The 2010-2011 Heart Gallery will launch September 15 with a brand-new look this year thanks to partnerships with IKEA and the International Academy of Design and Technology – Orlando.
The 2010-2011 Heart Gallery of Metro Orlando will have a brand new look this year thanks to partnerships with IKEA and the International Academy of Design and Technology – Orlando. The travelling photography exhibit, which features children in the Orange and Osceola County foster care system who are available for adoption, has been revamped to feature IKEA products that have been repurposed by IADT-Orlando to make the exhibit a unique experience.
“The new rendition of the Heart Gallery feels more like home,” said Greg Kurth, CEO of Family Services of Metro Orlando. “It’s much more than an exhibit; it’s invitation to see the faces of children who need your support and learn their stories.”
More than 40% of the foster children featured in the gallery since its inception in 2007 have found Forever Families. Now in its third exhibit, the Heart Gallery of Metro Orlando features 67 Central Florida children who are waiting for adoption.
“Each of one of these children wants a Forever Family more than anything else in this world,” said Kathy Williams, Community Advocate for Family Services and coordinator of this year’s Heart Gallery of Metro Orlando. “This venue gives them a chance to be seen and hopefully have their dream come true.”
Each child featured in the gallery was photographed by members of the Professional Photographers Society earlier this year. Some children, like Karli and Kenny, were featured in the original Heart Gallery while others are participating in the gallery for the first time. The new design for this year’s gallery exhibit features a “Hello, my name is…” banner and a shorter, more personal piece of biographical information for each child.
The gallery will start travelling after its debut on September 15 at the Amway Experience Center. The first stop on its 12-month tour will be the Downtown and Celebration locations of the Florida Hospital and it will remain there until October 14. The Heart Gallery of Metro Orlando will be featured year round online, hosted on the Family Services’ website.
Find out where the Heart Gallery will be next. Check the listing below:
| Host Venue | Start Date | End Date |
| Orlando Magic Experience Center | 9/13/2010 | 9/16/2010 |
| Florida Hospital Downtown | 9/16/2010 | 10/14/2010 |
| First United Methodist Church | 10/15/2010 | 10/28/2010 |
| First Baptist Church Orlando | 10/28/2010 | 11/30/2010 |
| Florida Mall | 11/30 | December TBA |
| Orlando Museum of Art | December TBA | 1/18/11 |
| CityArts Factory | 1/18/11 | 2/11/11 |
| St. Luke’s United Methodist Church | 2/11/11 | March TBA |
| Orlando City Hall | 3/31/11 | 4/29/11 |
| TBA | May TBA | May TBA |
| TBA | June TBA | June TBA |
Posted by fsmetroorlando 
Family Services of Metro Orlando 