bric by bric: networking event
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
bric by bric: networking event
February 18, 2021
Contact: BRIC Foundation Talent/HR Coalition--www.bricfoundation.org
Kristin Kucia-- kristinkucia@gmail.com
Ariel Goldberg-- agoldberg@skydance.com
SUMMARY
On February 18, 2021, The BRIC Foundation will be partnering with Skydance Animation to host “BRIC by BRIC: Networking,” a two-hour long virtual event that will partner eleven neurologically-different “junior” artists with eleven “senior” artists and executives at Skydance Animation for the chance to have their portfolios reviewed, their resumes evaluated, and – most importantly – the chance to expand their professional networks.
Although the event is not designed with the specific intention of landing the junior artist a position with Skydance Animation, the goal is to get up-and-coming artists familiar with their more experienced counterparts. It also provides Skydance Animation, which has made strides in the Animation industry toward hiring, mentoring, and developing employees from underserved communities, the chance to meet with artists on the autism spectrum, a demographic that is sorely underrepresented in this field.
To source artists with autism for this event, BRIC is partnering with organizations who support the employment of diverse artists such as Exceptional Minds, Muralism, Foothill Autism Alliance, and TinkTankAnimate.
With BRIC by BRIC: Networking, The BRIC Foundation intends to launch the first of what we hope will become a regular collaborative event, affording studios the chance to connect with artists from diverse communities, and artists the chance to connect with the major players in the Animation industry.
See attached flyer. Original artwork by Jake Richard Riess, Junior Artist participant
HIGHLIGHTED ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT THE EMPLOYMENT OF NEURODIVERSE ARTISTS
Muralism www.muralism.org
Muralism is a 501(c)3 non-profit that emphasizes inclusion by employing individuals with social, physical and/or mental challenges as artists. These artists gain work experience, social skills, confidence and competence. Muralism is dedicated to showing how people with special needs can do productive, valued and beautiful work in their communities. Muralism starts by designing a mural with input from the community it will beautify. Paid artists with special needs cover sidewalks, pressure wash, and prime the wall, panels, or canvas. The Muralism team then draws a paint by numbers image in charcoal across the wall, panels, or canvas. The whole community is then invited to participate in the fun filled community paint day. The Muralism team guides the process, provides the paint, gloves, aprons, etc. The Muralism team then comes back to give the mural professional detailing, as well as a protective coat. By creating “art for the community by the community” these projects not only beautify our surroundings, but each mural expresses the culture and uniqueness of the community itself.
Foothill Autism Alliance www.foothillautism.org
The mission of Foothill Autism Alliance (FAA) is to ensure that individuals on the autism spectrum live productive and meaningful lives in the community. To accomplish this, FAA will relentlessly innovate and implement strategies to:
· Increase the understanding and acceptance of people with autism
· Ensure transition plans result in more independent adult life that is meaning to the individual
· Increase access for College to Career, Employment, and Affordable Housing in local communities
· Ensure that individuals on the autism spectrum have effective interventions, services and supports throughout their lifetime
· Partner at the city, county, state, and federal level to advocate for programs and services that support self-realization of individuals on the autism spectrum
TinkTankAnimate www.tinktankanimate.com
Tink Tank Animate exists to assist and develop Individuals of the Neuro-Diverse Community in the Arts of Storytelling in order to exercise and progress their cognitive muscles through their communicative outcomes from actively creating and completing projects in the Arts of Storytelling.
Along with the growth of confidence, communication, value, and expertise, the Tink Tank Artist is treated like a professional. At Tink Tank you are not your diagnosis, and your diagnosis is not you. We plan to stimulate your mind, by you stimulating your own mind through your own voice as you inspire others around you with your ability to communicate an idea. The final product is professional, and the final product can be self-distributed, sold, or purely just cherished as the Artist creates a remarkable body of work. At Tink Tank, you are an Artist that learns by doing.
Exceptional Minds www.exceptional-minds.org
Exceptional Minds’ three-year, full-time flagship Professional Training Academy is unique in that we combine the skills of artists, instructors, technicians, and behaviorists into a completely articulated curriculum based on idiographic, empirically validated principles of instructional design. We are the only autism education organization that provides technical instruction in the digital arts while fully integrating behavioral training into the curriculum. Our Employment Support Program provides work readiness training, job coaching, placements, troubleshooting, and employer education. All students are subsidized through our fundraising efforts and 30% also receive tuition assistance. Our Part-Time Programs include Saturday, Summer, and After School Workshops, Private Lessons both On-Site and Virtual, and Academy Extensions Programs. In 2014, Exceptional Minds launched a professional studio. Graduate students work in visual effects, animation, rigging animation for gaming and titles as junior or senior artists, or continue on-the-job training as apprentices. The studio is an approved vendor for Disney, Fox, HBO, Marvel Studios, Netflix, Paramount, Universal, and Warner Bros. The Studio’s credits include Special Olympics, Sesame Street, and blockbuster films such as Black Panther and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
