The ACME Network

HomeThe ACME Network

The ACME (Arts, Communication and Media Education) Network is a social network for creative skills.  As a non-profit creative skills mentorship platform, it connects creative industry professionals as mentors to middle school, high school and college students in their classrooms, and online.  John serves as a strategic consultant to the organization, and is working with them to launch a next-gen online platform, and to grow their student subscriber base from approximately 10,000 students per year to over 50,000 in three years.


Founded in Los Angeles in 1994, the organization began as a service linking professional animation artists and art skills classrooms over video conferencing hook-ups.  In 2002, ACME supplemented the one-on-one video mentorship sessions with a website that gave students the opportunity to post the artwork and receive comments – both from the pro’s, but also from their fellow students (as well as their teachers).  This system has led to ACME’s innovative “Pay It Forward” mentorship approach, where students compete for one-on-one mentorship sessions with the pros by the quantity and quality of their artwork and their constructive comments and suggestions to their fellow students.

ACME at a glance

Mission

Provide underserved learners with professional mentorship in creative skills classes (middle school through college) to foster leadership, innovation and 21st century skills.

Overview

Established in 1994, ACME runs two primary programs:

ACME Online: a participatory (social network style) web portal where students post creative projects (art, animation) for review, critique and feedback by peers, teachers and professional mentors, mastering the language and practice of collaboration, communication, revision and presentation.

ACME On-Air: a regular series of live video-conference telecasts between professional mentors and students in school classrooms to critique work and provide expert guidance, tips/tricks and creative solutions for student challenges.  Students must learn to communicate, defend their work, and accept constructive criticism.  They compete and qualify for these “face-time” sessions with the professionals through dedicated participation and peer review on the ACME Online website.

Participation (2009-2010)

8,500 students – 180 classrooms (95% California + Alabama, Texas, Michigan, Wyoming) – 105 teachers – 100 professional mentors (50 Hollywood companies)  – 244 live On-Air telecasts

Results

Over 50,000 students served since 2004 -  92% of ACME students graduate high school (w. 98% of those planning to go on to college) – 1000 ACME students are now working in creative companies (Pixar, Disney, DreamWorks, Warner Bros, Blizzard)

Recognition

Cited as model program in 2008 Career Technical Education (CA Governor’s report), and 2008 WestEd Report on Work-based Learning in California: Opportunities & Models for Expansion