CHICAGO, IL - South Shore will soon have access to a state-of-the art media facility now that a local organization has begun construction on its new brick-and-mortar home.
Sisters in Cinema, a 501(c)3 dedicated to celebrating and centering Black women and gender nonconforming media makers, is hosting a groundbreaking ceremony at 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 8 to celebrate construction at its new Media Arts Center at 2310 E 75th St. The ceremony will be held at the South Shore Solarium at the South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S South Shore Dr.
Sisters in Cinema founder and CEO Dr. Yvonne Welbon will be joined by distinguished guests that include city leaders such as 7th Ward Alderman Greg Mitchell, Commissioner Maurice Cox of the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, and Executive Director Trice Tonya of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce, plus the directors of the Illinois and Chicago Film Offices, Kwame Amoaku and Peter Hawley.
Entertainment will be provided by South Shore native and internationally acclaimed DJ Joe Smooth with an invocation and original performance by Zahra Baker.
The Media Art Center will house gallery space, a 45-seat theater, editing and computer lab, offices, and classroom and conference space. It will be open to the community and media makers and is set to offer workshops, courses, and comprehensive programming free of charge when it opens in September 2021. Sisters in Cinema programs include:
The Sisters in Cinema Documentary Fellowship
The Sisters Screening Series
The Sister Social: Networking Industry Events
The Sisters in Cinema Newsroom
Sisters in Cinema Productions
The Media Arts Center is a project made possible in part by the City of Chicago's Neighborhood Opportunity Fund, which finances commercial and cultural projects in historically disinvested neighborhoods by redirecting revenue generated from downtown development. South Shore is one of the neighborhoods that benefits from this program and is also where Sisters in Cinema's Welbon grew up and currently lives.
"As a longtime resident of South Shore, it has always been my aim to be of service to my community and to tap into the neighborhood's potential. In these challenging times, it is more important than ever for Black women, girls and gender nonconforming media makers to have the skills and tools to tell our stories" Welbon said.
To learn more about Sisters in Cinema and its Media Arts Center in South Shore, check out the attached FAQ and/or visit website: www.sistersincinema.com .
About Sisters in Cinema
Sisters in Cinema was founded in 1997 as an online resource for and about African American women media makers. Today we are a Chicago based 501(c)3 non-profit with an inclusive mission to center and celebrate Black girls, women, and gender non-conforming media makers, providing programs designed to educate, raise visibility, and support and serve our communities.
We envision a world where all Black girls, women and gender non-conforming media makers and storytellers have equal opportunities to create and thrive.
