Monthly 21+ Stitch & Sip. Supplies included. Sliding scale. Bring a project or start fresh every 3rd Friday, 5:30–8:30 PM at YAX.
Join the YAX Youth Advisory Board for Voices of the City, a youth-centered celebration of creativity, storytelling, and community! This event is free and open to all youth and families—come as you are, and bring the people you love.
Join us for an evening celebrating local artists, live music, poetry, and comedy right in the heart of the Mission! Our By The Station Open Mic is a welcoming space where performers of all levels can share their work and the community can come together to experience the creativity of San Francisco’s youth and artists.
Join Youth Art Exchange for a festive Winter Ornament Making Workshop on Monday, November 24th! Create handmade ornaments to decorate a community tree at the SF Symphony, and make an extra one to take home. Free • All ages welcome • Materials provided.
Join us for Through Our Eyes, Youth Art Exchange’s Fall Youth Exhibition, on Saturday, November 22nd from 1–4 PM at 1950 Mission Street. Celebrate the creativity and talent of our young artists as we showcase work from YAX’s fall classes. Free • All ages welcome.
Indigenous Peoples Day Art Camp
📅 Date: October 13, 2025
📍 Location: 2330 San Jose Ave, San Francisco
👥 Ages: 7–14 (3rd–5th graders )
🕘 Hours: 8:45 AM – 4:15 PM
🎟️ Capacity: 20 students
💲 Tuition: $150 (racial equity + financial need scholarships available)
Students will spend the day with local artists in a multimedia collage workshop, a hand sewing session, and a fun Field Day of outdoor games and activities. The camp emphasizes creativity, cultural awareness, and play. YAX provides snacks, and students bring their own lunch. At the end of the day, youth will have artwork to share and celebrate.
Friday, August 29, 2025 | 5:00–8:00 PM
Youth Art Exchange – 2330 San Jose Ave, San Francisco
$10 Suggested Donation | Ages 18+
Join us for a creative and cozy evening at Youth Art Exchange! At Stitch & Sip + Movie Night, you'll enjoy hand embroidery, a relaxed film screening, and good company—all in our vibrant community art space.
We’ll provide all materials, plus beer, wine, non-alcoholic drinks, and snacks to keep you fueled while you stitch and unwind. Whether you’re an experienced embroiderer or just curious to try something new, this is the perfect low-pressure space to create, connect, and chill.
Getting here is easy! We’re just a 1-minute walk from Balboa Park BART and steps from the M Muni line and several bus routes (54, 43, 8BX, 714).
All proceeds support free and low-cost youth arts programming at Youth Art Exchange.
Space is limited—RSVP today!
Experience the transformative power of art at (415) Public Gallery, a community-driven event on March 20, 2025. This interactive exhibit breaks barriers with open curation, turning walls and spaces into a public canvas for artists and audiences alike. Join us to celebrate inclusivity, creativity, and collaboration in the heart of San Francisco.
🎨✨ Youth Art Summit 2025 – A Celebration of Young Creatives! ✨🎨
📅 Date: Saturday, May 3rd, 2025
📍 Location: Youth Art Exchange | La Fénix, 1950 Mission St, San Francisco, CA
⏰ Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Join us for the Youth Art Summit 2025, a dynamic gathering of young artists, visionaries, and community leaders! This event is all about uplifting youth voices through creativity, collaboration, and artistic expression.
What’s in Store?
🎭 Live Art & Performances
🖌️ Hands-On Creative Workshops
🎤 Inspiring Guest Speakers
🎨 Youth Art Exhibition
🤝 Networking & Community Connections
Whether you’re a young artist, an advocate for the arts, or just love creative spaces, this is an event you won’t want to miss!
📢 Stay Tuned!
Registration opens soon—follow us on Instagram @youthartx for updates!
Let’s celebrate the next generation of artists together! 🚀✨
Summer Art Camp 2025 is here! Join us June 23 – July 18 for themed art weeks. Ages 7-12, 9 AM – 4 PM in SF. Scholarships available.
Get ready to celebrate love and creativity at our Valentine’s Day arts and crafts event! Join us for a fun-filled day of DIY projects, light snacks, and community connection. Whether you’re making a gift for someone special or just enjoying the creative vibes, this free event is perfect for all ages. Let’s craft something beautiful together!
Join us for Youth Art Exchange's Spring Orientation to explore our exciting classes, meet our teaching artists, and connect with the creative community. Open to students, parents, and community members, this event is your gateway to discovering music, dance, photography, and more. Light refreshments provided—don’t miss out!
Join Youth Art Exchange as we welcome the Lunar New Year with a free celebration for all ages! On February 2, 2025, we’ll gather at La Fenix (1950 Mission St, San Francisco) for an afternoon of festive activities, cultural performances, and community connection. Bring friends and family to share in this joyful event and celebrate the Lunar New Year together. Time TBD—stay tuned for more details on how you can take part in this exciting day!
Join Youth Art Exchange in making ornaments for our Christmas tree at the SF Symphony! Let's craft beautiful decorations together!
Join our fall session classes for a final exhibition from 12-2pm on Saturday, November 23rd, at YAX Studios at La Fénix (1950 Mission Street, SF). More details coming soon!
Celebrate Veterans Day with us at Youth Art Exchange! On November 11th, stop by our Portrait Pop-Up, where you can get a professional portrait taken for free by talented photographer Autumn Swisher. This event is a unique opportunity to capture a personal moment or create a special memory with friends and family. All are welcome, so bring your smile and join us for this community-focused event honoring Veterans Day.
Join us at YAX Studios on October 30th, from 2 PM to 7 PM, for a free Día de Los Muertos celebration. Enjoy self-led foam skull painting and offering box creation—supplies provided! Warm up with hot chocolate and treats while creating meaningful art in a family-friendly, community-focused space. All are welcome!
Event: Makers Mash Halloween Bash
Time: 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Location: Salesforce Park, 425 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94105
Join us for a spook-tacular day of fun at the Makers Mash Halloween Bash, a family-friendly event hosted by Youth Art Exchange! Get ready to celebrate Halloween with an exciting lineup of activities, including a fabulous fashion show, live DJ music, hands-on costume creation, and an energetic hip-hop dance workshop.
Whether you’re looking to show off your best Halloween outfit or learn some new dance moves, there’s something for everyone. Bring your friends and family, and let’s make this Halloween unforgettable!
Don't miss out on the fun—see you there! 🎃👻
Do you love YAX? Youth arts? Making a difference? Join people from Youth Art Exchange's Advisory Board and staff to learn more about the organization and Advisory Board membership on Wednesday, October 23rd at 5pm via Zoom.
YAX is currently seeking Advisory Board members with a passion for our work to help the organization fulfill our mission & vision, reach our financial goals, and expand our strategic networks. The YAX Advisory Board meets regularly through its meetings, committee work, and special events.
Check out artmaking activities with YAX at Outside Lands in “The Mission”!
More about The Mission from Outside Lands: Each year, Outside Lands picks a cause to champion as our annual mission. Our goal with this mission is to use the platform of the festival experience to inspire our capable, diverse Outside Lands community to collectively effect change around an issue important to them. While this is a festival-wide endeavor, The Mission, located within Hellman Hollow, is the physical locus of this effort - a place where we host non-profit organizations that pursue work on our annual cause, and other important issues, year-round.
In this election year, the Mission is thrilled to dedicate itself to the issue of Voting: registration; awareness; and participation. Often lost in partisan politics is the importance of having a voice and the power of civic participation. We want our community members to recognize their individual and collective power, to see that participation in the democratic process is an essential way to engage with the causes they care about. We believe that fans should advocate for their personal values and passions – be they education, the arts, local business, agriculture; or any of the causes championed by our community – at the national and local levels, in their every-day lives and moments of collective importance. We hope to see you at the Mission, and at the ballot box.
Join YAX students and faculty showcasing their work in architecture, mural arts, and printmaking on Thursday, July 25th from 3-5pm at YAX Studios at La Fénix (1950 Mission Street, San Francisco).
Summer Architecture Internship is supported by San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, David Baker Architects, and Mithun. Summer Printmaking and Mural Arts Internships are supported by San Francisco Arts Commission.
On Sunday, July 21st, 2024, celebrate Sunday Streets Excelsior, one of the open street destinations (Ciclovía) routes to walk or roll this season. Taking place on Mission St between Theresa/Avalon St and Geneva Ave, neighbors and visitors alike are invited to the Excelsior to enjoy free recreation, health resources, music, dance and more!
Join YAX staff and board for an open house to see our Architecture Summer Internship Program in action. Facilitated by architecture faculty Luke Daenen and Chris Lam (YAX alumnus), youth are exploring architecture and its role to connect people in San Francisco. You can also get a sneak peak of our Mural Arts internship activities too.
Email reed@youthartexchange.org with any questions.
YAX is hosting its 14th annual San Francisco Youth Arts Summit on Saturday, April 27th from 12-5pm at our new multidisciplinary arts venue in the Mission. YAX Studios at La Fénix is located at 1950 Mission Street on the ground floor of a 100% affordable site conveniently located just steps away from the 16th Street Mission Station. This year, we are partnering with San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD Arts) to co-host this event as a part of the annual SFUSD Citywide Arts Festival and their arts hubs happening throughout San Francisco. Click here to RSVP or just pop in!
Thursday, Feb. 8th, 6-9pm
Youth Art Exchange Studios at La Fénix
1950 Mission Street, San Francisco
Enjoy a festive fun evening at Youth Art Exchange Studios at 1950 Mission Street with great food and drinks while grooving to DJ Mike Kershnar and Artist/DJ a d p. There will be a silent auction (which opens online February 8th), Attending this event will give you access for the 1st viewing of Pablo's "SKATED & PAINTED" art show.
Tickets are $75 per person. Your support of this event helps youth with limited financial resources have opportunities and access to the amazing programs, like YAX, funded via Pablo’s Foundation. Pablo Ramirez Foundation has been an incredible partner and champion for our programs. We hope you join YAX in feeling inspired by Pablo's life and can help support us by attending this event.
Join us for upcoming events!
Learn more about the Pablo Ramirez Foundation events here.
Friday Feb. 9, 2024
HUF x PRF Capsule Launch
HUF SF
968 Valencia St.
5-6 pm
Join Pablo Ramirez Foundation at HUF SF at 968 Valencia St. for the release of Pablo’s art on a limited edition HUF x PRF capsule. We will be meeting at HUF at 5 pm and then skating over to YAX at 6:00 pm for the opening night of Pablo’s Skated x Painted Art Show. Don't miss this opportunity to get a piece of Pablo’s art while supporting PRF. HUF will be generously donating 100% of the proceeds of this capsule to the Pablo Ramirez Foundation. Your purchase of the HUF x PRF Capsule helps us to fund our scholarship programs.
Friday, Feb. 9, 2024
Skated & Painted Art Opening
Youth Art Exchange Studios at La Fénix
1950 Mission St, SF
6-9 pm
Don't miss the Opening Night of Pablo’s Skated + Painted Art Show. Join us for a night of jamming DJ tunes with guest DJ’s Artist Mike Kershnar and DJ ADP Beats. This is a free event but we encourage you to pay whatever you can knowing your donation will help raise money to fund the many scholarship programs which serve kids in need. Pablo’s art show will be on view from Feb 9-29th at YAX.
Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024
Community Skate Jam
Baby Steps Jazz Jam
Waller Skate Park
751 Stanyan St.
2-5 pm
Meet up at Waller SkatePark for a community skate jam. Sat Feb 10th would have been Pablo’s 31st B-day. Come skate and give a push for Pablo while we come together as a community. Pablo Ramirez Foundation will be offering skate lessons with the crew from SF Skate Club, merch giveaways and a special live jazz set with Baby Steps and DJ set with ADP Beats. Help celebrate Pablo’s legacy by skating together and remembering that Pablo always reminded us that Life is Beautiful.
These events are hosted by Pablo Ramirez Foundation with support from Youth Art Exchange, SF Recreation & Parks, I <3 SF Skate Club, HUF, Senior Sisig, Baby Steps, Mike Kershnar, and A.D.P Beats.
YAX's Youth Advisory Board is hosting a series of free artmaking parties this spring in the Mission and Excelsior! These events are all ages and family friendly. Thank you to support from B.L.I.N.G., Youth Funding Youth Ideas (YFYI), and Pablo Ramirez Foundation for making this series possible!
Date: February 18, 2024
Time: 1-3pm
Location: YAX Studios at La Fénix (1950 Mission Street)
Join featured artist Chon Don to paint your deck, make stickers, and more. Bring your board! We'll have projects and supplies if you don't have a deck to paint. Check out a DJ, and enjoy tasty treats. RSVP here or just drop by!
Participate in an artmaking workshop with artist K-Dub, listen to music, and more.
Participate in an artmaking workshop, listen to music, and enjoy lion dancers from LionDanceME.
Learn more about joining YAX!
Join featured artist Vida Vasquez for a textile workshop to decorate and keep a canva mini bag, check out a DJ, and enjoy tasty treats.
Join YAX to celebrate our fall session youth artists and their work on Saturday, December 9th from 1-4pm at YAX Studios at La Fénix (1950 Mission Street). We will have free live artmaking workshops and a pop up portrait studio with @autumnswisherphotography. Thank you to the SF Shine Award (from @sfparksalliance and @sfoewd) for supporting our free live artmaking activities!!
YAX Free Pop Up Portrait Studio with Photographer Autumn Swisher
YAX is partnering again with Autumn Swisher for our FREE pop up portrait studio! This year, we're doing one in the Mission and one in the Excelsior! Need a holiday gift? A family portrait? Headshot? Cute dog pics?
You can RSVP below or just stop by!
Excelsior Event: Friday, December 8th 1-7pm
YAX Studios at Kapuso, 400 Geneva Avenue, San Francisco, CA
Mission Event: Saturday, December 9th 1-7pm
YAX Studios at La Fénix, 1950 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA
This project is supported by California Arts Council. Donate to YAX to support this work!
Contact Us: 415) 574-8137 or info@youthartexchange.org
