CAMERAS FOR KIDS

FotoWeek DC is committed to involving the whole Washington DC community of all ages in its celebration of photography. Which is why the Cameras for Kids program was launched in 2008, as FotoWeek DC distributed 50 digital cameras to schools in partnership with the DC Public Schools. School art departments around the city received cameras to share with their students, giving children an opportunity to experiment with the artistic and journalistic tool of photography.

Last year’s success led us to expand the program for 2009. While we’ll once again be partnering with the DC Public Schools to distribute cameras, we are also providing school-based workshops, a mentorship program, and guest speakers. In partnership with Critical Exposure, our initial school-based workshop is taking place at Martin Luther King Elementary School.

We expect that Cameras for Kids will reach over 5,000 public school children in DC this year, as well as schools that may lack art education programs. Youth participating in all Cameras for Kids programs are encouraged to submit their work to FotoWeek DC’s annual Youth Contest to be exhibited in November 2009.