The Experimental Gallery
 Self-Portrait byDamien. |
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The Experimental Gallery/The Children's Museum
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In one facility, young people manage an art gallery, serving as board members, and receive training in the ethics of governance. In all the centers, workshops in creative writing, painting, drama, graphic design, sculpture, and videography are conducted by community artists and humanities scholars at the peak of their professions. They also provide mentoring and role modeling as they guide the students through projects that address real-life issues, such as drugs, violence, abuse, neglect and disease. In these workshops students create products that can be shared with the community. For example, participants currently are creating a film with KCTS TV, a local PBS station, scheduled to be aired nationally in 1999. The film focuses on their fears of returning to the community and the community's reciprocal fear of them. This kind of visibility brings the young participants a sense of achievement and educates the communities to which they return. In addition, the Experimental Gallery runs a small apprenticeship program which allows young offenders to continue to develop their potential when they return to their communities.
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Experimental Gallery The Children's Museum, Seattle 305 Harrison Street Seattle, WA 98109-4695 Phone: 206-441-1768 x260 Fax: 206-448-0910 Focus: Creative Writing, Painting, Sculpture, Videography, Drama, Graphic Design Number Participating: 400 Ages: 10-19 Annual Budget: $140,000 "Students in the Experimental Gallery program achieve their learning goals, improve their behavioral problems by 75 percent, and are 50 percent less likely to re-offend." Gerard Sidorowicz, Assistant Secretary, Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, Department of Social and Health Services |