The Long Beach Public Library (LBPL) recently concluded its SEED program, which focused on introducing middle school students to arts-integrated STEM learning as reported by longbeach.gov. The SEED program, which was a collaborative model incorporating arts and science partners, came to an end on September 30, 2025, after the federal funding that supported it was cut due to Executive Orders and policy changes under the current Presidential Administration.
Since its launch in Summer 2022, the program benefitted from more than $400,000 in federal funds, managed by the Department of Education. SEED engaged students in 255 workshops at various locations including five library branches and an urban farm. The program also involved partnerships with Dramatic Results, local nonprofits, and educators from institutions such as California State University, Long Beach. Over its duration, more than 500 students participated in the program, with some dedicating over 100 hours to workshop sessions.
Despite the conclusion of SEED, the library is not retreating from its commitment to youth engagement in STEAM disciplines. The LBPL is set to launch the LBPL Creativity Lab in February 2026, aiming to maintain the core objectives of SEED, while evolving to accommodate new educational landscapes and foster ongoing innovation. The program will leverage the solid foundation laid by SEED and is expected to offer a more flexible approach to high-quality creativity and design programming, in alignment with the City’s broader educational ambitions.
The new Creativity Lab is taking shape with input from the community, having conducted listening sessions with past program participants, their families, and staff. This dialogue has been pivotal in crafting the framework for the upcoming program. As the Lab prepares to kick off its inaugural five-week session, additional details are poised to be unveiled by the Long Beach Public Library in the near weeks. For further information on these developments and the impact of federal funding cuts on local initiatives, community members can visit longbeach.gov/FedFundingUpdates.
Anyone with media-related questions or wishing to learn more about the LBPL Creativity Lab is encouraged to reach out to Gabriel Gaete, Program Coordinator for the Department of Library, Arts and Culture, using the contact provided at [email protected].
