{"686726":{"#nid":"686726","#data":{"type":"event","title":"Penn Center Alternative Spring Break: An Arts Initiative for Transformative Learning ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOverview: \u003C\/strong\u003EMembers of the Georgia Tech community (students, faculty, and staff) and individuals from St. Helena Island, South Carolina, and nearby communities have the opportunity to participate in a unique alternative spring break at the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District on St. Helena Island. In collaboration with the Gullah\/Geechee Nation, this multidisciplinary arts initiative will create transformative opportunities while honoring one of America\u2019s most significant cultural landmarks. The program, which is funded by a Catalyst Grant from Georgia Tech Arts, will cover all lodging, most meals, and transportation for participants during the residency. The program will also provide optional transportation to and from Atlanta for the residency. Additional details will be made available to individuals who are selected for the residency.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Experience: \u003C\/strong\u003EThis initiative will transport participants to the campus of the former Penn School, one of the nation\u2019s first schools for formerly enslaved people. Participants will discover a place enlivened by the past and surrounded by natural beauty. During a four-day journey, participants will live and learn at the Center while creating artistic responses. Days will be spent exploring the campus, engaging with Gullah culture, and developing work. Evenings will feature work-in-progress critiques, fostering a supportive community of practice. Residents will stay at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.penncenter.com\/benezet\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EBenezet\u003C\/a\u003E, (1905) which was the former female dorm. Residents will have their own room and will share a bathroom with another resident.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFollow-up\u003C\/strong\u003E: Participants will have the opportunity to share their artwork with the Georgia Tech community at a public event.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EParticipants and Selection: \u003C\/strong\u003EIdeal participants are curious, open-minded, and ready to embrace artistic practice. The ideal participant may be someone interested in the arts but lacks time or money to pursue creative work, or someone eager to begin an artistic journey but uncertain where to start. All types of artists can apply \u2013 from writers and painters to quilters and performance artists. Participants will include: (4) students, (3) faculty, (3) staff, (3) community members from St. Helena Island, the Penn Center, and Gullah\/Geechee Nation, and (2) visiting artists. The program will be led by Dr. Jennifer Lux and Dr. Danielle Willkens.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow to Apply: \u003C\/strong\u003ESubmit a 500-word essay and one representative work (e.g., photograph, video, painting, or poem). Preference will be given to those who have not previously worked with the Penn Center.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlease direct any questions to Jennifer Lux (jennifer.lux@scheller.gatech.edu) and\/or Danielle Willkens (danielle.willkens@design.gatech.edu). \u003Cstrong\u003EOnline applications are due Monday, January 12, at 11:59pm\u003C\/strong\u003E. Application decisions will be made by Tuesday, January 20.\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchedule \u003C\/strong\u003E(subject to updates)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESaturday, March 21\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E8:00am: Depart from Georgia Tech\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E3:00pm: Arrive at Penn Center for welcome and check-in\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E4:00pm-6:00pm: Campus orientation\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E6:00pm-7:30pm: Dinner provided by Low-Country caterer\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESunday, March 22\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E7:00am-8:30am: Breakfast\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E9:00am-5:00pm: Workshop with local artist, lunch, time to create art\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E5:00pm-8:00pm: Group trip to Beaufort, dinner on your own\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMonday, March 23\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E7:00am-8:30am: Breakfast\u202f\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E9:00am-6:00pm: Workshop with local artist, lunch, time to create art\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E6:00pm-7:30pm: Dinner provided by Low-Country caterer\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETuesday, March 24\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E7:00am-8:30am: Breakfast\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E9:00am-12:00pm: Morning wrap up. Complete and submit online residency evaluations. Depart by noon. Lunch on your own.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatech.co1.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_9RyJV7gxpTTovmS\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EClick here to apply\u003C\/strong\u003E \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMembers of the Georgia Tech community (students, faculty, and staff) and individuals from St. Helena Island, South Carolina, and nearby communities have the opportunity to participate in a unique alternative spring break at the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District on St. Helena Island.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Penn Center Alternative Spring Break: An Arts Initiative for Transformative Learning "}],"uid":"28161","created_gmt":"2025-12-03 19:10:40","changed_gmt":"2025-12-03 19:50:31","author":"Kjersti Lukens","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","field_event_time":{"event_time_start":"2026-03-21T00:00:00-04:00","event_time_end":"2026-03-24T23:59:59-04:00","event_time_end_last":"2026-03-24T23:59:59-04:00","gmt_time_start":"2026-03-21 04:00:00","gmt_time_end":"2026-03-25 03:59:59","gmt_time_end_last":"2026-03-25 03:59:59","rrule":null,"timezone":"America\/New_York"},"location":"Penn Center National Historic Landmark District, St. Helena Island, South Carolina ","extras":[],"hg_media":{"678757":{"id":"678757","type":"image","title":"2025 Penn Center Trip Image","body":"\u003Cp\u003E2025 Penn Center Trip Image\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1764788767","gmt_created":"2025-12-03 19:06:07","changed":"1764788956","gmt_changed":"2025-12-03 19:09:16","alt":"Sunset over Penn Center in collage of pictures","file":{"fid":"262831","name":"2025_Penn_Center_webpage_image.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/03\/2025_Penn_Center_webpage_image.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/03\/2025_Penn_Center_webpage_image.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":51136,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/03\/2025_Penn_Center_webpage_image.jpg?itok=gPkPqT47"}}},"media_ids":["678757"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/gatech.co1.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_9RyJV7gxpTTovmS","title":"Apply Here"}],"groups":[{"id":"477091","name":"Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education"},{"id":"145331","name":"Georgia Tech Arts"},{"id":"660380","name":"GT Arts"},{"id":"1274","name":"Scheller College of Business"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[{"id":"1792","name":"Arts and Performance"},{"id":"194684","name":"Free"},{"id":"194682","name":"Workshop"},{"id":"10377","name":"Career\/Professional development"},{"id":"1788","name":"Other\/Miscellaneous"},{"id":"26411","name":"Training\/Workshop"}],"invited_audience":[{"id":"78761","name":"Faculty\/Staff"},{"id":"177814","name":"Postdoc"},{"id":"78771","name":"Public"},{"id":"174045","name":"Graduate students"},{"id":"78751","name":"Undergraduate students"}],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJennifer Lux (jennifer.lux@scheller.gatech.edu) and\/or Danielle Willkens (danielle.willkens@design.gatech.edu)\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}