Communiqué
‘Creative Abundance’ Screens to Packed Auditorium
< < Back to creative-abundance-screens-to-packed-auditorium-2By Claire Berlin
ATHENS, Ohio (Sept. 14, 2015)—On Thursday, Sept. 10, Schoonover Auditorium had every seat filled, and even had people lining the walls and sitting on the steps for the free screening of the “Creative Abundance” documentary.
WOUB Director and General Manager Tom Hodson and Ohio University President Roderick J. McDavis gave speeches before the screening acknowledging the work of the filmmakers and of the newly opened Barbara Geralds Institute for Storytelling and Social Impact.
“Three years ago Lynn Harter came to me with some documentary ideas and I matched her with WOUB Public Media Filmmaker Evan Shaw,” said WOUB Director and General Manager Tom Hodson. “They decided to break the idea into three parts – the “Courage of Creativity” collection. The results have been nothing short of spectacular and tonight we get to see the next chapter.”
The “Creative Abundance” documentary examines services in place for individuals with developmental disabilities, usually in the form of vocational and rehabilitative workshops, which are often sheltered from the public eye and from community interaction. Through the efforts of artist and social innovator Patty Mitchell and President of Norwich Consulting Services Susan Dlouhy, this film looks at the roots of organizational innovation and social change. Both Mitchell and Dlouhy see workshops as an opportunity to integrate art programming to develop the talent of the individuals they work with and the community they are a part of.
The screening event also marked the official opening of the Barbara Geralds Institute for Storytelling and Social Impact. Benefactor and namesake of the Storytelling Institute, Barbara Geralds, was also present.
“The Barbara Geralds Institute for Storytelling and Social Impact will not only foster the study of storytelling, it will also foster the creation of stories – particularly those with potential to make social impact,” said Ohio University President Roderick J. McDavis. “With the opening of the Storytelling Institute, countless doors have been opened for Ohio University students. We look forward to the creativity, the collaboration, the partnerships, and most importantly, the societal change, that this institute will spark.”
The Storytelling Institute will utilize traditional storytelling forms such as radio broadcast, 
documentary film, photography and theater productions as well as innovative storytelling forms such as audio podcasts, digital simulations and holographic images. The institute will involve faculty and students in the production and analysis of stories, foster inter-disciplinary research to advance knowledge about storytelling, partner with private industry and non-profit organizations on interest-based projects, and collaborate with experts in virtual and augmented reality to create new methods of storytelling.
The institute is co-directed by Harter and Hodson.
For photos from the event please visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/scrippsou/sets/72157656123313494
For more information about the Barbara Geralds Institute for Storytelling and Social Impact please visit: https://www.ohio.edu/scrippscollege/schoolsandcenters/barbara-geralds-institute.cfm