THROUGH MY LENS: A BALTIMORE-ABURI EXCHANGE  
Ages 16-24 
Fall 2022, Online  

This workshop will challenge student fellows to become photo and video “pen pals” with youth in Aburi, Ghana.  Aburi, north of the capital Accra, is a destination popular with African Diaspora repatriates.  Responding to assigned prompts, youth of the two cities will capture images that reflect on common themes, such as identity, family, community, and home, even as they share distinct, individual perspectives on their experiences and environments.  In weekly meetings, fellows will participate in discussions, view photos and films by established African Diasporan artists, gain technical instruction and cultural education from guest instructors, and cooperatively plan projects.  They’ll be asked to bring their work in progress to meetings to receive feedback from instructors and peers, but ultimately the project(s) will be directed by the fellows.  Portfolios will include both still and moving images (under 15-second, single take recordings).  Collaborative and individual works will be shared at a virtual screening and on the BYFA website, as well as through venues in Ghana.  Limited to 8 student fellows. 

Through My Lens: A Baltimore-Aburi Exchange is a co-production of Baltimore Youth Film Arts and Griot Works, a program of Afrikan Youth Alchemy. 

Ras Tre Subira is Founding Director of Griot's Eye and Afrikan Youth Alchemy.