We are looking for a truth teller who is fearless and willing to ruffle feathers of the community to tell a poignant story. GCMI is open and nonjudgmental, and we want to come alongside you if you are a storyteller in search of an outlet.

For this eight-week program, an initial cohort of 5-7 participants from around Beaver County will convene in Aliquippa for an intensive practicum where we will learn together from area artists and storytellers the principles of growth as an artist, how to tell a story and navigate your community, honoring your subject, and other pertinent concepts in community storytelling. After this initial practicum, cohort members will begin to refine the story they wish to tell and begin creating around that idea. The cohort will meet weekly with the full teaching faculty to workshop each other’s work, to experience other artifacts, and to take a deeper look into relevant topics in the realms of art and community.

At the end of this experience, each cohort member will have a finished product and participate in a public exhibition of their work. At the end of this project and exhibition, each artist will receive an award of $500.

After participating in the GCMI, you will be a community storyteller with a marketable skill. Businesses and nonprofits are always in need of creative people to tell their story through media, and The Genesis Collective cannot keep up with the demand without bringing in other skilled artists. The Genesis Collective will endeavor to connect you with relevant work in your area of expertise. You will receive a certificate from our organization which verifies that you are a skilled community storyteller.