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.
Welcome To The New Art For AIDS International Website
Dear Friends,
I am excited to welcome you to the new, mobile-friendly, Art for AIDS International website. Over the last few weeks, our volunteers have worked hard to find new ways to share our story with all of you online, along with some of the incredible works of art made by young people during Art for AIDS workshops. In addition to creating more space to share our photographs and blog posts, we've made it easier than ever to browse, share, and purchase Art for AIDS artwork - all in support of programmes that benefit women and children affected by HIV and AIDS in some of the communities most affected by the epidemic.
[box type="alert" icon="none"]In recognition of our new website, we're offering free shipping on our prints throughout the month of May. Type "NEWSITE" in the "Apply Coupon" field of your shopping cart before you checkout.[/box]
We'll be adding more new prints to our online Gallery and Shop and some exciting features that are still in the works. If you have any suggestions for other new features or information you'd like to see on our site, please don't hesitate to contact us.
I would like to offer my thanks and appreciation to our visitors for taking the time to learn more about what we are doing to engage young people in the global response to AIDS though education and the arts.
Sincerely,
Hendrikus Bervoets
Executive Director
Art for AIDS International
Photo Courtesy of Dave Chidley
Art for AIDS at APK: A Huge Success
The following post was written by Art for AIDS Marketing and Communications Intern Marie-France Roche.
We were delighted to host our event Art for AIDS at APK on Saturday, March 9th. Three interns, Francine Navarro, Robyn Bell and myself, along with Hendrikus and the rest of our hard-working team coordinated this event. The APK was nearly at capacity and we were thrilled with the turnout. Everyone enjoyed good food, lively conversation, and some wonderful live music. Our friends, family, and regular APK-ers attended to support. Each guest was invited to choose one of a selection of prints to take home with them. Having the support of the community keeps our dream of defeating the AIDS pandemic alive, and every small donation counts towards this ultimate goal. We hope to have more events as successful as these, and your continued enthusiasm is an integral part of our organization.
One of our volunteers, Georgia Hinton, took some wonderful photos at the event. Take a look:
We had some talented performers who were very eager to support the cause, and provided some wonderful entertainment for our guests. A great big thank you goes to Kevin Murphy, Lauren and Katie Channer-Elfman, Justin Maki, Elivia and Anita Cazzola, Scott Brunelle, Laika and Benjamin Kehoe, Ben Young-Steinberg, Randy Komi, and The APK. We would also like to thank our guests: with your continued support, we are keeping the hope to ultimately abolish the AIDS epidemic.
Thank you again, and stay tuned for more Art for AIDS events. We'd love to see you out again soon.
Art for AIDS International at the ISU World Figure Skating Championship
As part of our dedication to connecting young people with their global community, a large part of Art for AIDS International’s work highlights the importance of being an active local citizen. That is why we are proud to participate in the 2013 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, taking place this week in our base city, London, Ontario, Canada.
This is the first time the City of London is playing host to the World Figure Skating Championships, and the tenth time a Canadian city has been chosen to host the competition since 1896. From March 11 to March 17, the 200 best athletes in figure skating representing 50 countries will compete in London’s Budweiser Gardens not only for world titles in four disciplines but also for spots in the Sochi Winter Olympic Games held in Russia in 2014.
To commemorate the 2013 World Championship, Art for AIDS International, in partnership with Tourism London, is giving each participating athlete a limited edition print created by First Nations students from the Northern Ontario communities of Moosonee and Moose Factory. In February 2013, Art for AIDS hosted workshops at schools in both communities, and the result was truly Canadian works of art that demonstrate the passion and potential of Canadian youth.
We are extremely grateful to the City of London and Tourism London for inviting Art for AIDS International to partner with them on such a momentous occasion. This collaboration represents our commitment to forging partnerships at the local, national, and international level, and gives us the opportunity to share our message with a global audience.
It also represents an exciting achievement for the young students of Moosonee and Moose Factory, whose talent will be the centre of attention when their work is put in the hands of some of the most famous figure skaters in the world. Without a doubt, the 2013 World Figure Skating Championships is a pivotal moment for everyone involved, and we are honoured to be a part of it.