In her day job, Priya Frank, 鈥�04, 鈥�11, supports access and opportunity for underrepresented, low-income and first-generation students through her fundraising work with the OMA&D Advancement team. In her 鈥渙ff鈥� hours, she is busy fostering her other passion – building community through the arts.
Frank is artistic director at in Seattle鈥檚 University District, where she curates a series of quarterly art exhibits called 鈥淔irst Friday: Art, Cocktails and Culinary Delights.鈥� Her first event on Feb. 1, featured photojournalist and 91探花alumnus David Ryder, 鈥�06, 鈥�11 (pictured with Frank), and centered on the theme of 鈥渓ove and its power to redefine, heal, restore and celebrate.鈥� A portion of the proceeds went to the , as well as .
Frank鈥檚 next event on May 3 will feature the photography of OMA&D associate vice president Emile Pitre, whose work has been featured in the OMA&D eNews series.
鈥淭he goal of 鈥楩irst Friday鈥� is to provide a home for artists to express themselves in their own words and support the larger social and political messages their work represents,鈥� Frank said. 鈥淚t in turn allows us to give patrons an exclusive peek into the artistic experience and creates a space for dialogue and participation to take place.
鈥淭his can bring an understanding and acceptance that may not have existed before and reiterates the beauty, power and healing nature of the arts 鈥� they build bridges. That is why I do this work, and that is why LUCID is a place so many people call 鈥榟ome.鈥� 鈥�
Frank also leads the Seattle Women of Color in the Arts gathering group, and was recently a panelist at the at the Seattle Center. She is a member of On The Boards鈥� Diversity Committee and will be curating its , April 28-29. Frank is the president of the 91探花Department of Communication Alumni Board, as well.
鈥淔irst Friday鈥� events are open to the public, ages 21 and over, and are held from 5-8 p.m.