CE artist Hung Kei Shiu, a man of Asian descent, drawing in the studio.jpg

\ Art changes lives

Over 40 years of supporting artists with disabilities in San Francisco.

We are a studio in San Francisco that partners with artists with developmental disabilities to celebrate and nurture the creative potential in all of us.

Now Enrolling: Saturday & Afterschool Youth Programs

Imaginate YAY! is a Saturday art program for neurodiverse young adults aged 18–22. Saturdays during the Fall school semester, students can create art using different materials, go on field trips to art places in San Francisco, and connect with others who share similar interests.

Imaginate Teen! is an afterschool program for youth artists aged 11–18 where they can try different art forms, express themselves, and make new friends. This program is all about choice—students decide how often they attend (one, two, or all three days per week) and what kind of art they want to create.

\ Events and Exhibitions

Events & Exhibitions
Black Gold
Jun 6
Black Gold

Black Gold: Stories Untold invites 17 contemporary artists and collectives to reflect on the resilience, struggles, and triumphs of African Americans who lived in California from the Gold Rush to the Reconstruction period following the Civil War (c. 1849–1877). Through newly commissioned and recent artworks, the exhibition highlights important but lesser-known figures and narratives from California’s history, exploring the presence of slavery and the struggle for legal rights within this “free” state, the successes of Black entrepreneurs, and the experiences of African American Army regiments known as the Buffalo Soldiers. More broadly, Black Gold illuminates the role that Black communities played in the state’s cultural, social, and political environment of the time.

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Places for People
Sep 18
Places for People

Places for People offers multiple and varying expressions of this right to the city. Through drawings and mixed media works, the artists in this exhibition explore the relationships between people and the built environment, forging, as the artist Mildred Howard has noted, “a bridge between creative minds, regardless of ability.” Whether recasting familiar guideposts and landmarks, expressing political activism and protest, or showcasing the diverse groups of people that call San Francisco their home, these artists provide unique vantage points from which to reconsider our shared environment, and demonstrate the creative promise that the city continues to offer.

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Viva Imaginate: Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
Sep 20
Viva Imaginate: Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

Come celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at Creativity Explored with a fun-filled day of art-making. Enjoy hands-on crafts, delicious bites, and learn more about Hispanic heritage — all completely free! Bring the whole family — everyone is welcome. Creativity Explored is an art studio in the Mission District that champions neurodivergent artists by providing studio space, materials, and support. Our venue is ADA accessible. No prior artmaking experience necessary.

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