Center for Children and Youth Awarded Grant to Work With Faulkner Performing Arts Center

Martha Sandven

Interns Val and Bug hang art in preparation for the showcase on May 15.

The Faulkner Performing Arts Center and the Center for Children and Youth were awarded a $1,500 grant from Walmart.org to support the project ART/Works! Photojournalism: I'mpossible. This project engaged Fayetteville Public School teenagers in meaningful after-school and weekend programming through photography, writing and visual art-making.

Over two months, from March 12 to May 15, students in grades seven through 12 met during and after school to learn how to write and conduct interviews and take portrait photography. This allowed them to express themselves creatively and learn a range of artistic and technical skills. A teacher on each of two campuses (Ramay Junior High and Fayetteville High) facilitated workshops led by Ashley Grisso of New Media Arts Education and Sally Ball, an Arkansas visual artist.

During the project, junior high students interviewed each other and took portrait photos. They drew self-portraits and wrote reflectively about what life is like when it feels "impossible," and what makes life feel "possible." Several students created final works that will be shown in the galleries of the Faulkner Performing Arts Center.

High school students came to the U of A campus and conducted interviews with diverse individuals from undergraduate and graduate programs. Following the interviews, students took portrait photographs of the people they interviewed, edited them digitally and created finished works of art to capture each unique individual.

Six of the Fayetteville High School students assumed leadership roles as interns for the project and began working with the Faulkner Performing Arts Center starting with the SHE Festival on March 12. Over successive weeks, the student interns were able to learn all aspects of performance preparation and presentation, including house manager duties, ushers, audio, livestreaming and stage responsibilities. After training for a couple of events, the students were allowed to "run" their own show for a recital on April 29. The project will culminate with a showcase titled "From Impossible to I'm Possible" to showcase selected artworks and recognize the students' achievements at the Faulkner Center on Monday, May 15.

About Philanthropy at Walmart: Walmart.org represents the philanthropic efforts of Walmart and the Walmart Foundation. By focusing where the business has unique strengths, Walmart.org works to tackle key social and environmental issues and collaborate with others to spark long-lasting systemic change. Walmart has stores in 24 countries, employs more than 2 million associates and does business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. Walmart.org is helping people live better by supporting programs to accelerate upward job mobility for frontline workers, advance equity, address hunger, build inclusive economic opportunity for people in supply chains, protect and restore nature, reduce waste and emissions, and build strong communities where Walmart operates. To learn more, visit www.walmart.orgor connect on Twitter @Walmartorg.