PRESS RELEASE

Above: Middle school students participating in past SEED Creativity Lab program series.

UPDATE: The below press release was updated on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, to reflect the correct list of Long Beach Public Library locations where SEED Creativity Lab workshops will occur, which includes Billie Jean King Main Library, as well as Burnett, Michelle Obama, and Mark Twain Neighborhood Libraries. Bret Harte Neighborhood Library, which was previously listed as a location, will not be utilized for the program.

Long Beach, CA— The Long Beach Public Library (LBPL), in collaboration with Dramatic Results, is once again offering its SEED Creativity Lab, a free, arts-integrated workshop series for 7th and 8th grade students. This transformative program is designed to inspire middle school students by combining creativity, innovation and hands-on learning.

“Programs like SEED Creativity Lab embody our commitment to nurturing innovation and empowering youth to reach their full potential,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “By combining the arts and sciences, we’re ensuring that Long Beach students have the tools they need to succeed in a creative, connected and rapidly evolving world.”

The SEED Creativity Lab workshop sessions will be hosted from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays beginning Feb. 1 through April 12, 2025 (excluding Saturday, Feb. 15). In effort to increase access to the workshop series, each session will be offered simultaneously at four LBPL locations across the city:

• Billie Jean King Main Library, 200 W. Broadway
• Burnett Neighborhood Library, 560 E. Hill St.
• Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library, 5870 Atlantic Ave.
• Mark Twain Neighborhood Library, 1401 E. Anaheim St.

Through SEED, students will delve into the exciting world of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics), using creative expression to explore and solve real-world challenges. Each Saturday session will highlight a different art form, from photography and digital arts to mixed media, improvisation and architecture. Under the guidance of pre-service teachers from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), local art educators and LBPL staff, participants will apply the design thinking process to create unique works of art, collaborate with peers and develop critical thinking skills.

“Libraries are more than books; they’re spaces where young minds come alive through exploration and creativity,” said Library Director Cathy De Leon. “We are proud to host SEED Creativity Lab and to continue providing opportunities for Long Beach students to learn, grow, and dream big.”

Registration for the program is currently open and will remain open until all spots are full. Parents can visit the SEED webpage to learn more about the program and register their students. Registration is also available at any LBPL location or by calling 562.570.6135. For more information, please visit lbpl.org or call 562.570.7500.

Dramatic Results is a local nonprofit that designs and delivers educational programming using art, design and culture as entryways into STEM subjects. Since 1992, they have worked to identify and close the opportunity gap, guided by the belief that access creates opportunity.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. For more information about the Long Beach Public Library visit www.lbpl.org and follow @lbcitylibrary on Facebook, X and Instagram.