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Exhibit
Western Spirit partners with Kids in Focus to debut youth photo exhibit
Posted
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West announced the addition of Kids in Focus: A New Lens on Life, a photo exhibition by local youth.
Through the art of photography, these children create connections with trusted mentors and reframe the way they see their world, building confidence, resilience and hope. Kids in Focus: A New Lens on Life will run through Dec. 30.
Western Spirit celebrates the importance of art and storytelling in the American West by educating, inspiring and engaging museum guests through national and local exhibitions, educational programs and community outreach. As it continues to address the dynamic cultural exchanges that mark the transition from the Old West to the New West, Western Spirit is proud to showcase the Kids in Focus organization and its mission.
Kids in Focus is a nonprofit organization dedicated to giving at-risk youth the chance to see themselves and the world in a new light, equipping them with essential life skills to make the shift from surviving to thriving. During the 9-week after-school program, local photographers become mentors to the kids, building trusting relationships as they travel all over the Valley exploring and taking images.
Upon completing this initial program, the kids keep their cameras and become members of the Grads in Focus and junior mentor programs, which keep kids actively engaged for several years, through high school and beyond.
“When kids experience trauma, they disconnect from the world and themselves,” Karen Shell, founder and executive director of Kids in Focus, said in a press release. “A camera in these kids’ hands, with the right guidance and encouragement, ignites imagination and can switch the light in their eyes back on, giving them confidence and the resilience they need to overcome the challenges they face. We are so happy to partner with Western Spirit on this exhibition.”