Join Magic Box Productions and the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable for the 2025 NY State Youth Media Arts Symposium: Media Literacy in the Age of Disinformation hosted at Film at Lincoln Center.
This bi-annual event will bring together media arts practitioners, administrators, Teaching Artists, and youth from across New York state for a day of learning, connection, and resource-sharing across the media arts education field. Join us at Film at Lincoln Center for hands-on experiences, workshops, and discussions.
Up to 6 hours of New York State CTLE credit will be available to NYC Public Schools and NYSED Teachers that attend the symposium.
The 2025 NY State Youth Media Arts Symposium is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Registration Tiers
Magic Box Productions and the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable acknowledge that admission fees can present barriers to accessing opportunities like the symposium. To that end, we have created three ticket tiers for registrants, with the highest tier representing the true value of attending the symposium:
- Tier 1: $90
- Tier 2: $60
- Tier 3: $30
Registrants are encouraged to select the tier that best fits their financial capacity to attend the symposium.
Subsidized Registration
If none of the registration tier prices are accessible to you and you would like to request a further subsidized registration to attend the symposium, please complete this subsidized registration request form. Requests will be responded to by a staff member within a week of their submission.
CTLE Credit
NYC Public Schools and NYSED Teachers are eligible to receive up to 6 hours of New York State CTLE credit for attending the symposium.
Attendees are responsible for ensuring they check in AND check out at the registration desk in order to verify in-person attendance.
Attendees seeking CTLE credit will be able to formally request it using the post-event survey shared at the symposium and in email follow ups. Please note, the post-event survey must be completed in order to receive credit and expressing interest at the time of registration will not be sufficient for us to process credits. For questions, email kkeck@nycaieroundtable.org.
Schedule
The schedule below is an outline of the day and is subject to change.
| 10:00 – 10:30am | Check-In & Coffee, Light Bites |
| 10:30 – 10:45am | Opening Remarks |
| 10:45 – 11:15am | Plenary Activation |
| 11:15 – 11:35am | Transition Time |
| 11:35am – 1:05pm | Workshop Breakouts – Arts, Media, and Mental Health in the Classroom (Amphitheater) – Artwork in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (Furman Gallery, across the street) – Rotoscoping: Bringing Images to Life (Studio) |
| 1:05 – 2:05pm | Lunch |
| 2:05 – 2:20pm | Transition Time |
| 2:20 – 3:20pm | Keynote: Media Literacy in the Age of Overwhelm with Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, Senior Advisor, National Association for Media Literacy Education |
| 3:20 – 3:50pm | Post-Plenary Discussion Groups |
| 3:50 – 4:00pm | Closing Remarks |
| 4:00 – 5:00pm | Reception & Networking |
Workshop Information
Check out information on the breakouts below.
KEYNOTE: Media Literacy in the Age of Overwhelm: From Personal Tragedy to Professional Passion
Speaker:
- Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, Senior Advisor, National Association for Media Literacy Education
When Michelle lost her father in 1988 in the bombing of Pan Am 103, she could never have imagined that 36 years later the media coverage would still be relentless. In her talk, Michelle will explore how her personal tragedy led her to becoming a global leader in media literacy education and how she uses her experience to manage today’s overwhelming media ecosystem.
Arts, Media, and Mental Health in the Classroom
Facilitator:
- Nicole Hogsett, Assistant Education Manager, School Partnerships and Experiences, Roundabout Theatre Company
- Caitlyn McCain, Applied Theatre Practitioner, Educator, and Actor
What happens when stories become tools for empathy, resilience, and critical media engagement? In this interactive workshop, participants will experience how the arts can spark meaningful dialogue about identity, mental health, and social-emotional learning in the classroom.
Through interactive activities and resource-sharing, attendees will gain practical tools for integrating social emotional learning and mental health into their classrooms, while also strengthening students’ media literacy. We’ll explore the framework of Start the Conversation, a multimedia, arts-based initiative designed to help educators support young people in navigating complex topics, such as race, identity, mental health, immigration, and LGBTQ+ experiences through storytelling, theater techniques, and media analysis.
Participants will explore how multiple forms of media can serve as accessible entry points for dialogue, empathy-building, and critical thinking. Participants will leave with hands-on strategies, classroom-ready resources, and concrete ways to help young people more confidently and thoughtfully engage with the world around them.
Artwork in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Facilitator:
- Patrick Lovejoy, Deputy Director, Magic Box Productions
- Danilo Randjic-Coleman, Principal Teaching Artist, Magic Box Productions
In this workshop, participants will be invited to take part in an interactive exploration of creating artwork in the age of Artificial Intelligence. The workshop will begin with a short demonstration of the differences between authentic images/videos and those that are artificially generated to help hone skills in identifying them. Then, participants will be invited to create an original artwork based on a given prompt. They will begin by designing their image without the use of A.I. tools either on paper or in Canva. After this, they will attempt to recreate the image in an A.I. Generator such as ChatGPT. The session will conclude with reflection on the experiences throughout the process and discussion on how to approach these new technologies in the classroom.
Rotoscoping: Bringing Images to Life
Facilitators:
- Tiffany Barrett, Teaching Artist
- Adam Newman, Time Bender, High School of Art and Design
- Seung H. Lee, CTE Instructor, High School of Art and Design
Join NYS Public School Animation Department Teachers in a Rotoscoping Workshop. Animation is an art form that brings still images to life, and there are numerous techniques used to create animation, each with its own unique characteristics and challenges.
In this workshop, you will explore Rotoscoping, a technique that involves tracing over live-action footage frame by frame to create animation. Rotoscoping is particularly interesting because it blends elements of both live-action and traditional animation. It can be used to produce highly realistic motion, or it can be stylized to create more abstract and artistic effects. Whether aiming for realism or creativity, rotoscoping offers animators a versatile tool for bringing scenes to life.
Facilitators & Speakers
Tiffany Barrett
Tiffany Barrett is a multi-hyphenate Artist; her list of accomplishments includes a Barrymore Award for Best Ensemble and Linda LeRoy Janklow Award for Best Teaching Artist. As an arts educator for over 30 years, she specializes in leading transformative educator PD and guest speaking appearances with organizations such as Institute for STEAM education, Apollo Black Arts Education Convening, Health HIV for Howard University and Arts for All Abilities Consortium to name a few. This arm of her pedagogy is grounded in guiding educators to critically examine their practices and encourages educators to recognize what they do not know and to learn from students and their experiences. Barrett brings a passion for artistic expression into the classroom and performance space anytime she is there. As the mother to a neurodivergent child, and the grandchild of immigrants, Barrett has had a pointed passion for working with students with disabilities as well as English language learners throughout her entire career. Barrett is dedicated to building learning environments that foster joy and challenge systems of oppression while modeling liberation for students. Beyond teaching, Barrett focuses on holistic wellness and maternal care in the Black community.
Michelle Ciulla Lipkin
Michelle Ciulla Lipkin is a globally recognized leader in media literacy education. She works as a senior advisor for the National Association for Media Literacy Education, and is an Adjunct Lecturer at Brooklyn College where she teaches Media Literacy. Michelle also works as an independent contractor creating curricular materials, resources, and conducting workshops. Michelle worked as Executive Director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education from September 2012 – March 2025, helping NAMLE grow to be the preeminent media literacy education association in the U.S. Michelle was the recipient of the 2020 Global Media and Information Literacy Award given by UNESCO. Michelle holds her undergraduate and graduate degrees from New York University. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and dog and nearby her two children who refuse to leave Manhattan. In her free time, you can find her at yoga, reading a book, walking her dog, and enjoying music and theater around the city.
Nicole Hogsett
Nicole Hogsett (she/her) currently serves as the Assistant Education Manager, School Partnerships and Experiences at Roundabout Theatre Company. She coordinates year-long School Partnerships with over a dozen New York City Public High Schools and produces Workshops and Experiences for groups attending Broadway and Off-Broadway Roundabout productions. Previously, she was the Director of Audience Engagement and Marketing at New York City Children’s Theater, a position she held for 10 years. As a teaching artist and curriculum designer, Nicole works with Arts For All and New York City Children’s Theater. Her work centers on social-emotional learning, emphasizing emotions and mental health for young people. Nicole holds an M.A. in Applied Theatre from the City University of New York and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications and Media Studies with a Minor in Business and a concentration in Journalism from St. John’s University.
Seung H. Lee
Seung H. Lee is an animation artist and dedicated Career and Technical Education (CTE) instructor, currently teaching animation at the High School of Art and Design in New York City. Mr. Lee leverages his professional experience to train the next generation of animators, helping students develop technical and creative skills essential for careers in the field.
Patrick Lovejoy
Patrick Lovejoy began his career as a performing artist with Stomp and Cirque du Soleil. He is the founder and creative director of Elastic Shore: a unique multimedia company that integrates art, design, and live performance using cutting-edge technologies. His various multimedia dance projects have been featured at Lincoln Center, The New Museum, Joyce SoHo, and Galapagos Arts Space. He has a BFA in Drama from NYU’s Tisch School of The Arts where he studied at The Experimental Theater Wing. He strongly believes in the power of arts education and has served as a teaching artist for various organizations throughout his career. He is excited to join the Magic Box Productions team.
Caitlyn McCain
Caitlyn McCain (she/her) is an award winning NYC based applied theatre practitioner, educator, and actor. As an artist and educator, Caitlyn has collaborated with a wide range of student populations through theatre including K-12 students across all five boroughs of NYC, young people in transitional housing facilities, and young people with neuro-divergent and disabled identities. Her work centers social-emotional growth and social justice education through a trauma-informed lens. Currently, Caitlyn is the Public Artist in Residence with the NYC Commission on Human Rights and a Drama Curriculum Specialist with The Juilliard School’s K-12 Programs and Initiatives. Additionally, Caitlyn is the creator and host of the educational series Start the Conversation, and the co-creator and co-host of The Trauma-Informed Toolkit for Educators. Caitlyn holds an MA in Applied Theatre from the City University of New York and a BFA in Drama from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Website: CaitlynMcCain.com
Adam Newman
In my past life, I was a 3D Generalist and Designer/Motion Graphics Artist. I have been teaching animation for the last 10 years at the High School of Art and Design.
Danilo Randjic-Coleman
Danilo Randjic-Coleman is a filmmaker, musician, and teaching artist who has been working in NYC Public schools for over a decade. He graduated from Hampshire College in 2008 with a degree in film and music studies and began his career in film and TV production, working for companies such as CurrentTV, Gold Teleproductions, and Animal Planet. He then transitioned into his role as an educator and worked as a Teaching Artist with several organizations, such as Brooklyn Arts Council and ArtsConnection, before becoming Principal Teaching Artist at Magic Box Productions.
His films have screened at the Southside Film Festival, New Filmmakers Film Series at Anthology Film Archives, and the Pawtucket Film Festival, among others. He is also a bassist and composer who has led several independent musical projects, including his current jazz trio, Filament, who released their debut EP Once Upon a Time on the Sun in March 2025.
Accessibility
The symposium hosts are committed to providing opportunities for everyone to participate in the event. Film at Lincoln Center strives to make their state of the arts spaces accessible and is a fully ADA-compliant venue.
One of the session breakouts will take place across the street at the Frieda and Roy Furman Gallery, located within the Walter Reade Theater (165 W 65th St). An elevator from street level to the Walter Reade Theater entrance can be found on the North side of 65th Street, directly below the Walter Reade Theater.
If you have any questions or additional requests for accommodation, please contact Kathy Perrine at kp@magicboxproductions.org. Requests should be submitted via the registration form or via email at least one week prior to the event.
About Magic Box Productions
Magic Box Productions provides rich media arts instruction for both students and teachers. By supporting the advancement of creative, collaborative, and technical skills, Magic Box prepares young people to navigate the world with curiosity, collaboration, and a critical lens. Since its founding in 2004, Magic Box has served more than 27,000 K-12 students and 3,000 teachers.
About the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable
The New York City Arts in Education Roundtable improves, advances, and advocates for arts education in New York City. We are a community of organizations and individuals that shares information, provides professional development, and communicates with the public to promote our work in schools and beyond. Founded in 1992, the Roundtable produces a major annual conference, Face to Face; monthly professional development programs; a destination website; and other activities, in addition to ongoing advocacy and communications efforts for thousands of individuals and member organizations.
About Film at Lincoln Center
Film at Lincoln Center (FLC) is a nonprofit organization that celebrates cinema as an essential art form and fosters a vibrant home for film culture to thrive. FLC presents premier film festivals, retrospectives, new releases, and restorations year-round in state-of-the-art theaters at New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. FLC offers audiences the opportunity to discover works from established and emerging directors from around the world with a passionate community of film lovers at marquee events including the New York Film Festival and New Directors/New Films.
About the New York State Council on the Arts
The New York State Council on the Arts works to foster and advance the full breadth of New York State’s arts, culture, and creativity for all. NYSCA upholds the right of all New Yorkers to experience the vital contributions the arts make to our communities, education, economic development and quality of life. NYSCA funding supports the visual, literary, media and performing arts and includes dedicated support for arts education and underserved communities. NYSCA further advances New York’s creative culture by hosting convenings with leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources.
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