Speaking Out Through Art ABB/U.S. Arts Envoy project

We have just returned from central Myanmar where we began our project, “Speaking Out Through Art,” an ongoing series of art workshops created to give young people an opportunity to make their voices heard on issues of local concern. During the month of December, we traveled to the Monywa, Taungyyi, and Mandalay, in central Myanmar. Through hands-on workshops we guided the participants in making art that expressed their ideas and concerns on pressing social issues affecting their communities.

While the three groups differed in many ways, they shared numerous concerns and an eagerness to be part of the solution to Myanmar’s problems. We gave them presentations on how artists around the world have responded to the issues they identified : territory and identity, environmental devastation, and violence against women. Over the duration of the workshops, our Burmese Artist Assistants, Kyi Wynn and Ko Z, played a vital role communicating ideas and demonstrating techniques.

Using enthusiasm, productivity and dedication to future action as a yardstick, we feel that these workshops were a very successful beginning to our project. We are delighted to report that when the culminating exhibition of work created by our Monywa, Taunggyi and Mandalay participants opened at the Jefferson Center in Mandalay, this evaluation was shared by numerous community viewers. Details and photos will be coming soon!

Pamela Blotner Mie Preckler