By Jennifer Cook
This summer, the Rockport-based art center Maine Media Workshops provided 10 Maine high school students an opportunity to learn all about digital photography through its Young Artist Scholarship Program. Workshop instructors, including award-winning photographer Madeleine Morlet and Maine Media’s program coordinator Kelsey Grossman, were thrilled with the results and excited to have the chance to support the students’ creative work and growth during this month-long program. All participants were from Portland’s immigrant community, and the program took place in Portland. The August photography workshop was offered free of charge to students who participate in the Mentoring Alliance, a youth development program at Portland High School.
“Many of our students come from different parts of the world, and enjoyed exploring ways to share their individual stories through a visual medium,” said Jennifer Cook, director of the Mentoring Alliance.
Inspired by the work, Maine Media is currently raising funds to expand scholarship programming, including opportunities for students to attend in-person workshops on their Rockport campus, hopefully by next summer, with full scholarships to aspiring image makers.
“We’re all moved by the work these students produced during our pilot program with Madeleine this summer, and we look forward to the contributions they will no doubt make as leading voices of their generation … We hope to continue building upon this success through our fundraising efforts, and be able to offer more deserving young artists the opportunity to explore their creativity through visual storytelling,” said Michael Mansfield, president of Maine Media Workshops and College.
To learn more about Maine Media’s Young Artist Scholarship program, email Kelsey Grossmann at [email protected], or visit https://www.mainemedia.edu/workshops/young-artists/
