SIUE’s Florek Selected for Summer Gyo Obata Fellowship Program
This summer, 10 area college students will embark on a unique journey through the Gyo Obata Fellowship Program, which provides the opportunity to learn about arts administration through a local arts nonprofit. One of those students is Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Virginia “Gigi” Florek, a double major in art education and studio art in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Ten local organizations will take part in the program this summer: Springboard, Central Print, St. Louis Artworks, Cinema St. Louis, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, National Blues Museum, COCA, Consuming Kinetics Dance Company, Perennial, and Intersect, Florek’s host organization.
“I am honored to be accepted into the Gyo Obata Fellowship Program,” said Florek. “Through my involvement, I am excited to reach out to people, especially kids, who have health conditions (or for any reason feel marginalized) with empathy and create a more aware community that supports everyone. I look forward to learning about the fantastic opportunities to support diversity and inclusion in the community.”
“The Gyo Obata Fellowship Program addresses the need for a more diverse, inclusive and equitable local nonprofit arts and culture sector,” said Vanessa Cooksey, CEO and President of the Regional Arts Commission (RAC). “We put the program on hold during the pandemic, and are thrilled to bring it back in 2022.”
The program is named in honor of the late Gyo Obata. The renowned architect and co-founder of Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum (HOK), a global design, architecture and engineering firm, passed away in 2022. In his seven-decade career, Obata designed many structures around the St. Louis region, including the SIUE campus, the Priory Chapel at Saint Louis Abbey, the main terminal of St. Louis Lambert International Airport, and the Planetarium at the St. Louis Science Center. In 2017, Obata was recognized with SIUE’s Distinguished Service Award for his visionary contributions to campus development.
The 10-week, paid job training program is administered by the RAC of St. Louis and funded by the Gateway Foundation. To be eligible for the program participants must currently be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree-seeking program of an accredited college or university in the greater St. Louis area.
Photo: Virginia “Gigi” Florek, a double major in art education and studio art in the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences.
