Apple wants to make great devices that help creators create things. And, to that end, Apple seems to be on a pretty good streak. Another part of that is to help promote some artists out there in the real world, whether it’s photography, illustration, music, or other venues. Today, Apple is showcasing some of those voices.
Apple, via the Today at Apple Creative Studios effort, is promoting young artists in three different cities across the United States. In Washington, D.C., Apple is amplifying bilingual children’s books; in Los Angeles, California, it is supporting musicians; and in Chicago, Illinois, it’s all about promoting the artists using photography and illustration to tell their stories.
Per today’s announcement:
- In D.C., a collection of bilingual children’s books were created by emerging voices with guidance from Apple, Shout Mouse Press, and Latin American Youth Center. They will be published in print and available for free as ebooks on Apple Books come December 7.
- LA focused on developing the talents of musicians in partnership with Music Forward Foundation, Inner-City Arts, and Social Justice Learning Institute, and during their celebration will share their final music tracks and animated cover art, as well as hear from industry insiders, including Apple Music’s Zane Lowe.
- And in Chicago, with community partners Yollocalli Arts Reach and Instituto Justice and Leadership Academy, young adults in the Little Village neighborhood amplified their stories through photography and illustration. An exhibition of their final creations will be displayed at the Chicago Cultural Center from November 18 through December 10, in partnership with the Chicago Architecture Biennial.
Apple’s senior Vice President of Retail + People, Deidre O’Brien said:
It has been so rewarding to see what these emerging young creatives can do with the tools and mentorship offered by our teams and incredible local partners. We can’t wait for their friends, family, and local communities to get together to experience their final projects, and celebrate what they’ve accomplished.
Today’s announcement is all about the results, which will be showcased in Apple Books, Apple Music, and at the Chicago Cultural Center. However, to offer up a bit of a preview, Apple also presented a few stories from some of the artists that will be amplified via Today at Apple Creative Studios.
In Washington, D.C.
Co-authors Joy Ugwu and Tseganesh Chala come from mixed cultures, and they wrote a children’s book called “Joy-Grace and the Dress Dillemma,” which is all about the joy and beauty of having a multicultural identity.
Ugwu said:
We want the book to relate to everyone, whether you are multicultural, from a different country, or even if you don’t come from a mixed background, something we all do relate to and struggle with in different ways is identity. I hope this book brings comfort to young people who read it.
Los Angeles, CA check-in
Hannah Abrahim is a singer-songwriter, and she’s been working on that dream for a long time. She’s been working with Apple’s Creative Studios for a while, and over the course of that time finished a single called “Fantasy.” Abrahim says the song started out as a love letter to Los Angeles itself, but evolved into one for the people who inhabit the city of angels.
Abrahim also created the cover art for the single as well.
I understand the weight music carries in society and how impactful it can be. When people find an artist they really love, they hold on to every word, and I want to use my music to spread goodness and light.
Chicago, Illinois creativity
Jazmine Delgado uses photography to share stories. She studied at the University of Illinois, Chicago, but moved away from it after graduation. However, she says Apple’s Creative Studios helped reignite that passion. She uses photography to document the city itself and the people there. But it’s also used as a way to promote her brand, which includes her own line of bags called Fiera.
Creative Studios made me want to continue photography again. My photography focuses on documentation of my city, my family, and as I continue to develop my craft, I feel like I am better understanding my own family’s history through these photographs.