EYES OF A CHILD:
SUMMER SHOWCASE
Presented by the Children's
Literacy through Photography
Program
Opening Thursday, June 12,
2008 and running through
Saturday, July 5, 2008
The Florida Museum of
Photographic Arts
(FMoPA) is proud to
present works by the
children in FMoPA’s
Children’s Literacy
Through Photography
programs “Eyes of a Child:
Summer Showcase.”
“The works in this show
reveal the youthful
spirit that can be
inspired by the realm of
visual creativity,” says
Sharon Joller, Director
of FMOPA’s Children’s
Outreach programs. The
exhibition runs
concurrently with “Masks
& Identity: Len Prince
in the Collection of
William K. Zewadski.”
During the 2008
season, FMOPA’s free
Children’s Outreach
Program has worked with
four organizations in
the Tampa Bay area:
Joshua House; Sunrise
Healthcare Corporation;
City of Tampa Parks and
Recreation; and Alpha
House of Tampa.
The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts offers children and youth from Tampa and across the bay an opportunity to explore life through the lens of a camera. The museum's children's outreach program Literacy through Photography is dedicated to the value that children's education through photography is important and can influence them in a positive way. We feel it is necessary that every child has access to creative outlets and also believe that these creative outlets can enhance their character, develop their academic and sensory skills, and offer them a greater potential to succeed.
The
museum offers free
digital photography
workshops to at-risk
children of underserved
communities.
Organizations and
schools can visit the
museum for an
educational tour of
current exhibits and
schedule a workshop in
downtown Tampa, or
on-site at their
location. Children are
each loaned a digital
camera for the lesson.
The workshop lasts
anywhere from one to
three hours. Age-appropriate lessons
are presented with
assistance from other
professional
photographers and
hobbyists who volunteer
their time. The brief
introduction to the
basics of photography is
followed by an
exploratory photo hunt
outdoors. Once each
year, the young artists
are invited to attend a
reception at the museum
where they will find one
photograph from each
child, framed and
displayed, at our annual
Summer Children's Show.
Volunteer
FMOPA is a non-profit museum
that collects and exhibits
photographic works as well
as presenting classes and
lectures. It also holds free
programs to bring
photography and visual
literacy to at-risk
children.
Our program would not exist without the commitment and help of its volunteers.
Please contact the program's director (through our contact form, or by calling us at 813.221.2222) if you have a love for photography and enjoy inspiring children. The program is completely run by individuals who volunteer their time to assist with the many duties involved in making this program such a success.
If your agency, business or corporate center would like to display our Children's Show please apply through Sharon Joller at the e-mail address below.
Sharon Joller, Director of Children's Outreach Programs:
Children's Literacy Through Photography Program
sharon@fmopa.org
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“I learned that there are so many different things to explore, so go out and explore!”
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-Rachel, age 10, Young ladies reaching for success
+ SPIN - Tampa.
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How do children see things? What do they have to say about what they see?
Expose them to a world through photography and you will know the answer to those questions!
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"I think taking photographs is a good way to express yourself and to have fun."
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-Helena, age 12, Asian Neighborhood Family Center St. Pete.
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"What I found interesting about the photo adventure is that there are alot of good things to see in the world."
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-Ceidi - age 13, Young ladies reaching for success
+ SPIN - Tampa.
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Thanks to a gift of laptops
from the Hospice Center of
Pinellas and a grant from
Citigroup, the museum has
been able to extend the
reach of its children’s
programs. Each year, the
museum showcases the work of
these young photographers.
Opening Reception:
Saturday, June 14, 2008
1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
University of Tampa