YES Component Spotlight: Media Arts

In the Science Center’s Youth Exploring Science (YES) Program, local teens explore seven STEAM components ranging from aerospace and engineering to agriscience and cybersecurity, as they develop the skills to pursue the career and educational opportunities in today’s STEAM-skilled workforce. Today, we’re taking a look at the YES Program’s Media Arts component.

“In the YES Program we emphasize STEAM learning in each component,” says Jasmine Krueger, manager of YES’s Media Arts component.

In the Media Arts component the YES Teens are taught the fundamental STEAM skills needed to succeed in a career in the field of media arts, including skills in photography, videography, editing, sound design, graphic design and art. Teens get the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with technology, including industry equipment—everything from DSLR cameras, lighting systems, photo backdrops and a 20-foot green screen to iMac Pros, iPad Pros and Wacom tablets in order to capture and edit footage.

In addition, the YES Teens get to edit and share their projects through the Science Center’s social media and YouTube pages, allowing them to gain skills in branding and social media management, as well as participate firsthand in marketing campaigns.

“The Media Arts component shows how science and art are connected, and it’s aligned with the Missouri Media Arts standards,” says Krueger. “However, we take the teens a step further by giving them the option of becoming an Adobe Certified Associate.” Based on their interests and career goals, teens can work toward getting certified in Adobe Premiere Pro, Illustrator or Photoshop, teaching them the cutting-edge skills needed to succeed in the media arts industry and giving them a leg up on the competition.

The main goal of the program isn’t just to teach the teens how to use media equipment and edit footage, but how to do so creatively and ethically.

“I want the teens to gain confidence as media artists,” says Krueger, “and be able to walk out of my classroom with the skills needed to make smart and safe choices, whether it’s posting to social media, vetting a news outlet or creating a piece of artwork. In the Media Arts component, I want to empower them to use their critical thinking skills when approaching media art.”

Meet the Instructor: Jasmine Krueger

Jasmine Krueger is a multimedia artist and educator. She received her Masters Degree in Art and Visual Media from Tiffin University, her BFA in Art Education from the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, and her Associates Degree in Secondary Education from Saint Louis University College. Exhibited in numerous galleries across the U.S.—including 40 West Gallery, ReCreative Denver, The Anton Art Center and the Community Fine Arts Center in Rock Springs—her work takes form across all mediums (although her true passion is graphic design). Jasmine hopes to bring her expertise and passion as a digital artist to teach the YES Teens that career pathways in media arts are valuable and worth pursuing.

STEAM programming delivered by the YES Teens both at the Science Center and in collaboration with the Science Center’s more than 60+ community partner organizations typically helps connect thousands of St. Louis community members with science and technology education programs each year.

Want to help support the YES Program? Consider making a gift to YES here.