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Project Jericho Dedicates Art Project to The Five BrownsPublished: 12/6/2011 Project Jericho has joined forces with the Child Advocacy Center, the Clark County Juvenile Court and the Springfield Arts Council in hopes of raising awareness about abuse and neglect. The art project, created by detained youth at the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center and professional artist Sherry Ringler, will be unveiled on the Clark State Performing Arts Center Kuss Auditorium stage during the December 17, 2011, performance of The Five Browns. It will later be permanently installed at the Clark County Child Advocacy Center. In addition to creating this artwork, the youth also received education by the Child Advocacy Center about how to identify physical, emotional and sexual abuse and where and how to get help. The project has won the support of Juvenile Court Judge Monnin who will attend a special workshop with The Five Browns for detained youth and their probation officers at the Kuss Auditorium later this month. "They offered to come to the detention center," says Detention Director Joe Hunter, "but we would have had to somehow get five grand pianos into the high security facility. We thought it would be better to take the kids to them." The Five Browns, dubbed the Fab Five by People Magazine in 2002, are five siblings who have for years won the hearts of crowds around the world for being a technical piano masterpiece in motion. When two of the siblings courageously stepped forward in February and charged their father (and former manager) with sexual abuse, it risked changing the public’s image of the seemingly close-knit family. "But going public with their story could help raise awareness in our community, and ultimately give courage to others," says Project Jericho Coordinator Beth Dixon. Project Jericho has been acclaimed for its endeavors, recently receiving a nomination for the 2010 Governor’s Award for the Arts in the field of Community Development and Participation, sponsored by the Ohio Arts Council. The Ohio Arts Council funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically. Project Jericho is a collaborative program of the Clark State Performing Arts Center and Job & Family Services of Clark County. Additional funding is provided by the Ohio Arts Council and The Turner Foundation. The program provides positive, in-depth arts experiences for local at-risk youth and families. Visit Project Jericho online to learn more. MEDIA CONTACT: |