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Celebrating the past, present, and future of Kartemquin Films
BRAND EXPERIENCE
2022
SISTERS IN
THE CENTER
TIMELINE
MAY 2022 - DEC 2022
ROLE
CREATIVE STRATEGY
BRAND PARTNERSHIP
STRATEGY
SISTERS IN THE CENTER EXHIBITION
THE STORY
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 nonconforming 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 nonconforming media makers and storytellers have equal opportunities to create and thrive.
THE CONCEPT
Opening the Sisters in Cinema Media Arts Center as the biggest and boldest iteration of the Sisters in Cinema project.
BLACK WOMEN MEDIA MAKERS
THE OPPORTUNITY
As we entered this exciting new chapter for Sisters in Cinema, we knew it was important to continue to honor the contributions of Black women who have shifted and shaped the landscape of filmmaking for so many in Chicago and beyond. For this reason we developed Sisters in the Center as an accessible multi-media archival space.
THE SOLUTION
The 2024 exhibitions offer visitors and members of the community an opportunity to learn about the history of black women in film through a variety of lenses.
First, our photography exhibit, Sisters in the Center: Portraits from the Sojourner Truth Festival of the Arts, shines a light on the faces of black women in film–specifically those who were in attendance at the 2023 Sojourner Truth Festival–reminding us to celebrate black women creatives for the fullness of their being, not just for the products of their labor.
SISTERS IN CINEMA
Our video exhibition, Now Playing: Sisters in Cinema, showcases snippets of black women’s cinematic work across decades and genres, offering us a taste of the thematic and aesthetic diversity of black women’s filmmaking that we hope will leave you with an appetite for more–enough appetite for you to grab a bucket of popcorn and join us in the screening room this year.
CHERYL DUNYE
Finally, the Media Arts Centers contains a permanent exhibition room to house Dr. Welbon’s extensive personal archive, where a rotation of exhibits for our Sister Spotlight series will be held. This series begins with our inaugural Sister Spotlight on filmmaker Cheryl Dunye, giving visitors a behind-the-scenes look into her craft. In undertaking these exhibitions, our aim is to boost the visibility of black women in film and celebrate their contributions by building a grassroots archive that is first and foremost made by our community, for our community.
RESULTS
Visitors: 1,275 by December 2024
Films Screened: 36 (All directed by Black women)
Sentiment Analysis: Overall Positive Sentiment 98% Neutral: 2%
