by Lisa Mazzola, Director of Education
The District 75 Saturday Arts Academy is a dynamic weekend program that invites students and families to explore Music, Dance, Theater, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) together. Serving students in grades 5–12, the program encourages family participation in performing arts activities—such as music, dance, and movement—as well as hands-on STEAM design projects facilitated in collaboration with the Center for Architecture. Project-based learning, especially when rooted in architecture and design education, offers students of all abilities meaningful opportunities to build problem-solving skills, strengthen communication, and express their ideas through multiple modes of learning and making.
District 75 provides high-quality, individualized educational programs tailored to meet the unique needs of students with diverse learning styles and significant challenges. These services are delivered in supportive settings that promote independence, ensure dignity, and encourage meaningful integration into the broader community. The Saturday Arts Academy is one of three Center for Architecture Community Programs offered during the current K-12 school year. My involvement in this initiative grew out of prior collaborations with District 75’s Director of Arts Programs, Amanda McFee, during my time as Director of Learning at the Museum of Modern Art.
The STEAM sessions featured creative and accessible themes, including Parks and Playgrounds, Wearable Architecture, Skyscrapers, Animal Architecture, and Bridges. Each program cycle spanned three consecutive Saturdays in October and March and was held at four District 75 community school hubs: Kips Bay (Manhattan), the South Bronx, Brownsville (Brooklyn), and Jamaica (Queens).
Beyond student participation, the program welcomed siblings of all ages, creating an inclusive, intergenerational atmosphere. Many parents and caregivers shared that working alongside their children on projects outside the home made the experience more manageable and enjoyable for everyone. A consistent theme in the feedback was that adults found the hands-on building projects just as engaging and fulfilling as the kids—and that the creative collaboration offered a meaningful outlet for reducing daily stress.
In addition to supporting weekend programming, Amanda McFee also joins our fall Design Educator kick-off meetings to share best practices for working with District 75 students—responding to a need expressed by CFA staff when I began my role as Director of Education.
This year, alongside the Saturday Arts Academy, we are also leading two 8-week Learning by Design: NY residencies at PS 811K in the Bronx and P.S. 35/Manhattan High School in Midtown West.
Special thanks to our program partner Amanda McFee, Director of Arts Programs, District 75, NYC Public Schools, and to the dedicated classroom teachers who supported programming each week in collaboration with District 75 staff. We look forward to continuing this valuable partnership next year.
Center for Architecture Design Educators:
- Hadley Beacham – South Bronx
- Jessica Castillo and Breanna Katsman – Jamaica, Queens
- Kaitlyn Stubbs – Brownsville, Brooklyn
- Lisa Mazzola – Kips Bay, Manhattan