CRACOW, PL
the Russian invasion of Ukraine created a strong response in Polish society. Showing our condemnation, ReFOCUS Media Labs responded OT THE AGGRESSION the best way we could by Immediately supporting and reporting from both sides of the Polish-Ukrainian border, and connecting with displaced media creators to help tell the story in real time.
Our core mission as an organisation has always been to empower and train members of impacted communities to develop modern media creation skills and secure employment. With generous support from #ChooseLove ReFOCUS partnered with Kultura Futura, Małopolski Ogród Sztuki and Juliusz Slowacki Theater to deliver a three-month long training course in graphic design, photography and digital filmmaking led by displaced Ukrainian artists and mentors.
Within one afternoon over 300 students signed up, and three-months later our 3rd Media lab is flourishing in our second semester. We’re filled with pride and respect for the dedication, creativity and passion every member of this community continues to pour into the process during these heartbreaking and uncertain times.
Right from the start our students were motivated to utilise their new skills in support of their nation with graphic designs, photography and short films that depicted their collective struggle to resist the Russian invasion. In particular, our war poster series was a powerful way of continuing this strong tradition inside ukraine. This gallery is selection from a larger body of work by our 1st level students.
AFTER OUR FIRST SEMESTER WE CERTIFIED 60 new Ukrainian MEDIA ARTISTS, AND NOW EMPLOY 6 amazing Ukrainian teaching artists/coordinator. OUR 2ND MULTIMEDIA EXHIBITION JUST OPENED IN CENTRAL KRAKOW in @teatrwkrakowie WHERE WE CERTIFIED ANOTHER 60 NEW ARTISTS, AND celebratED THE energy, passion and creativity of OUR GROWING COMMUNITY. OUR THIRD SEMESTER IS ABOUT TO KICK OFF with new classes in PHOTOGRAPHY, GRAPHIC DESIGN, FILMMAKING AND STORYTELLING.
Deep gratitude to our dedicated and passionate students, and their graphic design, photography, filmmaking teachers- Olena Diadiuk , alla_hrushko, Mykola Belevtsov, Eugeniusz YANICKI, annychka pogorelova; our dynamic coordinator- vira prypasnyk, and our project managers/cofounders sonia nandzik-Herman, DOuglas Herman; Kultura Futura founder Alec yanicki
The house was packed at Małopolski Ogród Sztuki in Juliusz Slowacki Theater to celebrate amazing original graphic designs, new photography and short films by our latest class of media artists. Our theme for Season 2 was “Ukrainian Alphabet of Identity”, and was a tremendous affair quite worthy of the attention paid by Krakow and national polish television.
This expansion to add our third active lab in our growing network wouldn't be possible without our partner in Cracow @kulturafutura and amazing project sponsor @chooselove
We're so excited Season 3 is ABOUT TO KICK IN TO ACTION full swing. more amazing designs, photos and films coming your way VERY SOON!
