From KCET ARTBOUND‘s “The Broad Invites the Children of L.A. to Explore Their Very Own Museum“:

Bob Bates, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Inner-City Arts (ICA), also feels thankful for his educational art center’s partnership with The Broad. ICA teachers have been able to visit with their students on a regular basis. “It is a beacon in the heart of the city, in the heart of our culture,” Bates says about The Broad. “It radiates the creativity that people put into it. It is an important landmark place, a remarkable achievement.”

“Museums are the housing for some of the best qualities of artistic achievement that we realize in our lives. When people visit that, especially children, they begin to see the possibilities,” says Bates. “If we can create a culture of kids that go on a regular basis to the museums, they will continue the rest of their lives.”

Bates believes that any museum that does not open their doors to students is living in the past. “The future of our entire culture is in the hands of the children,” he adds. “And the way we raise them and the way that unfolds is going to make a huge difference.”

Bates believes that beautifully designed spaces have an impact on his student’s experience and education. The Inner-City Arts campus designed by Michael Maltzan offers an urban oasis in the middle of downtown Los Angeles for all of the students who take classes and for the community who attend events there.

When the Inner-City Arts students take a trip to The Broad, they enter the expansive Diller Scofidio +Renfro building known for its veil and vault concept, with a honeycomb-like exterior. These two structures are physical expressions of the connection between contemporary architecture and fine art.

“When they walk into The Broad they have the sense of looking at how the space is arranged,” says Bates. “It is about transforming human lives through art in a unique space. The Broad follows in the tradition of all great museums in that they also become this expression of the manifestation of what is happening in the creative minds and hearts of people in our world. It is really powerful.”

“We should be putting everything that we have into these kids,” says Bates. “They are going to take this world to the next level. And if they have been trained and recognize that they have these possibilities, then the future can become very bright.”

Then back at Inner-City Arts, Bates feels their campus, with its open spaces and high-quality equipment, helps bring out their students’ potential and capabilities. “I know that for a lot of the students who come here, these experiences have a positive affect on helping them find their direction in life and their creative expression as they grow and develop.”

The art classes at Inner-City Arts have a hands-on focus. “For them to look at their own work and then go look at what adults do, like in a trip to The Broad, it completes the circle,” says Bates. “They can see, there are possibilities here to be creative and live this creative life.”

Photo: The Broad’s third-floor galleries. | Credit: Iwan Baan