Celia Center Arts Festival

About the Event

This year’s 4th Celia Center Arts Festival features the works of artists who use their creativity to express their experiences as individuals who were adopted and/or in foster care across many mediums. Entitled “Adopting Resilience, Fostering the Spirit of Creativity: The Voices of the Fostered and Adopted” the festival will feature stories and backgrounds of many, and seeks to bring together the voices that are often left out of the conversation on foster care and adoption. The Festival gives the Foster Care and Adopted a spotlight with the hopes of deepening the foster care and adoption conversation in Los Angeles and worldwide.

Explore each of our four application categories below
Performing Arts
Creative Arts
Music and Dance
Healing Arts Workshops

Art Exhibit:

10:00am – 11:00pm - Yoga with Cathy Koley
11:30am – 12:00pm - Opening Ceremonies
12:00pm – 8:00pm - Adopting Resilience, Fostering the Spirit of Creativity:The Voices of the Fostered and Adopted
Jeff Forney “Innocent People Project”
Photography of Adoptees Nationwide
Los Angeles Premiere
Join us in the Exhibit Area
Admission is Free

Art Festival Childrens’ Activities:

12:00pm – 2:00pm - Free Face Painting and Glitter Tattoo
1:00 – 4:00pm - Healing Arts DIY Drum Making Workshop for Children in Foster Care and/or Adoption and their Families

Each child receives a drum making kit and learns how make their own drum by hand. They color it, decorate it, and learn how to use a drum for their healing journey. Join us in experiencing the power of social connection and being in community through the musical arts. You don’t want to miss this unique experience with your child

Healing Arts Workshops:

4:30-6:00pm - THE WORTH INSIDE ME For Adoptees and Foster Alumni
Immerse yourself in the expressive arts with the intent to empower and validate your experience through multiple mediums of expression. Paint, Collage, Clay, and Video. Led by Artist and Adoptee, Leigh Chapman.
Ages 18 and up.

Healing Circle:

6:00-7:00pm - THE HEALING CIRCLE for all Members of the Adoption and Foster Care Constellation
A healing circle involves community. Connect with others within our community and connect with yourself. We all belong. Join us for deeper self awareness, relaxation, and cultivate your resilience. Led by Briana Spencer, Former Foster Youth.
Ages 14 and up.
Join us in the THEATRE

Films:

4:00pm - RECKONLING WITH THE PRIMAL WOUND
This film is about reckoning with relinquishment trauma and the cultural phenomenon that is author Nancy Verrier’s landmark book The Primal Wound. It is the only film about this critical topic produced by an adoptee and first mother that features Verrier herself, psychologist Dr. David Brodzinsky and Dr. Amanda Baden.

This award-winning documentary has been deemed by child welfare workers, therapists, psychologists, and adoption professionals (including adoptees, natural mothers, and adoptive parents) the latest recommended resource for anyone interested in better understanding adopted individuals.

Post-viewing outcomes have ranged from unexpected apologies from family members and friends to healed relationships between adoptees and their adoptive and biological families. Most importantly, adoptees feel less alone. We hope that the film can influence positive legislative change in the future.

Ages 16 and up

7:00pm - OPEN MIC Come early and sign up Share your voice via poetry, song, comedy or book reading
8:00pm - SOMEBODY’S DAUGHTER FILM SCREENING
LOS ANGELES PREMIERE
SOMEBODY’S DAUGHTER’ is a must see film full of beautiful individual performances which will make you laugh and cry – join Zara as she searches for the meaning of family and self!

Ages 18 and up

Featuring Author Zara Phillips and with music by the legendary Richard Thompson ‘Somebody’s Daughter’ is produced by Yvette Rowland and directed by Liam Galvin. Jess Conrad heads the cast which includes: Daniel Peacock, Forbes Masson, Claire Toeman, Susie Ann Watkins, Eric Roberts and many more.

Zara Phillips takes us on a personal journey filled with humour, honesty and truth in this moving film based on Zara’s best selling book and one woman show. Adopted as a baby in the 1960’s, touring the world as a vocalist in the 80’s and getting sober at 22, Zara searches for the truth about her personal history while being a mother and having 4 parents.

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