Charlottesville, VA . . .The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative announces a call for submissions from local teens for Through Our Eyes: Teens respond to August 11th and 12th and its Aftermath. A mixed arts competition and exhibition for teenagers set up by Cescah Grazioli (a junior at St. Anne’s Belfield) and hosted by The Bridge.

After August 11th and 12th, 2017, Charlottesville launched a national conversation about racial violence, equality, and the long-lasting effect of the Lost Cause Monuments. A wide array of people have discussed the meaning of that day, everyone striving to be heard amidst the onslaught of opinions and emotions.

Teenage voices have often been absent from this conversation. Dismissed as uninformed or isolated from the event, very few teenage voices have risen above the adults’. We want the opportunity to hear the voices of those who grew up in Charlottesville and have witnessed its shortcomings and its growth.

Call for Contributors
We are looking for any and all teen art focused on the impact and effects of August 11th and 12th. We invite you to be passionate, to speak the truth, and to be heard. This competition will bring to light the opinions and beliefs of the teens, as well as expand our local arts community to include youth. The competition is open only to students, grades 9-12, in Charlottesville/Albemarle County/homeschooled high schools. The winner and runner up of the visual arts section and the writing/performance section will receive prize money. The winners will receive $100, and the runners up, $50.

We welcome all, but not only, artwork that depicts:
A changed view of the city or its community as it relates to Charlottesville during or after August 11th and 12th. A raised awareness of issues of social justice.
Any kind of awakening of one’s racial identity as it relates to Charlottesville during or after August 11th and 12th.
Feelings of confusion, fear, or terror, as they relate to Charlottesville during or after August 11th and 12th.
Personal accounts of the event and the emotions/thoughts that emerged with it.
A new view of education and how it relates to Charlottesville during or after August 11th and 12th.

Submission information and additional details can be found at:

ABOUT THE BRIDGE PAI: The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative is a cultural hub for Charlottesville offering an inclusive space for creative thinking and artistic pursuits while providing resources and methodology for meaningful arts engagement throughout the community. Our mission is to bridge diverse communities through the arts. More information can be found at our website – thebridgepai.org or by following us on Facebook.