Prism Design Lab

Exploring Architecture has expanded into Orange County Schools!?? By taking our workshops into OCS, hands-on architecture experiences are more accessible to young minds in rural communities. Using their wildest imagination, 5th graders design structures out of Legos and determine the function and purpose of their creation. Back at the Prism Studio, we transformed their creations into stunning AI-generated renderings, merging imagination with reality. Seeing their excitement and enthusiasm as their ideas turn into reality is truly inspiring! This program is supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Give to young creators and check out our 2023-'24 impact!

Our journey continued at McDougle and Culbreth Middle Schools with more Legos and Imaginary Architecture! Students built incredible structures, each telling its own story of design and purpose. ????? Using AI, we transformed their Lego masterpieces into breathtaking digital renderings, bringing their architectural dreams to life! ???? These workshops were made possible from the support of the Chapel Hill - Carrboro Public School Foundation. #PrismDesignLab?#ArtsEducation?#STEAM?#Architecture?#MiddleSchoolMagic?#LegoCreativity?#ImaginationUnleashed

We recently brought Legos & Imaginary Architecture to Phillips and Smith Middle Schools! ??? Students explored the intersection of art and architecture by creating imaginative Lego structures and envisioning their purposes. ????? With a little AI magic, we turned their visions into stunning digital renderings! ????? A big shoutout to these young architects for their imagination and passion. Check out their incredible creations! ?? These workshops were made possible from the support of the Chapel Hill - Carrboro Public School Foundation. #PrismDesignLab?#ArtsEducation?#STEAM?#Architecture?#MiddleSchoolMagic?#LegoCreativity?#ImaginationUnleashed

Witness the incredible artistry of?@jeghettos_puppets, a master puppeteer and visionary storyteller. Supporting local artists like Jeghetto fuels the imagination of young people in our community. Your support makes a difference - whether it’s sharing, donating, or showing up for local art, you help keep creativity thriving.??? ??: A glimpse into Jeghetto’s production of 5P1N0K10, performed at Phillips Middle School in November for the entire student body. Prism’s effort to bring Jeghetto’s 5P1N0K10 to all four CHCCS Middle Schools is supported by funds from the Town of Chapel Hill’s Arts & Culture Award Program. #SupportLocalArtists?#Jeghetto?#ArtMatters?#CommunityLove

We would like to give a shout out to our amazing volunteer, Lina Lindberg, for all of her grant-writing support! ?? Throughout the past year, Lina has been working with us in many ways to increase our funding and grant-writing capabilities. She has conducted in-depth research to find funding opportunities, developed an overall grant funding plan that includes a Master Grant Template, and has aided in the writing of grant proposals. She has played a vital role in helping us secure multiple grants, including awards from Orange County Arts Commission, Durham Public School Foundation, and Triangle Community Foundation. We greatly appreciate the dedication and passion that Lina has shown when working with us, and highly recommend her services. Lina Lindberg Grant Consulting Specializes in writing grant proposals for nonprofits focused on children’s education and youth development.

Triangle Community Foundation is pleased to announce the 2024 grantees from its Cultural Arts impact area. The ten selected grantees were collectively awarded $400,000 in multi-year general operating support in response to a continued need for reliable flexible funding in the arts sector. Please join us in congratulating the following nonprofits doing incredible work here in our community! To learn more about the Cultural Arts impact area and these organizations, click the following link to read the full press release: https://bit.ly/3Yt6njN ? Artspace WALLTOWN CHILDRENS THEATRE Chatham Arts Council Northstar Church of the Arts TRIANGLE NATIVE AMERICAN SOCIETY INC ShaLeigh Dance Works WAKE FOREST COMMUNITY YOUTH ORCHESTRA The Beautiful Project Diamante Arts & Cultural Center Prism Design Lab

Northside Elementary 5th graders put on their urban designer hats to create a unique and vibrant city out of the individual structures they created earlier in the month. Our Northside friends displayed that they can not only calculate the volume of compound rectangular prisms, but that they are creative problem solvers and can seamlessly incorporate design and art into their math education. The group considered the walkability of their city, as well as natural amenities. We left feeling inspired by these future architects, builders, landscape architects, city planners, and artists!

McKinley Ogden joined our team through Americorps VISTA as a Youth Outreach Coordinator, as well as a Design Corps Fellow. Starting her position at the beginning of summer, she is working to build capacity within the organization by focusing on fundraising, marketing, and outreach to the community. With experience in design, as well as teaching and mentoring youth, McKinley is excited to get creative with youth in the Durham - Chapel Hill area. As a recent graduate of Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana she received a BFA in Visual Communication. She is passionate about typography, brand design, and print design. If not lost in the depths of Adobe Illustrator, you'll find her enjoying her time in nature, cuddling with her cat, or lifting weights in the gym.

We're excited to celebrate with our young creatives and other Durham Youth Leadership Fund grantees! Come join us! From?@youthspeakdurm Join the?Durham Office on Youth?as we unveil our new vision and renewed commitments to young people, and celebrate the successes of their 2023-2024?Durham Youth Leadership Fund?grantees! Over the last year, grantees have been working to connect young people through art, support their mental health and wellness, and create welcoming and supportive "third places" for young people. This family-friendly community gathering will feature a gallery presentation of project stories, an opportunity to hear firsthand from the teams behind the success, and a reveal of the Office on Youth’s new vision and purpose. You can expect good food, music, games, and a maker space too! Check out the attached flyers for more information and please also share widely. Your RSVP is requested by October 14 at?bit.ly/OOYinBloom.