Launched two years ago, the Oakwood Arts Job Education Training (JET) is a training and job placement program that creates access to positions in film and television for emerging creatives who have an interest in, but not necessarily the opportunity, to work in these industries. ![]() “Making room and holding space for those voices has the power to change us all for the better.” “My contribution has been to work with others to create a space where professionals working in the fields of film production, and art and design can provide mentorship, and access to creative opportunities for those who are currently underrepresented in those industries,” Castleman explains. What she’d learned from her time away was that Richmond is full of innovative creators and art seemed to her a possible vehicle for much needed change. Having lived, taught, and made art all around the world from Singapore to Saudi Arabia, Castleman was shocked to discover how segregated Richmond still was when she returned after a 20-year absence. “To become a truly equitable society, our media landscape needs to reflect the rich diversity of our country’s entire population,” Castleman says. Shannon Castleman, founder and director of Church Hill’s Oakwood Arts, sees this as a disservice to all and something everyone should want to change. ![]() is coming from a very narrow perspective. Lack of representation in the creative industries means most of the content created in the U.S. Pursuing a creative career is a privilege that’s most often afforded to people from a certain demographic.
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