ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM
Creating Access. Building Confidence. Celebrating Culture.
SOAC’s Arts Education Program (AEP) transforms the lives of low-income children and youth in East San José through high-quality, culturally rooted arts instruction. Focused on connection, creativity, and cultural pride, AEP reaches over 900 students annually, ages 6 to 18—most of whom would otherwise lack access to arts education.
Through hands-on classes in music, dance, and visual arts, young people don’t just learn an instrument or craft—they strengthen ties to their peers, families, and heritage.
AEP offers two core experiences:
Summer Camp: Over two sessions each summer, children ages 6–12 immerse themselves in 9 hours of daily creative exploration, discovering art forms from across the cultural spectrum. Camps provide a joyful, full-day learning experience that supports working families while nurturing artistic expression.
School-Year Program: Aligned with the academic calendar, this program provides progressive, 10-week sessions in fall, winter, and spring. Students build technical and performance skills in violin, trumpet, guitar, percussion, and mariachi instruments like vihuela and guitarrón. A long-term partnership with Cashion Cultural Legacy supports instruction in Mexican folkloric dance, ensuring cultural authenticity and excellence.
SOAC’s AEP is grounded in the “developmental pathway to learning” framework, following California Department of Education best practices to deliver an inclusive, enriching, and empowering experience for every child.