The Ellen Frank Center for Art & Social Justice
The Ellen Frank Center for Art and Social Justice
Inspiring Change
Imagine a state-of-the-art venue where artists, students, educators, and agents of social change converge to share their work and ideas for a more peaceful and just world. This is a place where global artists collaborate on projects focused on peace, reconciliation, and inclusion. Here, students from around the world unite on creative endeavors that inspire a more cohesive, equitable, and just society.
Vision
Inspired by the work of Dr. Ellen Frank and her commitment to peace and social justice through art and culture, RIT-Kosovo and the Ellen Frank Illumination Arts Foundation (EFIAF) have partnered to establish the Ellen Frank Center for Art and Social Justice on the RIT-Kosovo Campus in Pristina, Kosovo. The Center aims to preserve and elevate Dr. Frank’s legacy, highlighting art's role in promoting peace and social justice.
Envisioned as a dynamic regional hub for art and social justice education, the Center will be a collaborative space for artists and thinkers dedicated to peace and conflict resolution. It will also serve as a studio and gallery that fosters, celebrates, and showcases art as a medium for social change.
This facility will include art studio and instruction space, gallery and curatorial space for the Cities of Peace Collection and other related collections, and the necessary furnishings, equipment, and supplies to support community outreach and education initiatives.
The Center will be located on the RIT-Kosovo campus in Pristina, Kosovo. SKOLNICK Architecture + Design Partnership will design the facility, further transforming the campus into a beacon of art and social justice for the region.
The Center embraces Dr. Frank's core values: the belief that art and culture are vital in preventing the destruction of civilization and rekindling the human spirit. It emphasizes the importance of cultural diplomacy, peacebuilding, and leadership training for the future of humankind.
Please view a selection from the Cities of Peace Illuminated collection below. Click on each piece to learn more about this inspiring body of work.
RIT Kosovo - Pristina
The Center will be located on the RIT Kosovo campus in Prishtina, Kosovo, established in 2004 through a partnership between Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and the American University of Kosovo Foundation (AUKF).
RIT Kosovo has become the premier educational institution in the country, drawing on the expertise and resources of RIT’s main campus in Rochester, NY. With over 700 students, the RIT Kosovo campus is integral to RIT’s global network and is renowned for its long-running. Peace & Conflict Summer Program. The campus also houses the Fred C Cunny Center for Peace & Conflict Studies, enhancing its focus on peace and conflict management.
Prishtina is a vibrant city with one of the youngest populations in Europe and an emerging contemporary art scene, underscored by the attention Kosovo artists received during Manifesta 14 in 2022 and this year's participation in the Venice Biennale. As a nation progressing toward EU integration, Kosovo exemplifies resilience and reconciliation amid ethnic diversity. This spirit of unity is highlighted by Dr. Ellen Frank's project, “Cities of Peace Illuminated Pristina, The Flowering” (2018), which brought together young artists from various backgrounds and reinforced her deep connection to the people and country.
RIT itself is a top-100 National Research University and one of the leading art and design schools globally, ranked among the top 25 by Inside Business and Princeton Review. It is home to world-class programs in art, design, visual media, and art preservation, with centers of excellence such as the Vignelli Center for Design Studies, the School for American Crafts, the Cary Graphic Arts Collection, and the renowned Image Permanence Institute.
Donate and Drive the Vision Forward
Supporting the Ellen Frank Center for Art & Social Justice offers the opportunity to align yourself with a community of forward-thinking leaders and philanthropists who share a deep commitment to making a lasting impact through the arts. By joining this initiative, you’ll be contributing to a project that is as visionary as it is vital, placing you at the heart of a collaborative effort to advance peace and social justice on a global scale. This partnership is not just about funding a center; it’s about being part of a select group of individuals whose combined efforts will leave a profound and enduring legacy.
About Dr. Ellen Frank
Dr. Ellen Frank was a visionary artist whose work transcended mere aesthetics to become a powerful instrument for peace and social justice. Her art, rich with cultural and historical significance, brought together diverse communities, fostering understanding and reconciliation. Through projects like Cities of Peace Illuminated she highlighted the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of creativity. Dr. Frank's legacy lives on in the vibrant collaborations she inspired and the profound impact her art continues to have on promoting global harmony.
Join us in bringing this vision to life. Your support can help create a center dedicated to art, peace, and social justice, fostering a community where creativity and collaboration drive positive change. Donate now to make a lasting impact and be a part of a brighter, more peaceful future.
Contact
For questions about the project or how to donate, please contact efcarts@rit.edu