Is SF Children's Art Center worth it?

Parents recommend SF Children's Art Center and the average rating is 4.8 out of 5. Overall, the reviews indicate that SF Children's Art Center provides engaging and enjoyable experiences for children.

What ages can go to SF Children's Art Center?

SF Children's Art Center has classes for children ages 1 yrs 9 mo. to 11 yrs. Age-appropriate activities are designed to engage and inspire children at different developmental stages.

SF Children's Art Center - See 2025 Schedules, Reviews & More

About

SF Children's Art Center

Established in 1978, The San Francisco Children't Art Center (SFCAC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, child-centered community art organization that values the importance of process-oriented art instruction.

At SFCAC, children experience the advantage of direct contact with professional artists and connections with their peers from different schools and backgrounds in a small, art focused setting.

A Reggio Emilia-inspired program, children are challenged to make creative choices through age-appropriate art activities including drawing, painting, sculpture and digital photography.

Our methodology is founded in the belief that children use art as they develop language to share their stories, solve challenges, and express ideas. Our mission is to empower children to develop their sense of self through creative exploration.

Founded in 1978

Our Staff

Gail Tarantino, Lead Teacher

Gail Tarantino holds a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, Boston and has been engaging children in the creative process at SFCAC since 1991. Gail is a visual artist whose work has been shown at Fouladi Projects, Sun Valley Center for the Arts, SFMOMA Artists Gallery, the Oakland International Airport, and Kala Art Institute.

Her work is also included in a number of Bay Area private collections.“My role as an art educator has deepened my appreciation of the varied learning strategies and relational aspects embedded in children’s thinking. Being an active participant in witnessing the creative spark that children emit is an experience that I treasure.

After two decades of supporting children’s creative ideas, I continue to be smitten with their poignancy of language, the visual impact of children’s representations and the associations they make while looking at each others project work. Each child’s aesthetic choices are so particular to their own unique way of absorbing the world around them.

Being an observer of the multiple possibilities for invention that children utilize is an endlessly enriching time spent in the SFCAC studio. Listening to what sparks a child’s curiosity has a co-constructive component; taking cues from their ideas and developing projects that inspire the unique viewpoints of each art maker.”

All SFCAC Staff are fingerprinted with thorough background checks with the CA Department of Justice.

Tax ID (EIN): 94-2448876

Location

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Reviews

4.8 (5)

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(Winter Break Half Day Art Camp)

December 24, 2021 - Sharon Joy aguila

Verified Purchase

We asked our 3.5 year old to rate hi art class with Miss Gale, explaining to him that 1 star is “not fun” and 5 stars is a lot of fun. He says 5-stars.

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(Summer Online Creative Camps - Hosted live on Zoom)

July 25, 2020 - Ankita Shrivastava

Verified Purchase

This camp & Amy exceeded all my expectations for a zoom camp. I would love for our kid to go here again!
We have been doing online camps this entire summer for our 6 year old. Our experience with SFAC was by far the best! Our instructor was an absolute joy from a parent perspective. She took care of each kid in the class, every one was encouraged to express themselves in any way that they like. Each question was answered. The environment she created was IMO exemplary for art, especially over zoom. Other classes have noise/too many kids. This was quiet - everyone could hear each other well. She played music during work times -- which I also enjoyed :)

And perhaps the best part was she asked kids to provide inputs about each other. It wasn't just about do your thing and that's it. They were encouraged to hear and be attentive to each other.

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September 1, 2015 - llya B.

We go here with our 2.5 year old son and he loves painting, drawing and play dough activities. Teacher Gail is nice and friendly with kids, she has taught kids for many years. On a flip side, I think sfcac could have done better in developing kids' creativity by breaking routine of painting-drawing-playdoh-story with occasional new activities.

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Questions & Answers

My son is 3.4 years old, can he be accepted into Art II class? Is there and Art I class opening soon? Do parents stay during Art II class? Is there a possibility for a try out class to see how my child responds to the program? (Art Studio for Preschoolers / Kindergarteners) -

asked on Sep 20, 2023

Sep 21, 2023 - Amy Balsbaugh

Hi there. We have an Art Studio I class on Wednesdays from 2:00-3:30 if that works for your schedule. For the Saturday morning class, we are likely going to postpone that class until winter, due to limits to our teaching staff availability on Saturdays this fall. By then, your child will be old enough for the class. Kindly circle back with us in early December when we re-open enrollment. Warmly, Amy -

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Hello. I was about to register my 2 kids (ages 7 & 10) when the website informed me that there was only one space left.... Oh no! Is it possible to squeeze both of my kids into this camp, or a similar camp the following week? Thanks for considering. Cristina (Art Camp at SF Children's Art Center) -

asked on Apr 22, 2023

Apr 24, 2023 - Amy Balsbaugh

Hi Cristina, It's possible that additional spaces could open up, but I'm not certain which week you're interested in. -

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SF Children's Art Center

Established in 1978, The San Francisco Children't Art Center (SFCAC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, child-centered community art organization that values the importance of process-oriented art instruction.

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