Youth expressions of the future were the focus of an innovative, collaborative project developed by Kennedy Heights Arts Center and Public Allies Cincinnati. The goal was to give voice to young people in our community, providing a vehicle for them to share their thoughts and feelings.
The project celebrated the future dreams, hopes, fears, and aspirations of 5th - 8th grade students throughout Greater Cincinnati. Nearly 200 children from public, private, and alternative schools, as well as youth-serving programs, imagined and depicted their respective futures and those of their communities in a multimedia art project.
Each student responded to the prompt "In the future..." through drawing. The artwork was created on clear transparencies which then became "windows" to the future in a large-scale cityscape installation, constructed in partnership with local artist and arts educator Cedric Michael Cox and teen students.
In May 2011, these visions were displayed within a cityscape installation as part of an exhibit that was included in SOS Art 2011, an annual community art show of socio-political expressions for peace and justice. Hundreds of people from all over Cincinnati visited this exhibit and encountered the visions of these young artists.
Support for this project was provided by a grant from the John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust, PNC Bank, Trustee.
