Unframed

Unframed is a youth-led arts platform dedicated to uplifting young creatives across Monmouth County, New Jersey. Our mission is to provide student artists with opportunities to showcase their work through local exhibitions while connecting them with professional artists, mentors, and community organizations. By creating real-world opportunities for emerging creatives, Unframed helps young artists develop their skills, build confidence, and gain visibility for their work.

What began as a digital zine quickly evolved into a community-driven arts platform. Recognizing the importance of networking and in-person creative spaces, Unframed expanded into a series of public exhibitions, beginning with its inaugural showcase at the Long Branch Arts & Cultural Center and continuing with exhibitions at the Jersey Shore Arts Center. Today, the student-led team behind Unframed hosts mentorship nights, organizes community events, and partners with local schools and arts organizations to inspire and support the next generation of artists.

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Partnerships

artist on artist interview

Following the 2025 Breakthrough Filmmaker Festival, Charlotte Mathias joined fellow festival alumni for an Artist on Artist conversation reflecting on their experiences as emerging filmmakers. The discussion explores the films that inspired them, their creative processes, the challenges of directing and collaboration, and their hopes for the future of independent filmmaking.

The interview was featured across the official Count Basie Center for the Arts and Breakthrough Filmmaker Festival social media platforms as part of the festival's 2026 student submission campaign, helping promote the largest Breakthrough Filmmaker Festival to date.

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love, esme

Love, Esme is an original full-length play that explores misogyny, abuse, and the lasting impact of power dynamics in both Old Hollywood and the modern entertainment industry, set against the political backdrop of the 1960s.

Charlotte Mathias was one of seven student playwrights who spent the summer of 2025 collaboratively writing the production. She later served as Assistant Director for the entirely student-led performance at Communications High School. The production received the Count Basie Theater Awards Special Evaluator Award for Outstanding Playwriting.

Written by Charlotte Mathias, Shawn Ribeiro, Anna Claps, Helena Szep, CJ Spears, Jenna Lynch, & Grace Smuro

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