Youth Programs
Beloved Crucible Field Trips Return After Three-Year Hiatus
Cathy Niland | 03.01.2023
This past Thursday, February 23, more than 180 students and educators from across the East Bay gathered at The Crucible for our first Field Trip Day in three years. The studio was buzzing with excitement as students, ages 5-18, watched live demonstrations in Blacksmithing, Glass Blowing, Ceramics, Welding, and more.
For many, a Crucible field trip is their first exposure to the industrial arts. And while they may have explored two-dimensional art in school, seeing our faculty work in three dimensions can spark a new creative interest.
That was the case for former Fuego Youth Leader and current Glass Flameworking instructor, C’Zarriah Davis-Smith four years ago. “That field trip to The Crucible changed my perspective on art. I thought I could only do 2D art, more traditional art. It didn’t cross my mind that I could do industrial art like flameworking or glass blowing.”
Field Trip Days are a crucial connection point for Crucible staff and students like C’Zarriah who might be a good fit for our scholarship or Fuego Youth Leadership programs. Both Oakland Public and Title 1 schools attend for free, removing financial barriers to access for local BIPOC students.
Youth Programs Manager, Samantha Espinoza, explained the importance of those initial interactions. “Field Trip Days really help us get students to take their first step into the building. They engage with new learning experiences they might not have been otherwise exposed to.”
Field Trip Days continue this spring with our next date on Thursday, March 23. Check out our gallery and visit our Field Trip Day page to learn how to bring your school to The Crucible.
Day 1
Thursday, February 23, 2023
Day 2
Thursday, March 23, 2023
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