The Annenberg Space for Photography Presents REFUGEE

LOS ANGELES, March 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Wallis Annenberg and the Annenberg Foundation announce the Annenberg Space for Photography exhibition REFUGEE, representing a host of diverse populations dispersed and displaced throughout the world through singular and compelling images.

Annenberg Foundation Chairman of the Board, President and CEO Wallis Annenberg: "I'm proud that the Annenberg Foundation has built a strong tradition of exploring our most pressing and complex public issues, of promoting meaningful dialogue even where there is contention and controversy.  I can't think of an issue more important and vital than the global refugee crisis.  Now more than ever, we need to go beyond superficial readings of this worldwide concern in order to understand its deeply human ramifications.  In this powerful exhibit, I believe we do.  These extraordinary and visionary artists don't advocate, they illuminate; they don't argue a position, they enlighten."

The UNHCR supported REFUGEE exhibition photographers throughout their endeavors, providing both valuable background information and facilitating logistical contact with refugees.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi: "This remarkable initiative is very timely, coming as violence and human rights abuses uproot people around the world at an unprecedented pace. The photographs in this exhibit portray their courage, resilience and strength. They show that this is not an anonymous movement; these are ordinary people, who have been forced to flee."

Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Lynsey Addario documented the Rohingya people in Myanmar. Omar Victor Diop presents photographs of refugees from the Central African Republic in Cameroon. Fine Art photographer Graciela Iturbide photographed Central American refugees in Mexico and displaced communities in Colombia. Martin Schoeller presents detailed, close-range portraits of resettled refugees in the U.S. Tom Stoddart contributes a photographic narrative of refugees arriving in Greece and traveling through Croatia and Serbia on to Germany.

In addition, the Annenberg Foundation engaged nonprofit VisionWorkshops to provide a photography camp for displaced youths in Colombia, which was held in collaboration with the UNHCR. The work of its participants will be included within the exhibition. The exhibition also offers a virtual reality (VR) experience, presenting a short VR film of youth who participated in the VisionWorkshops photography camp.  An original documentary film by Tiger Nest Films captures exhibition photographers at work, delving further into the stories behind their images.

Annenberg Space for Photography
The Annenberg Space for Photography is a cultural destination dedicated to exhibiting photography. The intimate environment features state-of-the-art, high-definition digital technology as well as traditional prints by both world-renowned and emerging photographers. It is the first solely photographic cultural destination in the Los Angeles area. The Photography Space conveys a range of human experiences and serves as an expression of the philanthropic work of the Annenberg Foundation and its directors.

Annenberg Foundation
The Annenberg Foundation is a family foundation that provides funding and support to nonprofit organizations in the United States and globally. Since 1989, it has generously funded programs in education and youth development; arts, culture and humanities; civic and community life; health and human services; and animal services and the environment. In addition, the Foundation and its Board of Directors are directly involved in the community with innovative projects that further its mission of advancing a better tomorrow through visionary leadership today. Among them are Annenberg Alchemy, Annenberg Learner, Annenberg Space for Photography, Explore, GRoW and the Metabolic Studio. The Foundation encourages the development of effective ways to communicate by sharing ideas and knowledge.

UNHCR
The UN Refugee Agency UNHCR works worldwide to protect, assist and find solutions for refugees, internally displaced people and stateless populations. It has some 9,700 staff across 126 countries, many working in humanitarian emergencies and in close proximity to regions of conflict.  http://www.unhcr.org

SOURCE The Annenberg Foundation

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