Inspiring Youth Through Media Arts Education
At Outside The Lens in San Diego, we ignite confidence in young people to pursue creative pathways and drive social change through the transformative power of media arts.

27,000+
Youth Served
37
Schools & Community Sites Served
20+
Years of Service
Here’s How We Cultivate Confidence, Creativity, and Connection.
Hear From The Youth We Serve

Teens
Teen and Transitional Age Youth Media Arts programs create opportunities for youth to build confidence, vocational skills, and career connections by supporting their stories and ideas through creative expression in the media arts.

Media Makers
Media Makers engages young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), helping them express their place and purpose in the world through social-emotional and technical media arts skills.

Outside The Lens x Puente: Student Film Showcase
Join us for a powerful evening celebrating student voices, stories, and creativity! Students from the Puente Project at San Diego City College have spent the past 12 weeks working with Outside The Lens (OTL) to transform their poetry and lived experiences into original short films. Along the way, they’ve explored visual thinking, studied film techniques, […]
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Land+Lenses: Final Exhibition!
📅 Saturday, May 31, 2025🕐 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM📍 The Front Arte y CulturaFree event | All ages welcome | Food provided Join us for the culminating exhibition of Land + Lenses, a community arts program that invited youth and families to explore the rich landscapes of Otay Valley Regional Park and YMCA Camp […]
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Land+Lenses: Rituals & Remedies
Engage your senses in an immersive exploration of herbalism and ritual. You’ll move through interactive stations, tasting locally foraged teas, crafting intention-based spell jars, making smudge bundles, and contributing to a community recipe book. As you work with plants, you’ll reflect on traditional knowledge, self-care, and your relationship with the land. Come to a free […]
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Be a Champion for San Diego’s Youth.
At Outside The Lens, we believe that media arts can serve as a transformative force in the lives of young people and their communities.
Join us in creating a future where every young person has the opportunity to harness their creativity and drive positive social change through the power of media arts.