Ejun Mary Hong
The LensBright Initiative is an award-winning, Philadelphia-based arts education nonprofit supported by the University of Pennsylvania’s President’s Engagement Prize, dedicated to building bridges between under resourced high school students and lens-based creative industries and educational institutions.
The LensBright Initiative empowers young artists to see and shape their world through the lens by providing equipment, mentorship, educational resources, and creative opportunities in film and photography. Through this support, students develop technical skills, build self-agency, and explore their creative potential.
The LensBright Initiative envisions a world where every young person sees their potential with clarity and confidence—where a brightened lens leads to brighter futures, deeper self-understanding, and lasting creative and social impact.
- Penn Today “President’s Engagement Prize winner announced”
- Penn Today “Empowering high school youth through immersive art mentorship”
With the support and guidance from the Netter Center, Sayre High School, and wonderful art mentors team, our team founded the Particiaptory Art Mentorship Program, a weekly after school program at Sayre High School that offers under-resourced high school students the opportunity to explore, learn, and create artwork in the realm of animation, architecture, and design.
A group of art students (mentors) from the University of Pennsylvania visit Sayre High School twice a week to mentor and create art with the high school students (mentees).
Outcomes:
- Organized 60 mentorship sessions and workshops, four exhibitions, four meetings with industry professionals, and two art sale.
- Collaborating with educational insitutions and 18 art mentors.
- Developed a 15-week seminar for Philadelphia School Destrict teachers to integrate animation into their curriculum.
Series of live-action films I directed, wrote, edited, and animated
Filmed with Sony A7III, Canon EOS R5; Edited with Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, iMovie
Series of mixed media art I created by combining various techniques, such as hand-drawing, painting, pen, ink, video art, animation, and more.
Created with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere Pro, Procreate