National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
Hosts Picture Freedom Awards Ceremony August 12
MEDIA CONTACT:
Will Jones
Public Relations & Social Media Coordinator
(513) 333-7558
(513) 288-4834
wjones@nurfc.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CINCINNATI, OH (August 11, 2017) – The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center has announced the winners of the third annual 2017 Toyota Picture Freedom Art Contest and will hold a ceremony to honor them this Saturday, August 12 from 1 – 3:00 p.m. The Picture Freedom Art Contest is a nationwide student art competition sponsored by Toyota that challenges students to create works of art capturing America’s struggle for inclusive freedom and equality, drawing connections from the Underground Railroad to the Civil Rights Movement to the modern day fight against slavery.
"We are thrilled to honor these students and their artistic talents with scholarship funds and exhibiting their work throughout the museum,” says Tara Riley, Manager of Educational Initiatives for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. "Their moving art will challenge and inspire our visitors."
The grand prize winner of the contest is Charles Rounds of Jackson, Mississippi, winning a $3,500 scholarship award. The second place winner, Desmond Young of Jackson, Mississippi wins a $2,000 scholarship award. Finally, third place winner Jordan Havice, of Columbus, Ohio is awarded a $1,000 scholarship award. Hotel, flight and food accommodations are also included for the top three winners to visit Cincinnati for the opening of the Picture Freedom exhibit which will showcase their work through February 2018. Winners 4 – 8 will receive a $100 scholarship.
The 2017 Picture Freedom Art Contest sponsored by Toyota awards ceremony recognizing this year's finalists is this Saturday, August 12, 2017 at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. This event is open to the public and included with general admission. Visit freedomcenter.org for more information.
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ABOUT THE NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center opened in August 2004 on the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Since then, more than 1.3 million people have visited its permanent and changing exhibits and public programs, inspiring everyone to take courageous steps for freedom. Two million people have utilized educational resources online at freedomcenter.org, working to connect the lessons of the Underground Railroad to inform and inspire today’s global and local fight for freedom. Partnerships include Historians Against Slavery, Polaris Project, Free the Slaves, US Department of State and International Justice Mission. In 2014, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center launched a new online resource in the fight against modern slavery, endslaverynow.org.