The Nebraska University Students Against Modern-Day Slavery is celebrating the unveiling of the "Slave Free Nebraska" Bench Art Project this Friday, Dec. 2, beginning at 2:30 p.m. in the art corridor at 12th and P Streets. This is the first art project to be approved through the City of Lincoln’s new public art ordinance.
The Bench Art Project was created by advertising students from the UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications with the goal of creating an awareness campaign to educate the community about human trafficking in Nebraska and the United States.
A call for entries was announced last spring. Artists who will have their work displayed include Sara Leimbach, Lindsey Weber, Ann Williams, Deb Bridges, and Amber Konz. The sponsors for the benches include Mavis Reller, Al and Linda Riskowski, Jeff and Sarah Peetz, Union Bank & Trust, and Lincoln Benefit Life.
The benches will be on display permanently as part of the city’s public art project. A short program to honor the artists will be held at 2:30 p.m. as part of Lincoln’s First Friday.
Guest speakers at the event include Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler, State Senator Amanda McGill, Vice Chancellor Prem Paul, and NUSAMS’ members Allie Busch and Hannah Potter. Sriyani Tidball, of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, will facilitate the event.
More information about raising awareness of human trafficking in Nebraska is available via links to these websites:
https://www.facebook.com/SlaveFreeNebraska
http://SlaveFreeNebraska.tumblr.com
http://www.twitter.com/slavefreeNE
More details at: http://go.unl.edu/zvc