Complete all SAY Sí projects in a timely manner.
- Act as a positive influence in the studios.
- Attend weekly studio sessions and student meetings for high schooler.
Click here to learn more about the application process.
Free
In the HIVE New Media Studio, students produce digital and tech-based work, tie visual art and narrative together, consider interactivity as a feature of art, and explore new artforms.
With four major themed projects per year, students jump between various modes of production. Working sometimes solo, sometimes in teams, HIVElings make digital paintings and illustrations, draw comics and animations, write interactive fiction, program video games and procedural art, design books, card games and board games, build installations with AR, Kinect, microcontrollers and electronics, record sound art, compose and perform electronic music, and so on. They hone their practical trade skills by tabling and holding panels at conventions and fests such as PAX, Comic Con, San Japan, Zine Fest, and various pop-ups.
Similar to other SAY Sí studios, the HIVE challenges youth to reflect on the world around them, to do research and to critically analyze art, technology, and other contemporary topics important to them. Students use professional software, rely on technical documentation, learn to troubleshoot projects, and have opportunities to code in a number of different programming languages. Since technology is always evolving, the HIVE fosters a commitment to self-directed and peer-to-peer learning that is beneficial beyond the specific technical skills learned in the studio.
Requirements:
- Parental/guardian permission
- Reliable transportation to and from SAY Sí.
- Current enrollment in middle school or high school (public, private, or home school), grades 6-11.
Must be committed to:
- Good attendance year-round
- Complete all SAY Sí projects in a timely manner.
- Act as a positive influence in the studios.
- Attend weekly studio sessions and student meetings for high schooler.
Click here to learn more about the application process.
Free
SAY Sí’s Visual Arts studio is one of four comprehensive creative youth development programs offered at SAY Sí. Through project-based learning, visual arts students explore a variety of mediums, including drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, installation art, and more. Students hone their skills as professional artists by conducting in-depth research before making artwork, writing artist statements, and participating in critiques. Additionally, visual arts students explore future creative endeavors and careers through visiting artist talks and workshops where students can interact and work with professional contemporary visual artists.
The studio has about five themed exhibits a year, where students are challenged to create work that explores their values and beliefs, as well as the role of the arts as a tool for positive social change within their community. Completed student work is displayed in our gallery that is open to the public; this provides students opportunities to present work in a professional manner and take part in entrepreneurial activities. In addition to exhibiting work in the SAY Sí galleries, visual arts students oftentimes receive opportunities to exhibit artwork in other community spaces, participate in large visual arts competitions, or even be commissioned to create work for patrons.
Requirements:
- Parental/guardian permission
- Reliable transportation to and from SAY Sí.
- Current enrollment in middle school or high school (public, private, or home school), grades 6-11.
Must be committed to:
- Good attendance year-round
- Complete all SAY Sí projects in a timely manner.
- Act as a positive influence in the studios.
- Attend weekly studio sessions and student meetings for high schooler.
Click here to learn more about the application process.
Free