Introducing Game-Based Arts for High-School Students

K-12 STEAM education

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

We are focused on the immediate education, diversity, and skill-based needs for game-based arts.
Despite their strong interest in games, students lack opportunities to learn game-making skills, leaving a gap between their passion and their ability to create. A 2021 Joan Ganz Cooney Center survey found that 54% of teachers believe video games can help develop STEAM skills, but only 8% use classroom game-making tools.
Even though 30% of the games industry is based in LA, the industry does not reflect its community. Underrepresented groups often lack access to the tools and pathways needed to pursue gaming careers. A 2021 IGDA report found that only 24% of game developers are women, 2% are Black, and 7% are Latinx. That contrasts deeply with LA's population: 50% women, 8% Black, and 49% Latinx.
Game-based skills are increasingly relevant in non-gaming domains, but training opportunities are limited. A 2021 Unity survey found that 63% of AEC firms use real-time 3D tools, often game-based.

Gameplayarts proposes an innovative after-school program to bridge educational gaps, inspire creative expression, and cultivate a thriving community of game-based artists in Los Angeles. The program will provide three cohorts of high school students in Los Angeles with immersive workshops, personalized tutoring, and inspiring field trips to explore game-making as an art form.
Workshops will offer hands-on experience in game design, world-building, and interactive fiction, led by local artists using Gameplayarts equipment and software. Two-hour tutoring sessions will focus on foundational skills through ongoing game design exercises and targeted support for Roblox and Minecraft projects, following the LAUSD calendar for accessibility. Small-group sessions will be held on weekdays from 4-6 pm and on weekends. Monthly field trips will connect students with the vibrant game-making community, visiting game studios, university labs, indie spaces, and creative firms to expose them to diverse career paths and real-world applications. A final exhibition will showcase student projects to Gameplayarts' predominantly BIPOC community.
The program will emphasize games' cultural value and artistic merit, with dedicated spaces for creativity, collaboration, and mentorship from volunteer industry professionals. Recruitment will prioritize underrepresented communities and Title I schools, accommodating diverse skill levels and learning styles.

If our work is successful, by 2034, our program will contribute to training 15,000 new game-based artists and creatives in LA, representing 30% of our global target of 50,000. We'll impact LA in several ways:
Education: More local students will pursue game-based curricula at local institutions like UCLA, USC, and Occidental, elevating LA's reputation as a center for game-based education.
Cultural impact: Major LA cultural institutions will regularly showcase game-based art as an important part of city's creative ecosystem.
Cross-sector innovation: An uptick in game-based projects outside of gaming, from architecture to entertainment to healthcare.
Cultural shift: With 76% of adults and 90% of children over two already engaged with games, our program will transform LA from a city of game consumers to game creators.
Scale: We want this program to expand beyond Mid-City, LA, and would love to offer it to more Angelenos through partnerships with cultural institutions and schools.

We will define and measure success through these critical metrics:
Skill development: We'll assess students' game-making skills through pre- and post-program evaluations, tracking game design and systems thinking improvement to address the skills gap in game-based arts education.
Diversity impact: We'll closely monitor participants' demographic data to ensure we're reaching and serving underrepresented communities. Project completion: We'll track the number and quality of student-created games and projects. This tangible output will prove our program's success in nurturing creativity and technical skills.
Career pathways: We'll conduct follow-up surveys with alumni to track their entry into game-related education programs or careers. This long-term impact measure will show how our program is shaping thearts and culture landscape.
Since this program is new, we'll establish baseline data and set annual targets for each metric, regularly reviewing and adjusting our approach.