Orange County NC Website
DocuSign Envelope ID:OBF594CD-1070-46AF-ABCO-1 E58F195B10B <br /> 2 <br /> project for young Karen students whose outstanding artistic skills are an important component of their future <br /> economic success and integration into American Society <br /> FRANK Gallery's Karen Youth Art Project was formed in the fall Of 2013. This year, FRANK artists <br /> mentored and worked to integrate young Karen refugees into the Chapel Hill- Carrboro community through <br /> their artistic endeavors. A team of FRANK member artists and community volunteers met twice a week at <br /> either FRANK Gallery or Transplanting Traditions Community Farm. They worked with these young people to <br /> develop artistic and linguistic skills in one on one situations. The creation of images-photographs,paintings and <br /> drawings,provided students with another means of communication, helping them connect with their past and <br /> present and acted as a vehicle for their fantasies and dreams. <br /> This year the group's focus has been compiling an illustrated bilingual 4th grade level children's book <br /> about Transplanting Traditions Karen Community Farm where many of their families work the land, Karens <br /> traditionally are farmers. The Youth group is producing student portfolios to be used for college and career <br /> application. <br /> Our students all have dreams which we are hoping to help them realize. For example Ree Ree Wei, a <br /> Chapel Hill High School student and emerging photographer, would like to work with a global non-profit <br /> organization such as the UN Committee for Human Rights. Lah Htoo Boh, currently a student at Durham Tech, <br /> would like to enroll in a BFA degree program and eventually become a computer games designer. Hen Moo, <br /> currently working for UNC's Moving Department, would like to have a career path which includes drawing and <br /> computer art. <br /> FRANK:inFocus,Focus on Youth <br /> Our FRANK model reaches into the community to provide workshops for youth,then brings them back <br /> to the gallery to work with professional artists, culminating in a professional public exhibition,performances, <br /> and panel discussion"conversations." With 2015 grant support from OCAC, we were able to form a major <br /> partnership with the Autism community, co-ordinating"Diversabilities," a series of workshops,performances, <br /> conversation panels, and exhibitions. We are seeking grant support for our youth initiatives to continue our <br /> participation for 2016, now as partners,rather than primary coordinators. <br /> Historically, in 2012 we received initial grant support for our first major youth project, <br /> FRANK:inFocus; Focus on Teens for college bound minority teens showing academic promise and financial <br /> need. We continue to host local teens from hospital and therapeutic groups building relationships with non- <br /> profit organizations and community health centers representing Orange County as we form new partnerships <br /> with agencies that serve youth around themes of photography and literacy, self-advocacy, and community <br /> historic documentation. <br /> Continuing our focus on youth we began a second major project with children and teens on the Autism <br /> Spectrum. During Autism Awareness month, FRANK gallery produced an exhibition and forum of speakers <br /> and workshops throughout Chapel Hill, forming new partnerships with recreation, art, drama, and music <br /> therapists, families with members on the spectrum, and 4 adult visual artists and musicians on the spectrum. Our <br /> outreach efforts included the Jordan Lake School of the Arts, the Art Therapy Institute, Project STIR(Steps <br /> Toward Independence and Responsibility)with Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilites, The Autism <br /> Society of North Carolina, and the Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation's Adapted Recreation and Inclusion <br /> Program, The Autism Society of UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill Library. <br /> Our Outreach efforts were recognized by the Major of Chapel Hill celebrating FRANK gallery as an <br /> outstanding contributor to building alliances within the community. We intend to serve as a resource that <br /> provides opportunities that support our mission of inclusivity and diversity, and will continue our partnerships <br /> in 2016 for Autism Awareness month. <br /> FRANK:inFocus Focus on Photography and the 4"d Annual Triangle Photo Consortium <br /> In conjunction with our Community Outreach mission, FRANK gallery received funding from the Arts <br /> Commission to support our Educational Outreach programs. <br /> With past grant support from OCAC,we created the Triangle Photo Consortium, with our focus on Orange <br /> County. Now in its 4"'year,the festival has broadened its base and was awarded a project of the Southern <br />