Crystal Boyd selected as 2013 A Step Towards Empowering Artists scholarship winner!

ASTEP is thrilled to recognize ASTEP volunteer Artist Crystal Boyd as the 2013 A Step Towards Empowering Artists Scholarship winner!

The goal of this award is to support socially conscious artistic endeavors among the ASTEP community, and this year’s theme focused on “Taking Refuge”. In partnership with SPACE on Ryder Farm, this scholarship consists of a 5-day 4-night residency with room, board, working space, and artistic support from Ryder Farm faculty.

Crystal’s proposal was selected among an exceptional set of applicants and is titled “Currency”. She is working with Bound for Success, the Homeless Coalition’s youth program, and will engage their students in the making of a short film about a week in the life of two homeless youth in NYC. Based on her original screenplay, Crystal and the youth will collaborate from pre-production to post-production, culminating in screenings at film festivals.

“With this film, I intend to celebrate the individual human mind of two children as they make their way through New York City. I aim to impact the children of Bound for Success, as I will teach not only a film skill set but the importance of ”Taking Refuge” in their own voice.”

ASTEP would like to thank the members of the review panel and all of the applicants. Most importantly, a big thank you to SPACE on Ryder Farm for providing this opportunity to our community.

Congratulations, Crystal!