Oakwood Arts

Arts and technology program:our Arts & tech programs are designed to create an education-to-employment pathway for those from backgrounds that are currently under-represented in the creative industries. These programs are comprised of semester-long after-school programs, week-long camps, and workshops that introduce teens from under-resourced communities to a variety of creative professions. Participants learn directly from visiting creative career professionals, and from college students and recent graduates, who serve as one-on-one mentors and instructors. All of our programs are free and provide students the opportunity to use state-of-the-art equipment and software, giving teens the digital and technical skills needed to succeed in the creative workforce.

Contemporary art programming:our contemporary art programs support emerging artists who are currently underrepresented in almost all sectors of the art world. Artists, Arts educators, and/or curators are invited to participate in our residency, and our solstice Arts auction. We also hold professional practice programs and workshops that are relevant to emerging artists' careers. Residency activities may include artist production, research, organizing exhibitions and community-engaged projects. Solstice art auction and event celebrates a diverse group of internationally-recognized and local artists working across several media and processes. The event provides valuable exposure and financial support for emerging artists and also for oa programming.

Creative workforce innovation/ oa jet (job education training): oa jet is a training & job placement program for emerging creatives who are currently underrepresented in many creative industries. The program is designed to create access to positions in film & television, for those who have an interest in-but not the opportunity-to work in the film industry. Our oa jet cohorts have the opportunity to work on a short film production once trained we place our program participants to work on sets of productions produced by major film & television studios (amc, apple tv+, hulu, netflix, and showtime). We have a partnership with local 487 of the international alliance of theatrical stage employees (iatse) union, recognizing oa jet as the only official (pre) training program in Virginia for union film & television production.