Creative Growth Studio program is offered 9:30am to 3pm, Monday through Friday. The program provides a professional art studio setting and facilitation for over 140 artists in drawing, painting, video production, ceramics, wood, fiber arts, textiles, and printmaking. The program is further enriched by trips to museums, galleries, and artists’ studios. Artists develop a working portfolio and many artists produce exhibition quality artwork for sale in the Creative Growth Gallery and internationally.
Creative Growth serves artists with developmental disabilities who share an interest in exploring creativity. We primarily serve individuals who are eligible for Regional Center services. We require no previous art experience, only a sincere desire to engage in and enjoy the art-making process. We prefer enrolling artists who can commit to at least 4 days of program.
Application and Integration Process:
1. If you are interested in exploring the possibility of attending Creative Growth, contact your Regional Center Case Manager informing them of your interest in arts.
2. Your Regional Center Case Manager contacts our Artist Services Director and provides a referral prior to the initial tour of our studio.
3. After receiving a referral from your Case Manager, the Artist Services Director will contact you for a tour of our studio and gallery. An informal interview will be conducted after the tour and you will receive an application package.
4. Plan to attend the tour with either a family member, caregiver, an ILS/SLS staff, or your Case Manager to make sure you will not miss any important information. You will meet our artists, staff, and see how art is created collectively and individually in our studio in Uptown Oakland.
5. Upon acceptance, the first month of enrollment is a trial period. This gives you an opportunity to fully integrate into our program. Upon successful completion of a trial period, we will meet to talk about your experience and to establish your personal goals, as they relate to your work at Creative Growth.
For questions, please contact:
Amelia Whittlesey
Artist Services Director
510.836.2340 x 111
clientservices@creativegrowth.org