15th Anniversary World Tour
Art for AIDS International has many workshops planned for the coming months and that means a lot of travel. It is exciting to go to different places, some new, some now very familiar, meeting new people and renewing special friendships that have grown over the years. It also means we will have new unique collages to exhibit and sell both in our gallery and online.
February 2015:
Hoedspruit and Acornhoek, South Africa and Botswana
It is very exciting to return to Hoedspruit and Acornhoek in Limpopo to celebrate the art work created during our workshops in September 2015 and to host some new workshops in this area, sponsored by a special friend of Art for AIDS International. Limpopo has the highest per capita infection rate in the world so it is important to us that we do as many workshops in this region as we are able.
Final week of March 2016:
We are happy to be able to return and work again with our friends at Lakehead Public Schools. It will be a pleasure to see the supportive teachers again and meet their new classes for some art-making and great conversations.
May 2016: Keewatin, Ontario, Canada
This will be our first time collaborating with Keewatin-Patricia District School Board and we look forward to spending some time with students at several of their schools in the beautiful springtime.
Working with teachers in collaboration with GNAT and others on an exciting new Train the Teachers Project. We will conduct workshops with teachers, showing them a new and innovative way to have appropriate, comfortable and effective conversations with their students surrounding sensitive topics associated with HIV and AIDS.
Dates to be determined:
Lesotho, South Africa, and Botswana. We look forward to seeing the results of collaborations with teachers federations in each of these countries, training teachers who will remain in Africa when we have gone back to Canada. Art for AIDS International is happy that the outcome of this project is reaching more students than ever.
We still have room in our schedule to visit you as well and we would love to add your location to our itinerary. This is shaping up to be a very productive and exciting year for Art for AIDS International. Thank you for your continued support!
Gratitude for a Heartwarming Anniversary Event
Our month-long retrospective exhibit at Satellite Project Space in downtown London, Ontario has come to an end. On Wednesday, August 26 we held an intimate reception for friends of Art for AIDS International as a way of saying thank you for their support over the past 15 years as well as celebrating the work we have had the opportunity to do with over fifteen thousand young people in eleven countries.
It was an honour to mark this milestone with people who have meant so much to us over the years, too many to mention.
Samples of the inspiring collages that have been created since 2001 made a colorful display for our guests, alongside pieces from our International Portfolio and the stunning and personal photo collages created by our Executive Director, Hendrikus Bervoets. It was an exhibit that told a powerful and moving story to those who walked in during the month of August.
Many thanks to Museum London, FedEx Office Print & Ship Centre, and Wonder Sushi for making the event possible on August 26. We hope for many years to come for Art for AIDS International. Please do visit our ongoing exhibit on the second floor of One London Place, also in downtown London in Canada.
Celebrating 15 Years of Art for AIDS International
As we prepare to celebrate our fifteenth anniversary in September, Art for AIDS International is pleased to announce an upcoming retrospective exhibit at Satellite Project Space in London, Ontario.
This exhibit will showcase some of the best images that have been created by youth from around the world during our student workshops.
Our goal with these workshops is to educate people about HIV and AIDS and encourage them to play an active and creative role. While it was not always easy, our dedication to engaging and educating people to get creative over the past fifteen years represents our commitment to the global AIDS response.
We would like to thank everyone that has been a part of our organization for the past fifteen years. Almost on a daily basis we receive heartening endorsements from those that we have worked with about what we do.
To honour the inspiring students we have had the pleasure of working with, we are very pleased to showcase a reflective exhibit featuring some of the most powerful pieces of art work produced during our past workshops since 2001.
Exhibit viewings will run Monday through Friday from 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm for the entire month of August.
Satellite Project Space is located at 121 Dundas Street, London, Ontario.
First Exhibit a Success
On Friday, April 25, Art for AIDS International was fortunate to be invited by UNIFOR to its Ontario Regional Council meeting. We were exhibiting for the first time, our newest works from Botswana and South Africa. The response was very good overall. It was an excellent opportunity to meet some new people and introduce them to our organization's message of hope.
Art for AIDS International would like to thank UNIFOR for this invitation and for the partnership.
Newest Works from Botswana
Tomorrow, April 25, 2014, we will be exhibiting at UNIFOR's Ontario Regional Council meeting in Port Elgin, Ontario. Art for AIDS International is excited to show off some of the very best works produced from our most recent workshops held at high schools and universities in South Africa and Botswana in February and March of this year.
Art for AIDS International is very happy to be associated with UNIFOR. Many thanks to them for the opportunity to be a part of this event.
FRAMED: FASHION IS ART
The following post was written by Madeline Marmor, student intern at Art for AIDS International.
On March 21, 2014, Art for AIDS International was honoured as the beneficiary for the fifth annual Richard Ivey School of Business, “Ivey Professional Communications Club” Charity Fashion Show, “FRAMED: FASHION IS ART”. The two hour event, which ran from 8 pm-10 pm, was held at the Barking Frog Social Pub in downtown London, Ontario and was attended by Western University students, community members and Art for AIDS staff and Executive Director, Hendrikus Bervoets.
Erica Aversa, Artistic Director of the show, was asked her reasoning for choosing Art for AIDS International as the beneficiary. Her response reflected on how both fashion and art communicate a story based upon what people see. She wanted the aesthetic to reflect this in making the audience view the clothing or the piece of artwork within its communicative role – what story does it tell?
She also explained the importance of choosing a local charity that affects those on a global scale. Using Art for AIDS International as a stimulant to viewers to open their minds to what they were watching, she hoped their audience would be inspired by the local to global scale.
Art for AIDS International artworks were displayed throughout the venue on event day in addition to the Art for AIDS International gallery being used as the location for the shows ‘look book’ photo shoot. You can see some of the images here.
The event was a success in attendance, awareness and funding raised. We would like to thank Erica and all others involved for their hard work and a wonderful event.
Global Health Symposium at UWO
The following post was written by Madeline Marmor, student intern at Art for AIDS International.
On Sunday January 19, Art for AIDS International was honoured at Western University’s Rotoract Club’s first annual Global Health Symposium. The event was held in the Mustang Lounge and chose Art for AIDS International as their charitable organization to receive the funds raised from the event.
The symposium was a gathering of health professionals, academics and students to share and reflect on the health practices, trends and inequalities that are emerging on both the local and global level. Along with Hendrikus Bervoets, Executive Director of Art for AIDS International, there were two other key-note speakers. Dr. Amit Bagga, nephrologist and professor at Windsor University, spoke about his interest in the prevention of chronic kidney disease and overseas work. Dr. Abe Oudshroon discussed his interests of community-based care with people experiencing homelessness. He stressed action on the local level for global impact, explaining how it possible to do both.
The networking session at the end of the event was a hit where guests were able to connect with local healthcare groups in London. Those present were Crazy About Mental Health, Western Heads East, Alphabet Community Center, Horco, Compassion in Jesus’ name, Dale Brain Injury Services, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Librarians Without Borders, Life Path Global Alliance.
In his talk, Hendrikus explained how Art for AIDS International has made a difference in global healthcare. By sharing his experiences hosting workshops in diferent parts of the world, including Sub-Saharan Africa as well as Canada and its First Nations communities, he explained the importance of global mental health. Mental and physical health cannot exist without each other.
The education component of our workshops, which we have hosted in schools in ten different countries, includes the message of how lack of self respect is far-reaching and is key in many social issues, including the devastating spread of HIV and AIDS.
In the end, our Executive Director pointed out that we all need to think globally. We need to care. Everyone can volunteer, no matter where they are coming from. Each unique situation and viewpoint contributes to what is the global community. The importance of volunteerism was mentioned by all three speakers at this symposium.
In all, a wonderful event. Art for AIDS International would like to thank the Western University’s Rotaract Club for the honour and financial support of the event.
I Was Never Taught This Dance - We're All Getting Older!
The following post was written by Madeline Marmor, student intern at Art for AIDS International.
On February 6th, Art for AIDS International was invited to speak and showcase artwork at ‘I Was Never Taught This Dance – We’re All Getting Older!’, an Exclusive Professional Women’s Recognition event put on by CIBC Wood Gundy and the Mancinelli Financial Group at the London Hunt Club.
The event was attended by over 100 professional women and focused on key issues of aging, touching on mental, financial, and legal health. Debbie Gilbert, a certified Professional Consultant on Aging in private practice, was the keynote speaker and discussed different strategies for empowerment while growing older.
Our Founder and Executive Director, Hendrikus Bervoets was honoured as the second speaker of the event. He gave a brief speech about our workshops and the art created by the participants, informing the audience about how they have affected change in fighting HIV and AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa.
After the speeches, attendees were able to view our artwork exhibited in the foyer. Many were interested in the charity and our Executive Director was able to give a more detailed explanation of what Art for AIDS International is and does. At the end of the day, many pieces of artwork were sold, which we are all very happy about.
We would like to thank the CIBC Wood Gundy and Mancinelli Financial Group for the opportunity to share our message.
From the Grand Opening of the New Art for AIDS International Gallery [PHOTOS]
Art for AIDS has a new home! Recently, we were proud to officially open our new Head Office and Gallery in One London Place, London Ontario. To celebrate we hosted an open house and welcomed members of the community to pay us a visit and to see some of the stunning artwork produced by young people from around the world in its new setting.
The event was generously sponsored by architects Tillmann Ruth Robinson, Sifton Properties, Moffatt & Powell RONA, the Canadian Auto Workers union (CAW), and Andy Spriet. We would also like to thank our food and beverage sponsors, Ponte Wine and Spirits, Steam Whistle Brewing, and Fare Catering for providing food and beverages for the event.
If you weren't able to join us in London for our grand opening, here are a few photographs courtesy of Dave Chidley from the event. For upcoming events, you can also visit our Events and Exhibits page.
Art for AIDS Grand Opening Photos
View more photos from our new Gallery in Art for AIDS International has a New Home.
Event Sponsors
We would like to recognize and thank the following organizations and individuals for their support in sponsoring our Grand Opening celebration.
Photos courtesy of Dave Chidley
An Evening At Toronto's Ritz-Carlton for Art for AIDS
Recently, we were proud to host "An Evening At the Ritz", an exhibit and fundraiser at Toronto's Residence at the Ritz-Carlton. The event featured a new collection of artwork made by young people from across Canada and Tanzania exhibited in the Ritz's beautiful Sky Lobby alongside black and white photography by award-winning photojournalist Dave Chidley, taken during recent Art for AIDS International workshops in Tanzania.
The event was generously sponsored by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA) and the Canadian Auto Workers union (CAW). We'd like to thank both organizations for their ongoing support and leadership in the community. We would also like to thank our food and beverage sponsors, Ponte Wine and Spirits, Steam Whistle Brewing, and Fare Catering for providing food and beverages for the event, which were enjoyed by over 100 visitors throughout the evening.
Finally, the event would not have been a success without each of our guests who came to learn more about the impact that HIV and AIDS is having in our community and in communities across Africa, and about the work that Art for AIDS International is doing to help stop the spread of HIV through art and education. As a result of your support and enthusiasm, the event raised over $10,000. These funds will help us continue to engage young people across Canada and abroad in our educational workshops, and will benefit directly our partner organizations in Africa, who provide care and support services to women and children affected by HIV and AIDS in their communities.
If you weren't able to join us in Toronto, here are a few of the photos taken by Dave Chidley during the event.
Event Sponsors
About OETCA
OECTA is a teachers’ association that represents 45,000 professional women and men who teach all grades in publicly funded English Catholic schools in Ontario. Through support from OECTA, Art for AIDS International has brought important educational programming to young people from across Ontario and to school communities in East Africa.
About CAW
The Canadian Auto Workers union is one of the largest private sector unions in the country with approximately 193,000 members from coast to coast to coast. CAW has been a close friend and partner of Art for AIDS International since we began working with Canadian youth to raise awareness about the impact of HIV and AIDS in their own community and in communities around the world.
To learn more about upcoming Art for AIDS International events in your community, visit our Events and Exhibits page. You can also contact us if you'd like to learn more about hosting an event or exhibit in your community.