community
Accessibility matters
​​Over the past 12 years, PacSAW has engaged diverse communities by offering free performing arts programs to African American, Latino, Chinese, White, and LGBTQ+ youth in under-resourced areas like the Tenderloin and Mission. Through partnerships with SFUSD and local schools, we eliminate financial barriers and provide instruction in English, Spanish, and Mandarin.
Our programs foster self-expression, resilience, and confidence by encouraging students to create scenes reflecting their own experiences. Public performances, including our Gala, offer valuable stage opportunities, and we continue to build partnerships that celebrate the cultural diversity of our city.
schools we serve
Archbishop Riordan High School
Aptos Middle School
Children's Day School
De Marillac Academy
SF Community Music Center (CMC)
​Galileo Academy of Science and Technology
Gateway Middle School
Immaculate Conception Academy
James Lick Middle School
Presidio Middle School
Rooftop Elementary School
St. Anthony Immaculate Conception School
Visitacion Valley Middle School
Woodside Learning Center​
tailored arts programs
We offer tailored programs to meet the needs of each student community. Whether it's choral support, musical theater direction, choreography, audition intensives, improv or clowning workshops, et cetera, our diverse group of teaching artists are here to enhance your learning. We also value receiving feedback from our education partners to continue refining our programs. Our goal is to continually evolve along with our students.
extending partnerships
We collaborate with credentialed teachers to strengthen their curricular camps and programs throughout the year.
summer & Winter residency at cmc
PacSAW’s 5-day Summer Camp and Winter Residency at SF Community Music Center in the Mission culminates in a live show open to the public, where audiences can see each student perform scenes, songs, and dances.
woodside learning center
We continue to serve and strengthen our relationship with Woodside Learning Center, formerly Juvenile Hall. We coach 14-18 year old teens on healthy self-expression and socio-emotional learning.
James lick middle school bilingual drama enrichment
We deeply value our long-term partnerships with schools like James Lick, and supported one of their students, Christian Jimenez, to eventually join PacSAW's Student Teaching Artist Program! He now guest teaches the bilingual drama class at his alma mater, connecting with his roots and his old teacher, Mr. C.
ouR gala
PacSAW’s 2024 Gala Celebration was open to the public and featured
international opera stars performing alongside 16 students from Galileo Academy of Science & Technology, Aptos Middle School, and CMC. 130 guests cheered student performances of scenes, monologues, and musical numbers with choreography.
