Bringing
Technology-Driven
Arts to Schools
Our Mission
Yo Art enhances everyday classroom curriculum with media arts programs designed to spark students’ curiosity and teach real-world skills. Our projects encourage learning through discovery and discipline, improvisation and technique, and provide a fertile ground for creative thought through coding, photography, filmmaking, and design.
Our Programs
PHOTOGRAPHY
Students learn the basic principals of photography and how to use a sequence of photographs to communicate ideas and tell a story.
YO CODING
The process of designing and programming teaches young people to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively— essential skills for life in the 21st century.
DESIGN
Yo Art teaches students basic concepts of graphic, fashion, and landscape design.
FILM MAKING
Students learn techniques of digital videography and how to creatively edit their footage, along with graphics & EFX, to create finished presentation pieces in iMovie.
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Our Spring semester is underway!
Happy 2019! Yo Art has so far started its Spring semester at Charleston Development Academy, Angel Oak Elementary, and Philip Simmons High. We wanted to share some before and after images that 9th and 11th graders at PSH accomplished in ONE day of graphic design!...
End-of-year giving!
Yo Art has been helping more than a thousand underprivileged students in the Lowcountry this year to get the experience they need in media arts and coding that is crucial to their success in finding meaningful careers and jobs when they get out of school. Our...
Yo Art Spring Schedule 2019
Monday
Charleston Development Academy, 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. – 7th grade, Photography
Wednesday
Angel Oak Elementary, 8:45 to 9:30 – 5th grade, Coding
Philip Simmons High School, 10:35 to 11:35 – 9th and 11th grade, Graphic Design
Jerry Zucker Middle, 11:55 to 2:00 – 6th, 7th, and 8th grade, Coding
Thursday
Cainhoy Elementary, 8:20 to 9 – 5th grade, Photography
Charleston Development Academy, 2:05 to 2:45 – 8th grade, Intermediate Fashion Design
Friday
Cainhoy Elementary, 8:20 to 9 – 5th grade, Photography
Mitchell Elementary, 10:15 to 11:45 – 4th grade, Photography
Testimonials
There has been substantial research done on coding in the classroom with exclusively positive results. The increase in my standardized test scores (by 17 points in Math Aspire Act scores) since introducing Yo Art’s coding program is actually exceeding the results of the research. They started increasing the first year and have steadily increased with each subsequent year. I have also seen improvement in student engagement and in morale in my classroom .
Debra DirkesYo Art was quite a gift to the students and for me at Mary Ford. Your willingness to accept our students and meet them where they are in their learning took great perseverance, fortitude and patience. We are so appreciative for these weekly experiences.
LaDene ConroyWhen I was in college back in mid-sixties, we couldn’t even believe and imagine where we would be today, but what kids can do with technology—and in large part due to the efforts you’ve made. Yo Art’s truly an amazing organization, and your history’s been terrific, so thank you so much.
Richard JerueAwards
NAHRO | National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials recognized Yo Art for its innovative and creative after-school programming. In 2009, only two nonprofits were awarded this honor in South Carolina.
Nickelodeon | awarded Yo Art with The Big Green Help grant in 2010 for its education in environmental stewardship with students through the arts.
Americans for the Arts | along with Josh Groban’s Find Your Light Foundation recognized the efforts of Yo Art in 2011 for its hard work and dedication towards enriching the lives of children through art and creativity within the community.