Places We Live, Play & Learn:
Narratives of Life by Western Massachusetts Youth Photographers

“Affording youth the opportunity to participate in a group exhibit like this can aid in their learning of their community, town and region by researching the background story of the images they capture while giving them a public venue to share their discoveries,” explains Sienna Wildfield, Hilltown Families Executive Director. “Using local resources, information can be researched and gathered at their town library, historical society and historical museums, or by interviewing experts and elders in their community for a supporting narrative. This is a great occasion for young people to participate in community-based learning while strengthening their ties to their local community.” – Deadline for entry: Dec 1, 2012

Youth photographers ages 8-18 are invited to participate in an upcoming exhibit titled, “Places We Live, Play & Learn: Narratives of Life by Western Massachusetts Youth Photographers.”

Hosted by Hilltown Families with the the support of the Cummington Cultural Council, the exhibit will be on display at the Cummington Community House Gallery in the rear of the Cummington Community House during the month of January 2013. Participation is free and open to all youth living in Western MA.

Youth participants in this exhibit are encouraged to explore, document and share their connections to their hometowns through photographic images and an accompanying narrative. Combined, the pieces together should aim to reflect and communicate how they view and understand either their local history, culture and/or community values, as well as the significance of the physical spaces surrounding them.  For work that speaks of the natural beauty in their hometowns, young people can accompany their image with prose or poetry, or an explanation of their community’s ties to their natural environment.*

“Affording youth the opportunity to participate in a group exhibit like this can aid in their learning of their community, town and region by researching the background story of the images they capture while giving them a public venue to share their discoveries,” explains Sienna Wildfield, Hilltown Families Executive Director.  “Using local resources, information can be researched and gathered at their town library, historical society and historical museums, or by interviewing experts and elders in their community for a supporting narrative.  This is a great occasion for young people to participate in community-based learning while strengthening their ties to their local community.”

Entries are limited to 2 per person and participation is free.  Images can be from any season and must have been taken by the photographer in the past 3 years in their Western MA hometown in which they reside.

All entries will be part of a group show at the Community House Gallery in Cummington during the month of January 2013 and considered as a possible feature on www.HilltownFamilies.org.  The Cummington Cultural Council will host an opening reception on Sunday, Dec 30, 12noon-2pm (snow date 1/1 from 2-4pm) at the Community House Gallery in the rear of the Cummington Community House on Main Street.

“The Cummington Cultural Council is excited about this special exhibit,” says Kathryn Jensen, Council Chair.  “Our mandate is to promote and support the arts and humanities in the Hilltowns, which we do in a variety of ways.  We’re thrilled to be working with Hilltown Families to create an opportunity for community-based learning and artistic exploration for young people in the area.”

An application and entry rules can be downloaded here: Places We Live, Play & Learn Application Form (pdf)

RULES

• 1.) All participants must apply for an entry code by submitting images and narrative to swildfield@hilltownfamilies.org.  A confirmation will be emailed along with a entry code to accompany their submissions and application to the Cummington Cultural Council.
• 2.) Photographs must be printed on 8×10 photo quality paper and must be their own original image.  Images must not be mounted nor framed.
• 3.) On a label or index card the following information must be affixed to the back of each image: (do not write directly on the back of your photo):

• Name of participant
• Age
• Town In Which Family Resides
• Month/Year Photo Was Taken
• Email and/or Telephone Number

• 4.) Narrative must be type written on a single 8.5×11 unlined white paper and no longer than 500 words (must fit on a single sheet of paper as outlined).  Narratives are a chance for the participant to tell what is happening in the photo and it’s connection to the town, *as outlined above.
• 5.) Participate must be 8-18 years old as of January 1st, 2013 residing in Western Massachusetts (413 area code).
• 6.) Photographs must be from the town in which the participant resides.
• 7.) Images showing other people must have written permission from the subject or their guardian if the subject is under 18.  Written permission must be submitted with entry.
• 8.) Entries will be returned via USPS mail, unless prior arrangements are made.

DEADLINE

All entries must be received in the mail by Dec 1st, 2012 to the Cummington Cultural Council.  Mailing address to mail submissions will be issued once materials are submitted as outline in Rule #1.

COPYRIGHT

All photographers will retain the copyright of their images. Hilltown Families retains the right to reproduce both image and narrative at www.HilltownFamilies.org and in any promotions and publications.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information email Sienna Wildfield at swildfield@hilltownfamilies.org or or Jillian Hanson of the Cummington Cultural Council, jilliankhanson@gmail.com.