Celia Center Arts Festival|National Adoption Month
Celia Center Arts Festival 2024: Celebrating Resilience and Creativity in Fostered and Adopted Voices
LOS ANGELES, CA, September 30, 2024: The Celia Center is proud to present its fourth Celia Center Arts Festival (CCAF) – an empowering event that brings together the voices and stories of those who have experienced adoption and foster care. Titled “Adopting Resilience, Fostering the Spirit of Creativity: The Voices of the Fostered and Adopted,” this two-day festival will showcase a diverse range of artists across various mediums who channel their personal journeys through creative expression.
The festival will take place on Friday, November 15 and Saturday, November 16, 2024, at the Electric Lodge Cultural Arts Center in Venice, CA. This year’s festival promises to offer an immersive and emotionally resonant experience, allowing attendees to witness the raw and powerful stories of fostered and adopted individuals while celebrating their artistic talents.
A Vision of Healing and Community
Founded in 2012 by Jeanette Yoffe, the Celia Center has always focused on building support networks and safe spaces for individuals touched by adoption and foster care. Yoffe, a psychotherapist and adoptee herself, was inspired to create Celia Center as a way to uplift and connect people from the adoption and foster care constellation. Her personal story, rooted in her adoption journey and the discovery of her biological mother’s artistic legacy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, served as a catalyst for creating a platform where the power of art and storytelling could bring healing.
Through the Celia Center Arts Festival, Yoffe continues her mission of creating a space for adoptees and foster youth to share their stories, build community, and explore themes of resilience, identity, loss, and triumph.
Festival Highlights: A Celebration of Art, Film, and Performance
The festival kicks off on Friday, November 15, at 7:00 PM, with the Opening Reception for the Visual Art Group Exhibition. Curated by artist and adoptee Leigh Chapman, the exhibition features a variety of visual and performing artists, including a special presentation of Jeff Forney’s “The Innocent People Project.” Forney, a Los Angeles-based photographer and adoptee, was inspired to create this project after discovering his shared adoption experience with actor Ray Liotta. His powerful photography project captures the faces and stories of adoptees across the country, highlighting their unique and often unheard narratives.
Attendees at the reception will have the opportunity to meet the artists and get a sneak peek at the exhibit, which remains open through November 16. The night also includes spoken word and performing arts pieces by Amy Barker D’Alessandro, Veirgela Horowitz, and Jeanette Yoffe. An extra special performance by an adoptee artist will be featured, promising a memorable experience for all.
A Full Weekend of Activities
The Celia Center Arts Festival offers more than just art exhibitions. It provides a robust lineup of events and workshops that cater to a variety of interests and ages.
Film Screenings:
“Somebody’s Daughter” will screen at 8:00 PM on Saturday, November 16. Q&A with Zara Philips and Richard Thompson. Ages 18+.
A matinee screening of “Reckoning With the Primal Wound” will take place at 4:00 PM on Saturday, November 16, delving into the emotional and psychological impact of adoption. Ages 16+.
Workshops:
“The Worth Inside Me Healing Arts Workshop” (4:30 PM on Saturday, November 16), offering a space for healing and self-expression through art for adoptees and foster youth alumni. Led by Leigh Chapman, Artist and Adoptee. Ages 18+.
Children’s Programming:
Starting at 1:00 PM on Saturday, November 16, families can enjoy activities like a Make Your Own Drum Workshop (ticketed), Face Painting, a Healing Arts Table, and a Book Giveaway.
Healing Circle:
On Saturday evening (6:00-7:00 PM), there will be a Healing Circle, bringing together participants to reflect, share, and support one another in a safe and nurturing environment. Led by Briana Spencer, Healer and Former Foster Youth.
Fostering Creativity and Connection
For many fostered and adopted individuals, art offers a path to healing, helping them process complex emotions and life experiences. The Celia Center Arts Festival seeks to amplify these voices, giving artists the space to explore their identities and share their perspectives with the world.
Jeanette Yoffe’s personal journey through adoption continues to shape the festival’s mission – her discovery of her first mother, Celia Barbosa, and her involvement in the performing arts sparked a vision to connect the artistic expressions of those with similar backgrounds. The festival is not just a showcase of talent, but a powerful space for healing, community, and deep conversations around adoption and foster care.
Join the Celebration
As the Celia Center prepares to host its 2024 Arts Festival, they invite everyone – from adoptees and foster youth to their families and allies – to come and experience the magic of creative expression. Whether through visual art, spoken word, film, or performance, each piece tells a story of resilience, hope, and transformation.
The festival is a unique opportunity to engage with art that touches on the complexities of adoption and foster care, and to support the incredible talent of artists who have been shaped by these experiences.
Tickets are available now, and the festival’s full schedule can be found on the Celia Center Arts Festival website.
Let’s come together to celebrate the spirit of creativity and the power of storytelling at the 2024 Celia Center Arts Festival – a transformative event you won’t want to miss!
