What is First Exposures?
First Exposures is an arts mentoring program, which offers free photography classes to young people in our community. Our mentees come to us through local schools, after-school programs and agencies working with youth from all areas in the city and Bay Area, including South of Market, Bayview, Tenderloin, Fillmore, and others.
Our goal is to provide art education to underserved youth from a variety of backgrounds including those who come from families who could not otherwise afford photography classes, are in the foster care system, and/or who are underserved by the larger community in some way. Students are 11 - 18 years old and want to learn how to do photography with the help of a mentor. While learning how to make art, the students in First Exposures also develop academic and life skills. In First Exposures, students are provided with cameras and all needed materials, learn how to work with digital photography, exhibit their artwork at the end of the semester, and spend time with creative, fun, and supportive people of all ages.