News

Media Contact:
Steve Christensen
Manager, Communications
Loyola University Chicago
312-915-6164

CHICAGO, July 13, 2006 — This summer, the Loyola University Museum of Art (LUMA) is working with local organizations, including Connection Arts Chicago (CAC), the Chicago Area Peace Corps Association (CAPCA), and Marwen, to provide opportunities in the arts for Chicago's youth. Through its six-week Young Curators program, LUMA will teach pre-teens how to curate a museum exhibition and also create art inspired by their experience at LUMA. In addition, the Museum will exhibit the artwork of high school students participating in the Marwen Pre-College Summer Program, which targets those interested in pursuing advanced education in the arts.

In the Young Curators program, eight students, ages 9-13 years old, will curate and create artwork for an exhibition of their own to be presented to family and friends at a special reception on Saturday, August 19, 2006. The students will select their exhibition's central theme, choose objects that best suit the subject matter, research these works, write labels for the objects, arrange the exhibition, and install the works in the show. In addition, one day a week, the students will create personal artwork inspired by objects from their exhibition with the help of an art therapist from Connection Arts Chicago. Young Curators is held on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings and runs until August 10, 2006.

LUMA is also working with Marwen's Pre-College Summer Program, a two-week curriculum designed to help students plan for college while also providing them an opportunity to develop a portfolio of art work to include in their college applications. These works will be on display through August 6 in LUMA's Push Pin Gallery, a space devoted to exhibiting art created by Chicago students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

About the Program Participants
Connection Arts Chicago (CAC) is a not-for-profit organization that provides free art and social service programs to children ages 6 - 17 years old. These after-school and summer programs provide a safe and nurturing environment for at-risk youth who have limited access to arts programs and have nowhere to go during off-school hours. CAC fosters healthy self-expression and gives kids artistic outlets to deal with important social issues. CAC programs not only keep kids off the streets, but also empower them to use their creativity to build a sense of community.

The Chicago Area Peace Corps Association brings together more than 400 returned Peace Corps Volunteers who live and work in the Chicago area. CAPCA's primary objective is to work for world peace, understanding, and well-being by "bringing the world back home." The group funds Peace Corps Partnership projects, supports youth programs that offer leadership and cross-cultural experiences, and provides speakers to organizations interested in the Peace Corps and international development. In addition, CAPCA coordinates a variety of volunteer projects that benefit local community service agencies.

Founded in 1987, Marwen fosters unique programs for promoting youth development through arts education. Marwen's mission is to provide free visual arts education, college planning, and career development programs-all completely free of charge-to Chicago's under-served youth in grades 6-12. Marwen serves nearly 2,000 students annually, providing them with a meaningful place to go after school where they can find stimulating activities that foster personal growth. All courses are taught by working artists in professional-quality studios that can support a range of media, from painting and sculpture to photography and computer animation.

About LUMA
Opened in 2005, the Loyola University Museum of Art is dedicated to exploring, promoting, and understanding art and artistic expression that illuminates the enduring spiritual questions of all cultures and societies. As a museum with an interest in education and educational programming, LUMA reflects the University’s Jesuit mission and is dedicated to helping people of all creeds explore the roots of their faith and spiritual quests. Located at Loyola University Chicago’s Water Tower Campus, the museum occupies the first three floors of the University’s historic Lewis Towers on Chicago’s famous Michigan Avenue. For more information, visit the museum’s website at LUC.edu/luma.

Art illuminating the spirit!

-LUMA-