Lubuto Library Project Exhibition at ALA

Exhibition of artwork created by vulnerable youth in Zambia

Published on 25 July 2011

Author(s): AAMES Newsletter

Type:  Feature Volume 8, Issue 2, Spring 2011, page 6

The International Relations Roundtable (IRRT) and the Lubuto Library Project (www.Lubuto.org) invite the ALA membership to view an exhibition of artwork created by vulnerable youth in Zambia who have participated in the libraries’ LubutoArts program.

The artwork is on display at the gallery throughout June but a special “ALA opening” will take place on Saturday, June 25th, 2011 at 5:30pm at the Stella Jones Gallery, considered one of the U.S.’s premier galleries specializing in African and Africa Diaspora art. Ms. Jones is launching this exhibition free of charge and all of the proceeds will support the artists and their training. Award-winning children’s book illustrator Bryan Collier will also attend the event and offer his own artwork for sale to benefit Lubuto Library Project.

Lubuto Libraries target the most vulnerable children and youth in Zambia with excellent libraries and programs that enable out-of-school and street children to develop their knowledge, talents and self-expression. LubutoArts is a self-sustaining art training program, led by former head of Zambia’s Visual Arts Council, artist and art teacher Victor Makashi.

Offered weekly in Lubuto Libraries, the program is supported by a percentage of the proceeds of the sale of artworks. In 2009 the youth who participated in the program had a very successful exhibition and sale of their work at Lusaka’s Henry Tayali Gallery.

The Lubuto Library Project is seeking in-kind and financial support to send a Zambian delegation of 5 to New Orleans for the exhibition. ALA’s Young Adult Services section would also like the youth to participate in some of their conference programming – to show American librarians the impact on disadvantaged youth of arts programming in libraries.

Bringing the artists to New Orleans will dramatically broaden their horizons and growth as artists and people in the rich artistic and educational environment of that city, Stella Jones’ community and the ALA conference. It is a wonderful story about the power of libraries and the result of reaching out to develop the talents of underserved youth.

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