Problem Children 2023 details

The program for 2023 will be conducted in person at our workshop space in San Francisco’s Inner Sunset. One-on-one mentor meetings will take place online, while working sessions, workshops, and field trips will take place in person throughout the San Francisco bay area.

Group sessions take place on Saturday mornings, and bring together all students and mentors for reading discussions, presentations, and activities that create meaningful connections. One-on-one sessions are private meetings between students and mentors to work together on developing the students’ project. These are set up based on the schedules of mentors and students.

Workshops are unique opportunities presented by mentors that explore specific topics, tools, and concepts in depth. Field trips will see us visiting museums and galleries for special artist talks, guided tours, and other unique experiences only available to Problem Children students.

The PC Workshop is our name for the physical space which has dedicated working stations for each student. This gives students the opportunity to come in during open hours throughout the week to work on their projects, advance their knowledge, get to know each other, or meet with mentors. The workshop is home to many tools and materials for hands-on creating, as well as educational material, and support from mentors.

Problem Children gave me a chance to understand myself and where I came from differently. I learned how to see my past in a different light.

Sophia

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Areas of focus

We are accepting 6 students in total across all disciplines in the Visual arts.

The visual arts track is for students actively exploring the fields of Photography, Design (graphic & web), Illustration, Painting, Digital Art, Architecture, and Sculpture/Installation.

Applications are open through May 22nd, 2023, with video interviews taking place between February 1st and May 25th. We notify accepted students on a rolling basis, and our final day for notifications will be May 28th.

Apply TODAY!

Program general outline

The program is divided into three mostly consecutive sections

We begin with a focus on readings, presentations, and group discussions that provide context and reference points to create a shared base of understanding.
The second section asks students to identify their interests and work with their mentor to create an actionable plan of experimentation and research that builds towards the creation of a final project. We have no guidelines on what a final project can be — this is up to each student to imagine, design, and create.
The final section is reserved for students to put in dedicated work towards their project, with space for presentations & critique from the larger group, and the communal production of a final exhibition.

Requirements

Students will need to make it to our physical space in San Francisco’s Inner Sunset neighborhood (1288 15th Ave) every Saturday for the duration of the program. We allow up to 3 absences, and are flexible with travel plans or emergency situations.*

Aside from that, each student is required to have consistent access to a laptop or desktop computer, as well as a comfortable & quiet space for one-on-one mentor sessions. Students should also have a reliable way to get to San Francisco for working sessions and field trips.

If you would like to apply, but do not have access to a laptop, please let us know in your application.

*If you know you will miss more than four (4) sessions in total, please strongly consider your application.

Tuition & Application

Tuition for the 3-month program is $1200 and covers all program-related expenses: lunch during each required session, materials for projects, transportation for field trips, program materials (e.g. a reader and project planner) and other unforeseen expenses related to your project.

We highly encourage all interested students to apply regardless of financial means.

If the cost of tuition is a barrier we can discuss scholarships, payment plans, and reduced tuition opportunities with you and your family. We are committed to finding solutions to ensure every accepted student is able to participate in the program regardless of economics.

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