The Adobe Foundation and the PBS Foundation Launch Project VoiceScape to Mentor Young Filmmakers

Partnership Will Pair Award-Winning Documentary Filmmakers with Young Digital Media Artists Across the Country

ARLINGTON, Va. and SAN JOSE, Calif. — — The PBS and Adobe Foundations today launched Project VoiceScape, a collaboration between Adobe Youth Voices, the Adobe Foundation’s global signature philanthropy program, and PBS’ POV, television’s longest-running showcase for independent non-fiction films.

Project VoiceScape is aimed at encouraging middle and high school students nationwide to use digital media tools in creating compelling stories about issues and concerns important to them. Award-winning PBS series POV | American Documentary, recognized internationally for its rigorous editorial selection process of outstanding award-winning non-fiction films, will oversee a national call for entries on the POV website (www.pbs.org/pov). Young filmmakers whose entries are chosen will receive funding to complete their films, mentoring from award-winning documentary filmmakers, and streaming of their films at POV’s website.

To encourage the participation of educators and facilitate entries, the PBS Teachers website will act as a hub where educators can obtain advice from youth media experts on inspiring students to produce exciting and innovative content. Building on PBS’ long standing relationship with teachers and the education community, the site will also provide access to Adobe Youth Voices Essentials, a set of free curricula and resources that will help educators launch, guide and sustain effective youth media programs.

Project VoiceScape will also provide select PBS member stations with funds to support student-created media, training from KQED’s Digital Media Center, and a software donation from the Adobe Foundation. These stations will become part of the Adobe Youth Voices network, providing opportunities to showcase students’ work and collaborate with other Adobe Youth Voices participants across the globe.

“Supporting the creative vision of young filmmakers is essential to the future success of PBS as America’s home for diverse viewpoints,” said Paula Kerger, PBS president and CEO. “We are proud to work with POV and Adobe Youth Voices to provide the technology, training and encouragement needed to support the documentarians of tomorrow.”

“We believe it’s critical to arm young people with the creativity and technology skills to succeed in today’s digital world,” said Shantanu Narayen, Adobe president and CEO and Adobe Foundation board president. “We’re proud that Adobe Youth Voices will help enable PBS to expand the development of youth-generated content and programming about issues relevant to youth.”

“POV is thrilled to be working with Adobe Youth Voices and PBS to cultivate the next generation of documentary filmmakers,” said Simon Kilmurry, POV executive director. “We are particularly enthusiastic about bringing together new content producers with veteran filmmakers to discuss the creative process, editing, production guidelines and overall content decisions. We look forward to seeing the work.”

About POV
Produced by American Documentary, Inc. and now in its 23rd season on PBS, the award-winning POV series is the longest-running showcase on American television to feature the work of today’s best independent documentary filmmakers. Airing June through September, with primetime specials during the year, POV has brought more than 300 acclaimed documentaries to millions nationwide and has a Webby Award-winning online series, POV’s Borders. Since 1988, POV has pioneered the art of presentation and outreach using independent nonfiction media to build new communities in conversation about today’s most pressing social issues. More information is available at www.pbs.org/pov.

About PBS Foundation
The mission of the PBS Foundation is to solicit funding for PBS by seeking extraordinary grants and gifts. Working collaboratively with member stations, the PBS Foundation’s fundraising efforts benefit and enhance the system as a whole by providing a source for revenue at the highest level. The PBS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization and a 509(a)(3) supporting organization of PBS. For more information, visit www.pbs.org/aboutpbs/pbsfoundation/index.html.

About PBS
PBS, with its nearly 360 member stations, offers all Americans - from every walk of life - the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches more than 118 million people through television and nearly 21 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS’ premier children’s TV programming and its Web site, pbskids.org, are parents’ and teachers’ most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org web sites on the Internet.

About the Adobe Foundation
The Adobe Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation created and funded by Adobe Systems Incorporated to leverage human, technological and financial resources to drive social change and community improvements.

About Adobe Youth Voices
Adobe Youth Voices is the Adobe Foundation’s global philanthropic initiative that empowers youth from underserved communities with digital media skills so they can comment on their world, share their ideas and take action on issues that are important to them. By harnessing the energy and insight of youth 13-19 years old, Adobe Youth Voices aims to inspire a dialogue for change in their communities.

The program engages youth to express themselves through documentary videos, photography, print media, radio diaries, animation, Web communications and other media. The Adobe Youth Voices global network now includes more than 600 sites, grantees and organizations in 45 countries, engaging over 20,000 youth and 2,000 educators in schools and out-of-school programs. For more information, visit www.youthvoices.adobe.com.