PHOENIX, July 23, 2024 – The Herberger Theater Center is excited to announce a
partnership with Kids in Focus for a photography exhibit that celebrates the artwork of 20 talented young photographers in the Kids in Focus After School Program. An opening reception is scheduled for Saturday, August 24, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Curated by Connie and A O Tucker, the exhibit will be on display August 2 – September 29, 2024 in the Herberger Theater Art Gallery, 222 E. Monroe St. in downtown Phoenix.
Youth, ages 10 -14, embark on a nine-week creative journey with photographers as their mentors. During after school outings, the kids and their mentors explored the world with their cameras – gaining new experiences, perspectives and confidence along the way. “The best day is that day the kids get a camera in their hands for the first time and their whole world opens up in a new way,” said Janina Caron, Kids in Focus mentor. “Once they have seen the world in this new way, it often carries over to the rest of their lives and helps them see possibilities they may not have before.”
In collaboration with local Title 1 schools, nonprofit community partners and foster care programs, Kids in Focus creates opportunities for each child to express their unique perspective and gain skills that foster lifelong creativity and resilience. Upon completing the After School program, the students become members of the Grads in Focus and Junior Mentor programs, which keep them actively engaged for several years, through high school and beyond. “There is humor, joy and a sense of adventure in the images they create,” says Ann Piraino, Exhibits Program Manager at Kids in Focus. “Seeing their artwork displayed at the Herberger Theater is elevating to the kids in our programs.”
About Herberger Theater Center
The Herberger Theater Center is Arizona’s center stage, engaging the community through diverse arts experiences that ignite emotion, stimulate conversation, and inspire connections with the arts. Built in 1989 to foster the growth of performing arts and revitalize downtown Phoenix, the Herberger Theater has celebrated the diverse, multicultural heritage of the Phoenix community with accessible performing arts experiences year after year. For more information, visit HerbergerTheater.org.
About Kids in Focus
Kids in Focus is a nonprofit organization mentoring youth to overcome adversity through the art of photography. Learn more at https://kidsinfocus.org/
