A NYC YOUTH-LED RESPONSE TO COVID-19

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, No Longer Empty’s Young Exhibition Makers (Y.Ex) invited fellow youth, ages 14–19, to submit artworks to an open call for youth artists for a virtual exhibition focusing on mental health and care in the time of COVID-19. Y.Ex-ers wanted to capture how other youth were thinking, feeling, and taking care of themselves during this time of physical isolation. They asked their fellow youth artists questions such as, “In what ways are you caring for your mental health and/or that of others around you?”

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Artistic submissions directly reflect personal responses to the current pandemic through personal narratives, experiences, perspectives, storytelling, and feelings that address the times. Artwork submissions of all mediums were accepted and welcomed by Y.Ex youth throughout all boroughs of New York City. From the numerous and incredibly meaningful submissions, 30 works were selected as finalists and 45 youth artists were given honorable mentions.