Mission
Founded in 1996, Hollywood Entertainment Museum (HEM) is an exceptional mix of culture and education. In addition to the preservation of an unsurpassed collection of film, music and television artifacts, HEM is committed to expanding its vision to include examining the history of Los Angeles through the Hollywood lens. The Museum has also dramatically changed the paradigm of what a modern-day museum can accomplish. HEM runs a full time, on site, high school and state-of-the-art training program for at-risk youth--The Education Center for the Entertainment Arts-- inspiring and empowering youth to succeed. This program is one of the most successful in the county and serves as a model that can be utilized by museums and art programs across America. It is a unique fusion of arts and community, allowing the Museum to celebrate the achievements of the entertainment industry while grounding itself in a deep sense of social responsibility.
In June, 2006, HEM bid a bittersweet goodbye to its’ home of 10 years on Hollywood Boulevard in order to expand its programs and exhibits. Because of the exciting developments going on throughout the city of Los Angeles, the Museum is eager to continue examining new locations—and opportunities—for its new home.
What Is The Education Center For The Entertainment Arts?
In 1997, Hollywood Entertainment Museum opened the Education Center for the Entertainment Arts in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Division of Juvenile Court Community Schools and the Los Angeles County Probation Department. Our students, all high-at-risk youth, many on probation, are given a unique opportunity. In addition to a fully accredited year-round high school, the Center offers an after-school program comprised of entertainment and art electives taught by industry professionals dedicated to making a difference in our student’s lives. In addition to on-site education programs, the Museum brings the after school program to satellite locations throughout the region including probation camps, community day schools, and at Compton High School performing a 5 year pilot program funded by the California Department of Education to improve high school graduation rates.
Studies have also shown the week-day hours between the school bell and the dinner bell are when most students engage in risky behaviors, such as drugs and gang violence. Here at the Center, students spent these hours immersed in learning entertainment industry skills which not only enrich their lives, but provide them with vocational training for life after high school. While many of our students take advantage of the skills they learn at the Center by joining the entertainment industry, others choose to pursue professional jobs, skilled labor or higher education.
Success Rate
Over the past five years, more than 275 youth have attended this comprehensive program and many have gone on and become successful and responsible citizens. Our program performance is as follows:
The Cost of Crime vs. Intervention
There are a multitude of costs associated with crime in our society. Aside from the costs of operating the criminal justice system, which includes police, district attorneys, public defenders, courts and prison, as well as the costs of parole and probation, there are medical costs incurred due to injuries as a result of crime. There are the costs from stolen and damaged property, loss of work time by victims and their families, loss of property values in communities with high crime rates, loss of productivity due to medical disabilities and death resulting from crime and the pain and suffering of victims, their families and friends, as well as communities plagued by crime. The taxpayers cover these costs. To prove how cost effective our program is, all you have to do is compare it to programs where youths are still wards of the state or county:
The total cost per student for intervention services at the Training Center is only $50 daily.
