2010 UNAIDS Report and the State of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic
Parts of this post originally appeared on Notes From the Field, a blog written by Art for AIDS International board member JP Bervoets.
This past week UNAIDS released the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic. In it, UNAIDS highlights a number of key successes that seem to suggest that the HIV/AIDS pandemic has passed peak infection levels. One statistic in particular has been drawing considerable media attention: New infections have dropped by 20% globally.Read more
Where Change Begins: October and November Updates
Over the past two months, Art for AIDS International has spread its message by hosting workshops and events across three continents. During that time, we have had the opportunity to work with hundreds of new students, connect with new partners in both the public and private sectors, and pursue new funding opportunities that will enable us to continue this essential work. Further, and as a direct result of these initiatives, we have continued to donate funds to organizations working with women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in communities across sub-Saharan Africa. This was most recently exemplified by a $20,000 contribution to Nkosi’s Haven in Johannesburg South Africa; one of Art for AIDS International’s long time partners. Further, as a part of the Art for AIDS International scholarship program we have just awarded a post-secondary scholarship to a young woman from Uganda who embodies the passion and creativity needed to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic.Read more
What are you doing this World AIDS Day?
This World AIDS Day, Art for AIDS International is hosting two events to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and about the work that Art for AIDS is doing to support women and children affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Please check out the following listings and put at least one of them in on your calendar!
December 1st: Celebrate World AIDS Day with Art for AIDS @ APKLive
On December 1st, Join Art for AIDS International at the new APK Live in London and Celebrate World AIDS Day. We will be hosting a large exhibit, and some incredible local musicians. Come out to APK Live to enjoy lovely music and check out some alternative gift ideas for the Holiday season.
Come see musicians like: Richard Drew, Emily Jarvis, Victoria Sartor and Dean McKey, Jess McKeen, and Blaise Dunn
Location: APK Live; 340 Wellington Street, lower (Under Yuk Yuks); London, ON
Art for AIDS Featured on ArtStash.com
We would like to thank Sheila Creighton, author of ArtStash.com for writing a wonderful post about Art for AIDS International. Sheila took the time to learn about Art for AIDS International and spend some time with us in our gallery so we thought it only appropriate that we shared her article with you all.
Please take a moment to check out Sheila's article by visiting ArtStash.com.
Art for AIDS' Vancouver Launch Success
On October 5th and 6th Art for AIDS International hosted their first workshop and first exhibit in Vancouver Canada both at the Four Seasons Hotel. Thanks to generous sponsorship by the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver, and Starbucks both events were a huge success garnering tremendous support and enthusiasm from local teachers and business owners.
We would like to offer a special thanks to Jennifer Clay who found out about Art for AIDS International only a few months ago and took on the full initiative to plan and promote these events on our behalf. Thanks to Jennifer's hard work, and the wonderful reception we received while in Vancouver it seems increasingly likely we will be hosting more workshops and events out west in the not-so-distant future.
To view photos from the event visit Art for AIDS on Flickr!
Art for AIDS Foursquare Special!
Art for AIDS International is now on Foursquare! To encourage everyone to stop by our gallery we have decided to offer 5 dollars off any print for first time check-ins on Foursquare. All you have to do is come to our gallery, sign in to your Foursquare account using your mobile phone and show one of our staff members or volunteers.
To learn more about Foursquare, visit: http://foursquare.com/
Or to check out Art for AIDS International's venue page, please click the button below!
Art for AIDS International at the Four Seasons Vancouver on October 5th and 6th!
On October 5th and 6th, help Art for AIDS International continue to create change for women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa by attending an incredible exhibition and workshop series at the Four Season's Hotel in Vancouver.
The workshop, which will take place on October 5th from 1:00 to 4:30pm at the Four Seasons, will give you first hand experience learning about, and participating in, creating art to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS. Educators looking to expand their own knowledge of the subject, or who are interested in bringing Art for AIDS to their school should definitely attend!
This workshop will be followed by the opening of a wonderful new Art for AIDS International exhibit on October 6th, featuring new artwork made by students from Canada, as well as various countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This work is all available for sale with proceeds benefiting organizations working with women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.
The goal of these events is to let you experience the thrill of a workshop and learn from Hendrikus about his work and how you can become involved, as an owner of their art, a corporate sponsor, a host for a workshop or a supporter in some other way.Read more
Twenty-two of the most affected countries in sub-Saharan Africa have reduced new HIV infections by more than 25%
Over the last 25 or so years, many individuals working on the front lines in the fight against HIV and AIDS have had to become accustomed to accepting and celebrating the little victories. Barring a few notable exceptions where a given community or country has been able to legitimately curb and reduce the spread of HIV, many of us have excitedly relished in those moments when on an individual level, or in an individual case, a level of understanding, or the standard of living, of someone infected or affected by HIV/AIDS has improved. Recognizing that, in aggregate, these moments are a significant variable in an eventual end to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, has, however, been at times trying, especially in the face of the overwhelming AIDS statistics released annually. This is why many were ecstatic this week to learn that 22 of the worst affected countries in sub-Saharan Africa have reduced new HIV infections by over 25%.
This new data was made available in a UNAIDS press release issued September 17th, just ahead of the upcoming United Nations Summit on the Millennium Development Goals. In it, UNAIDS Executive Secretary Michel Sidibe states that "for the first time change is happening at the heart of the epidemic. In places where HIV was stealing away dreams, we now have hope".
Read more
Reflecting on the Art for AIDS Workshop Process
Almost a decade ago, when Art for AIDS International's primary concern was encouraging professional artists to respond to the growing HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa, an opportunity came forward to host a workshop with students from the London District Catholic School Board. While this was not our primary focus, we leaped at the opportunity to engage young people through art and teach them a bit more about issues related to HIV/AIDS and social justice generally. Little did we know, however, that not only would the students respond with incredible passion and enthusiasm during these first few workshops, but, that they would also produce incredible and engaging works of art during them as well. It was for this reason that we immediately shifted the focus of our project away from our International Portfolio toward helping young people get creative in understanding and addressing HIV/AIDS in their own community and abroad. Since these first workshops, we have been privileged to host nearly 200 workshops with over 10,000 students from across Canada, South Africa, Mozambique, the Netherlands, Uganda, and the United States.
With upcoming workshops scheduled in Durban, Vancouver, Toronto, and London, as well as upcoming exhibitions and fundraisers in Spain, South Africa, and multiple Canadian shows, we felt it necessary not only to share our impression of the workshops with you, but also the impressions of those that ultimately matter most: the participating students.
Below you will find four statements written by past participants, all of whom have moved on and become active members of their community. Please enjoy and, whether or not you have been to a show, or attended a workshop, we encourage your comments below!Read more
"Jogging" in Jeju for Art for AIDS
On June 13, 2010, longtime Art for AIDS volunteer Alex Rathy, now working full time in Suncheon South Korea, completed his first marathon on the beautiful island of Jeju to raise funds and awareness for Art for AIDS International. All of us at Art for AIDS would like to sincerely thank and congratulate Alex for completing this arduous journey and for continuing to be a dedicated part of our organization. Further, we would like to thank Alex for raising over CAD $500 which we will use to further our work, and the work of our partners on the ground in Southern Africa working with women and children affected by HIV/AIDS.Please continue reading below to learn about what inspired Alex to run a marathon for Art for AIDS and spend some time thinking about what you could do to support organizations working to improve the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS in your own community or abroad.Read more