Dear Future is more than an exhibition

It’s an invitation to explore the possibilities that emerge when vulnerable children are given the space to dream. Children who reside in orphanages exist in a world of harsh realities, and in the institutionalized setting of a residential home, they are often denied individuality and personhood. And yet, it is through being recognized, seen, and encouraged that children are able to thrive. When we can give them the space and encouragement to dream and envision their futures, we are taking one step closer to a better world.

Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children, a nonprofit based in New York City and founder of the Granny Program that supports children in more than 10 orphanages around the world, partnered with creative agency Pendulum and the Fundación Chiquitines orphanage in Cali, Colombia, to bring children's dreams to life.

The co-creative process began with the children writing letters to their future selves, with the loving guidance of their caretaker “Grannies,” women from the local community who are paired with a child living in an orphanage and spend one-on-one time with them every day, encouraging and supporting them.

These letters were then transformed into magnificent costumes and masks through the vision of Colombian costume designer Felipe Ginebra and fashion designer Isabella Perez, serving as artistic expressions of the children's ambitions and bringing their future selves to life.

In the exhibition, the children's vision for their future selves takes center stage, as visitors explore the children's rich life tapestry through a combination of photography, video work, and vibrant installations inspired by photo and video therapy approaches, Colombian folklore, and ancestral, handmade techniques, revealing their dreams, as well as their hardships.

These creative elements all come together in the mixed media art experience that is Dear Future. Step into the world created by the dreams of children this May 2024 on Irving Place in New York City.