RYSE Media, Arts, + Culture Programs
RYSE Center, 3939 Bissell Ave, Richmond, CA 94805
About
RYSE Media, Arts, + Culture Programs offers activities in music, video production, visual arts, performing arts, spoken word, dance, theater, writing, and performance. Young people can take part in projects such as music videos, filmmaking, videography, recording a YouTube video, making a short film, beat production using Reason software, graphic design, photo editing, logo design, and creating material for websites and social media. The program also includes arts-based games, music production and recording, song content analysis, performance skills enhancement, music business guidance, music theory, live instrumentation with piano, drums, and guitar, as well as technical and artistic production training, event production, and performance and exhibition opportunities.
• Ages: 13–18 years old
• Price: RYSE is free for all young people ages 13-21.
The Media, Arts, + Culture Department promotes personal healing, social justice, and community transformation and is anchored in RYSE’s Theory of Liberation. It provides access to industry-standard media equipment, loving and talented teaching artists, and professional development training in music, video production, visual arts, and performing arts. All members have access to RYSE’s facilities, free food, and workshops and programs in arts, health and wellness, youth organizing, college and career development, and more.
Specific program offerings include SPEAK Poet, an interactive spoken word workshop for all writing levels, and Lifeline, a music program where youth learn new writing styles and techniques through hip hop history and use writing as a form of self-care. RYSING Art Club is open to all skill levels, and Videography 101 is described as a safe space for young artists who want to learn film production. The Land of Sankofa Production is an adapted version of The Wiz based in Richmond, CA, written by youth playwright Sukari Wright, and is a youth-led ensemble that explores belonging, home, community power, self-determination, hope, liberation, and finding home within oneself and the community, and will premiere in RYSE Commons’ newly constructed Black Box Theater.
Through Arts Now, RYSE staff partner with youth as creative leaders to co-facilitate workshops for educators, teaching artists, and administrators. The Advanced Media Producers (AMP) Internship Program offers members training in technical and artistic production, pays interns a stipend, and allows AMP members to choose from five artistic areas of concentration: video, visual arts, music, performing arts, and event production. RYSE staff provide mentorship in curriculum development and facilitation skills, and youth have experience presenting at conferences and workshops and performing music or spoken word at conferences.
RYSE staff coordinate paid opportunities in performance and exhibition at RYSE and in the community and support involvement in a concert career pathways program through their relationship with the UC Theatre. Youth also have opportunities to perform music or spoken word at conferences through partnerships with community organizations and agencies in Richmond and Contra Costa County. RYSE is committed to serving the diverse community of youth and young adults in West Contra Costa County with culturally relevant services and supports, is intentional about hiring bilingual staff to support with translation, maintains partner agencies for translation support, uses translation equipment and hired translators for larger community events, and translates brochures and outreach materials into Spanish.
RYSE’s mission states that it creates safe spaces grounded in social justice that build youth power for young people to love, learn, educate, heal and transform lives and communities. RYSE Commons is described as a campus dedicated to and propagating youth culture, innovation, creativity, healing, and connection, and the program has been featured in and recognized by outside entities. One RYSE member shared that the media and arts programs supported their progress as a community artist and youth mentor, and another member described RYSE as an amazing experience and as feeling like another family.
Last updated March 19, 2026.
• Ages: 13–18 years old
• Price: RYSE is free for all young people ages 13-21.
The Media, Arts, + Culture Department promotes personal healing, social justice, and community transformation and is anchored in RYSE’s Theory of Liberation. It provides access to industry-standard media equipment, loving and talented teaching artists, and professional development training in music, video production, visual arts, and performing arts. All members have access to RYSE’s facilities, free food, and workshops and programs in arts, health and wellness, youth organizing, college and career development, and more.
Specific program offerings include SPEAK Poet, an interactive spoken word workshop for all writing levels, and Lifeline, a music program where youth learn new writing styles and techniques through hip hop history and use writing as a form of self-care. RYSING Art Club is open to all skill levels, and Videography 101 is described as a safe space for young artists who want to learn film production. The Land of Sankofa Production is an adapted version of The Wiz based in Richmond, CA, written by youth playwright Sukari Wright, and is a youth-led ensemble that explores belonging, home, community power, self-determination, hope, liberation, and finding home within oneself and the community, and will premiere in RYSE Commons’ newly constructed Black Box Theater.
Through Arts Now, RYSE staff partner with youth as creative leaders to co-facilitate workshops for educators, teaching artists, and administrators. The Advanced Media Producers (AMP) Internship Program offers members training in technical and artistic production, pays interns a stipend, and allows AMP members to choose from five artistic areas of concentration: video, visual arts, music, performing arts, and event production. RYSE staff provide mentorship in curriculum development and facilitation skills, and youth have experience presenting at conferences and workshops and performing music or spoken word at conferences.
RYSE staff coordinate paid opportunities in performance and exhibition at RYSE and in the community and support involvement in a concert career pathways program through their relationship with the UC Theatre. Youth also have opportunities to perform music or spoken word at conferences through partnerships with community organizations and agencies in Richmond and Contra Costa County. RYSE is committed to serving the diverse community of youth and young adults in West Contra Costa County with culturally relevant services and supports, is intentional about hiring bilingual staff to support with translation, maintains partner agencies for translation support, uses translation equipment and hired translators for larger community events, and translates brochures and outreach materials into Spanish.
RYSE’s mission states that it creates safe spaces grounded in social justice that build youth power for young people to love, learn, educate, heal and transform lives and communities. RYSE Commons is described as a campus dedicated to and propagating youth culture, innovation, creativity, healing, and connection, and the program has been featured in and recognized by outside entities. One RYSE member shared that the media and arts programs supported their progress as a community artist and youth mentor, and another member described RYSE as an amazing experience and as feeling like another family.
Last updated March 19, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.