Code/Art proudly celebrates the 10th anniversary of Code/Art Fest. The milestone event brought together families, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, and Code/Art alumni for a celebration of a decade-long journey of empowering young women in tech.
Code/Art is a Miami-based nonprofit dedicated to increasing the number of girls studying computer science through the power of art and creativity. They provide professional development to K-12 art teachers interested in introducing coding to their students as a new creative medium and training and curriculum to schools interested in adding a Creative Coding elective or after school girls coding club. Code/Art also runs an annual all-girls art coding competition and hosts the annual Code/Art Fest, a weekend filled with hands-on activities that highlights the creative side of coding and inspires more girls to pursue a computer science education and, ultimately, a career in a computing field.
Michelle and Rebecca Bakels, sisters both software engineers, volunteer to speak.
Since its founding in 2016, Code/Art has introduced over 10,000 girls to coding through its innovative programs, including Code/Art Clubs, hands-on workshops, and national coding competitions. By blending computer science with artistic expression, Code/Art makes technology more accessible and engaging, fostering a new generation of diverse talent in the tech industry.
“Code/Art Fest is invaluable to building a robust and inclusive technology hub in South Florida. By offering educational tracks designed specifically for women and young girls, it provides a warm, no-strings-attached welcome into the world of tech — a field that has traditionally been male-dominated and women have been discouraged to enter,” said Rebecca Bakels, Software Engineer & Tech Community Advocate at CITY Furniture.
AI robotics company, Robohood, created beautiful AI-generated painting on the spot.
“Happy 10th Birthday, Code/Art Fest!” the organization shared in a recent post. “We’d like to thank all the families, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, and Code/Art Alums who helped make this event so special. It takes a code-tastic community working together to host a celebration like this. THANK YOU for making this our best Code/Art Fest yet! We can’t wait to see what the next 10 years have in store.”
Code/Art Fest has become a premier K12-focused event in South Florida, showcasing student-created coded art, offering engaging panel discussions, and providing networking opportunities with industry leaders. This year’s festival highlighted the incredible impact Code/Art has made in fostering a more diverse, inclusive, and innovative tech ecosystem.
As Code/Art looks to the future, the organization remains committed to its mission of closing the gender gap in tech by inspiring girls at an early age. With continued community support, Code/Art is excited to expand its programs and reach even more young minds in the years to come.
For more information about Code/Art, its programs, and ways to get involved, visit www.code-art.com.