Education Matters | The Creative Empowerment Project: Fostering Future Visual Artists Through Innovative Partnerships

April 2024—The Creative Empowerment Project (CEP)’s collaboration with Booker High School in Sarasota is revolutionizing the approach to educating young individuals in film production and digital arts by offering them real-world experience and teaching them unique skills vital for the industry’s future. The initiative aims to create an affordable, industry-driven curriculum and professional training to support a creative community amidst the growing trend of on-shoring. The project was initiated by Adam Armbruster, Senior Partner at ESA, and an advisor to Caring for Children Charities, who was inspired by the potential of combining Semkhor’s apprenticeship model for film and content education with CCS’s longstanding support for student scholarships, which has contributed over $9 million in donations to various charities aiding children:

“I got my foot in the door in the TV business at age 16, giving me a dramatic competitive edge because by the time I graduated college, I had six years of professional TV experience, while my peers were trying to secure internships. The creative empowerment program provides every student with this opportunity. It’s a dream I’ve had for years.”

Since November, the CEP has been collaborating with Booker High School’s Visual and Performing Arts Program (VPA), which for over five decades has been a beacon of excellence and launched numerous successful careers, underscoring the potential of dedicated arts education. By building on this legacy, the CEP aims to enhance the VPA’s impact through specialized learning and growth opportunities. Over the last five months, the CEP has offered master classes to VPA students at Booker, providing direct access to a wide range of information to support their creative development.

The first guest was Golden Globe winner Dylan McDermott, followed by acclaimed producer Paul Schiff. The most recent guest was Adam Hendricks, co-founder of Divide/Conquer, a top production company for genre film closely working with Blumhouse Production and who is in discussions with the CEP to bring some of his films to Sarasota. Intensive classes, that covered key topics such as integrating VFX into independent filming and developing a successful post-production strategy, were also provided, and taught by experts in their fields.

David Shapiro, owner of Semkhor, emphasizes the program’s commitment to an adaptable and accessible education model: “Our goal is to demystify the industry by providing a solid educational foundation while ensuring the program’s flexibility and affordability. We are actively engaging with the Sarasota School system to integrate this initiative, broadening its reach to foster diverse talents and ensure that every talented student, regardless of their situation, has a pathway to a successful career in the entertainment and media industries.”

The next master class with Chris Jericho on April 13th at Booker High will discuss his cutting-edge blockchain graphic novel based on an original character he created, The Painmaker. Students will learn about Chris’s creative process and the unique aspects of the Painmaker interactive comic. Some students will also have the opportunity to work on animating segments of the story. The event will include a signing of the first edition in collaboration with Darkside Comics of Sarasota.

The CEP is also collaborating with Booker to integrate a documentary on Scott “Stonebreaker” Ross, produced by renowned actor Andy Garcia and his production partner Bruce Burchmore, into an extended course. This will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of documentary development and organization.

Semkhor’s longstanding commitment to Sarasota, demonstrated through past collaborations with Ringling College of Art and Design that led to a top 20 film program and the establishment of a Sound Stage and Post Production facility on MLK between Central and Coconut, underscores the enduring impact of community and educational partnerships. Semkhor’s current work with the Creative Empowerment Program centers on providing a hands-on, practical curriculum that keeps pace with the rapid changes in education and the content industries. Film and related creative endeavors require mentorship from the start, and there is no better way for a driven creator to learn than by participating in a real-world project.

The CEP is working with Booker, Suncoast Technical College, and the Country School Board to develop and organize a seamless program that starts at Booker VPA and continues with one- and two-year professional certificates that are fully integrated with commercial productions, nationally recognized artists and experts in all aspects of increasingly integrated content industries.

The initiative is rapidly developing thanks to strong community support, with many more guest speakers and unique classes and opportunities forthcoming.

Sandy Loevner, founder of Florida Winefest/Caring for Children Charities, views this project as a natural extension of her work over the last 30 years: “The Creative Empowerment Program offers real and modern professional career experience! Together with Semkhor Studios, we are training young local high school students at a critical decision point in their lives. Along with the Ernie Garcia Group at Morgan Stanley as our sponsor, our vision is all-inclusive access for all students.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION on the VPA Creative Empowerment Program at Booker High, interested parties can visit the Sarasota County Schools’ website.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Caring for Children Charities and how to get involved with the CEP, please contact Sandy Loevner at 941-952-1109 or sandy@caringforchildrencharities.org.