Studio Art & Photography: Middle School Program 2026

This spring, Stay Arts brought its Studio Art & Photography Club to middle school students across four DFEO school sites, introducing young artists to photography as more than just taking pictures, but as a way of observing, experimenting, and telling stories through a variety of creative processes. Throughout the semester, students explored image-making through drawing, printmaking, collage, camera obscuras, cyanotypes, Instax and film photography, stop motion animation, claymation, and film development. By blending traditional art practices with photographic techniques, students learned that images can be created, manipulated, and communicated in many different ways. The program culminated in a collection of original student artworks that were exhibited at the DFEO Expo, celebrating months of creativity, experimentation, and growth. A huge thank you to our incredible teaching artists, DFEO site teams, and every student who embraced new ideas, challenged themselves, and made the program their own. We're proud of what we created together and look forward to continuing to expand access to meaningful arts education throughout our community. Here's a look back at an unforgettable semester. 📷🎞️🎨