Youth Photography Project

Youth Photography Project Participants

Concerned Citizens of Monticello, in partnership with the Arkansas Opportunity to Learn Campaign, Rural Community Alliance and the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, sponsored a youth photography project on July 23-25, 2012, to document local opportunities and barriers in education.  The photography camp was held at the Ethel Hawkins Christian Center at Holmes Chapel Presbyterian Church, Monticello, AR. Seven students from Monticello and four students from Gould participated in the workshops, and the instructional sessions were led by Martha Molina, an arts educator with the Arkansas Arts Council. The students discussed their educational aspirations, and the opportunities and barriers to achieving their dreams. They also learned about the history of photography, how to work with different elements of photography, and creating an artistic display for their photographs. A reception was held on July 25th to invite members of the community to view an exhibition of the students’ work.

The Monticello camp is part of a bigger series of summer workshops in different cities across Arkansas. The students’ artwork will be displayed at the Arkansas Opportunity to Learn Summit on Nov. 30 – Dec. 1, 2012, at the State Capitol, and at various other public venues as part of the Arkansas Opportunity to Learn Campaign.

Concerned Citizens of Monticello would like to thank Rev. Dr. Alford Branch and the Holmes Chapel Church Family for generously hosting the youth photography camp at the Ethel Hawkins Christian Center.