South Bay Hands On Art traces its roots back to 1975, when budget cuts in the Palos Verdes Unified School District deeply impacted arts education. In response, a group of dedicated parents launched a program called Art At Your Fingertips (AAYF) to ensure their school-age children could continue experiencing the arts. The program was so successful that, by 1982, a new pilot initiative was launched to extend its reach beyond PVUSD schools.

 

One of the resulting “sister” programs was South Bay Hands On Art, established in 1987 with just four elementary schools and thirty docents. In 1994, another sister program, Adventures in Art, was created when Torrance formed its own group. This allowed Hands On Art to expand into the entire Redondo Beach public school system. Over time, the model continued to grow, and today there are six sister programs in the area.

 

Today, South Bay Hands On Art proudly serves 22 schools—both public and private—with over 350 docents. We bring six diverse art projects each year to students in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms, giving children the opportunity to experience the joy and magic of art in a non-judgmental, non-threatening environment.

 

Thanks to the tireless efforts of parent volunteers whose passion for art brightens our children’s world, Hands On Art provides a rich and inspiring opportunity to engage with art in fun and meaningful ways. South Bay Hands On Art is proudly supported by the California State PTA, the Redondo Beach Art Group, and our generous sponsors.