Former Metropolitan Museum of Art Imaging Producer is first Expert-in-Residence
MISSION, TEXAS – April 5, 2017 – Mission EDC launches new mentorship program to address growing need of creative professional development. The Expert-in-Residence initiative will connect Mission residents to experts in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and math. The program will encompass three components: a temporary residency for a distinguished professional in the STEAM fields, a leadership program for young women, and series of idea exchange workshops open to the public.
This summer, award-winning photographer Jackie Neale will kick off the Expert-in-Residence Program with a two-month stay in Mission. From June through July of 2017, Ms. Neale will mentor 15 members of the Mission community and teach them to create a competitive professional portfolio. Additionally, Neale will be available for consultation to the general public through events, workshops, and office hours. “With over twenty years of experience as a photographer, imaging producer, art director, author, and filmmaker, Ms. Neale is poised to provide first-rate training to our creative community,” said Alex Meade, CEO of the Mission EDC. During her 15 years at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, America’s largest and most-visited museum, Neale acted as Producer, Director, and Portrait Photographer for the Metropolitan Museum’s renowned digital projects The Artist Project, 82nd&Fifth, Connections, the Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, and The Met Around the World, and served as an imaging consultant for MetPublications. Since 2012, Neale has also been the Photography Professor at the New York Film Academy in NYC. Neale published her first book, #SubwaySeries in 2015.
“By welcoming Jackie [Neale] to Mission, our residents will benefit from her vast experience in commercial and formal photography. But more importantly, we hope that her sensitivity for documenting the humanity of her NYC community will resonate with Mission artists’ desire to use their talents to portray the story of our region,” said Cristina Garza, Program Director. After the completion of Neale’s residency, the Mission EDC will continue to host Experts-in-Residence on a rolling basis. In the fall, the Expert-in-Residence program will expand by adding a leadership component for young women, and a series of workshops. More information regarding these two additional programs will be available in the summer of 2017.
The launch of the Expert-in-Residence program comes at a pivotal time in the city’s growth. “As Mission’s workforce continues to develop at a rapid pace, this new initiative will meet the demand for resources and training in areas not usually accessible to our constituents,” added Meade. Supported by this new initiative, the city of Mission continues to engage its residents in the exchange of ideas and prepares them for the labor market of the twenty-first century.
Photography © 2011 Benjamin Jarousch
For more information, contact Cristina Garza: cgarza@missionedc.com
