About this event
12-week, in-person Creative Code Intensive in San Francisco teaching AI, ML, and interactive media through hands-on coding and a public showcase.
Overview The Creative Code Intensive is a 12-week, in-person course offered by Gray Area in San Francisco. It’s designed for artists, designers, and technologists who want to expand their creative practice with AI, machine learning, and interactive media. The program blends foundational coding with experimental media, culminating in a public exhibition attended by the creative community and industry professionals. The 2026 curriculum explicitly integrates AI and ML alongside physical computing, creative coding, audiovisual performance, and interactive web applications. Participants will explore fine-tuning AI models, generative tools, and creative computation while building a portfolio of 10+ projects.
Dates, Schedule & Location
- Spring Session 2026: March 3 – May 9, 2026
- Public Showcase: May 20, 2026
- Weekly timings: Tuesdays & Thursdays 6–9pm; Saturdays 11am–3pm
- Location: Gray Area / Grand Theater, 2665 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
- Accessibility note: the upstairs classroom is not ADA accessible
- Applications reviewed on a rolling basis until February 22, 2026
- Registration/enrollment: $4,500 with monthly payment terms; scholarships available for those in need
What to Expect
- A hands-on, project-based curriculum that blends creative coding with AI tools and machine learning concepts
- Week-by-week topics include: drawing and interaction with coding environments, web development basics (HTML/CSS/DOM), JavaScript, Web Audio, physical computing inputs/outputs, generative text with ML, and interactive environments
- Hands-on practice with generative AI concepts and creating time-based media works
- Final public exhibition and documentation of projects
- Learn through making: build a portfolio of 10+ interactive code projects and gain production-ready skills for collaboration and presentation
Curriculum Highlights & Skills
- Core programming foundations and creative coding techniques
- Advanced topics: user input handling, networked communications, object modeling, and machine learning integration
- Creative tooling for audiovisual performance (e.g., Hydra-style workflows) and interactive installations
- Prototyping, project management, and professional presentation for exhibitions and public showcases
- Workforce-ready competencies: project planning, technical proficiency, and professional pre

