The Arts and Science Council’s (ASC) youth development program, Studio 345 is getting a new home and is moving to Arts+ on July 1st. While not physically moving, Studio 345 will be under Arts+’s administration and will remain in their same location in Spirit Square.

Studio 345 was created in 2012 as a free program students could use when school was out. The program uses the arts as a way to energize students who are at risk for dropping out of school or not graduating and inspires them to stay in school and set goals for themselves beyond high school. There were 133 students in the inaugural class and over the past eight years the program has seen more than 3000 alumni.

Aligning Studio 345 under Arts+ is a match made in heaven since both program’s foundations are built on arts education and work to instill a love for the arts in each student who comes through their doors. Students are able to learn digital photography, digital media arts and multimedia design.

In its first year, students who participated in the Studio 345 program had a 95% high school graduation rate. Since then, students who come through Studio 345’s doors have a 100% graduation rate from high school. The program is run on a trimester basis and open to all Charlotte-Mecklenburg School students. It is capable of supporting 160 students each trimester.

While they are working through their fall plans, they ensure that the program can still provide top tier arts education to students whether it be virtual, in-person or a combination of both.

Stella Park, a member of the class of 2020 who is planning on attending N.C. State University in the fall said, “My favorite thing about coming to Studio 345 after school was being in a space full of creative people and being in an environment that allowed me to express myself artistically.”

You can read the ASC’s press release about the new alignment here.

*Featured Image via the Arts & Science Council