Celebrating 10 Years of Art for AIDS International
The Power of 10 years and 10,000 Young People
Ten years ago, Art for AIDS International set out to stop the spread of HIV by inspiring young people, through art, to play an active and engaged role in the global AIDS response.
Thanks to support from these young people, their communities, and a growing network of partners, we’ve had the opportunity to host workshops with over 10,000 young people, at over 300 schools from across Canada, and throughout Africa and Europe. The outcome of this incredible community effort is a powerful collection of art, produced by young people, that has raised international awareness about AIDS, and over 1 million dollars to support community organizations in Africa working with women and children affected by HIV and AIDS.
On the 10th Anniversary of Art for AIDS, we want to celebrate the tremendous impact that a community-driven initiative has had on the lives of young people in classrooms around the world, and on the lives of young people across Africa, who have benefitted directly.
Power of 10 Portfolio
To thank everyone who has made this possible, we are re-releasing the 20 prints that started it all (10 from each of our first two portfolios). This "Power of 10" portfolio will be sold at a number of exciting events that will run throughout the remainder of 2011 and into 2012. Further, to make sure that as many people as possible can enjoy this work, prints will be available for only $10 each with proceeds supporting Art for AIDS International and the work of our partner organizations in Africa.
How you can get involved
There are a number of ways you can support Art for AIDS International through the Power of 10 campaign:
- Become a volunteer at Art for AIDS International;
- Host an event in your home, school, or community;
- Sponsor the campaign directly;
- Purchase Power of 10 prints.
If you would like to support Art for AIDS International and the Power of 10 campaign in any of these ways, please contact us.
You can also check back on our website as we post exciting news, events, and updates over the coming weeks.
Thank you
While Art for AIDS began as a small - one person - secondary school initiative, it was ultimately the power of community that has allowed us to grow, engage more young people, and provide support to women and children in some of the communities hardest hit by HIV in Africa.
We would like to thank everyone who has been involved from our inception for their dedication, initiative, and the passion they've shown for this project. This includes our enthusiastic volunteers and board, each of the students, teachers, and school boards who've welcomed us to their school community, our tremendous group of public and private sponsors, and finally, everyone who has shown their recognition for the power of art in addressing global challenges like the HIV epidemic, whether through kind words, telling others about our work, or purchasing one of our students' works of art.
Thank you.
Sharing Knowledge, Sharing Innovation: North Star and Art for AIDS Exhibit in Rome
Last week, Art for AIDS International opened a large exhibit in collaboration with North Star Alliance and the World Food Programme at the Second Annual Global Agriknowledge Share Fair in Rome - hosted at the headquarters of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a UN agency responsible for combating rural hunger and poverty in developing countries.
The exhibit, which featured the recently launched North Star Alliance / Art for AIDS International portfolio, presented a large selection of artwork produced by truck drivers, sex workers, and young people from Harare and Beitbridge Zimbabwe, made during a recent workshop series hosted by Hendrikus Bervoets, Founder and Executive Director of Art for AIDS International.
The goal of this exhibit was to raise awareness about the impact of HIV and STIs on mobile populations, and on their direct and indirect contacts across Africa. Further, the exhibit highlighted tremendous initiatives by North Star Alliance and the World Food Programme which address these issues.
"While Art for AIDS International has traditionally worked with young people, we realized it was important to recognize hidden links in the transmission of HIV in Africa", explained Hendrikus.
Truck drivers, and the communities surrounding transport hubs, have traditionally lacked access to health care and information, and as a result, have been disproportionately affected by HIV and other diseases.
"By teaming up with North Star Alliance, an international not-for-profit organization that provides health care to mobile populations and communities surrounding borders and truck stops, we were able to adapt the Art for AIDS workshop model to bring important information, and hopefully a fun experience, to two communities heavily affected by these issues".
The exhibit, which ran from 26-29 September, was well received with many people stopping by to purchase prints - the proceeds of which will support both Art for AIDS International and North Star Alliance projects in southern Africa.
We would like to thank IFAD, the World Food Programme, and North Star Alliance for their support.
Over the next few weeks Art for AIDS International, and North Star Alliance will scheduling a series of exhibits to further feature this exciting project. Stay tuned for more details.
A Call to Action: 30 Years into the AIDS response
30 years ago, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a report outlining five cases of what was believed to be a rare form of pneumonia. In retrospect, this report would be the first official one to outline what is now recognized widely as the HIV epidemic. Unfortunately, what this CDC report could give little indication of was that these five cases foretold the most severe epidemic in modern history. What was equally unpredictable, however, was that the story of AIDS would be one not only of tragedy, but one of resilience, solidarity, and innovation.Read more
What about HIV? [INFOGRAPHIC]
Thirty years into the response to HIV, an estimated 3000 young people are newly infected with HIV everyday. Many young people living with HIV still do not have access to treatment and only 34% of all young people have correct and comprehensive knowledge about HIV and how to protect themselves. That's why more than 150 young HIV activists from across the world gathered for a three-day summit in Bamako, Mali, last week to rally a youth-led response to HIV in lead up to the United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS (taking place in New York from 8 to 10 June 2011). Read more
The Biggest of Thank-You's
The following article was written by Alex Kruger, Art for AIDS International Student Intern!
I want to take a moment to thank everyone who came out to our event on March 27th: the "Art for AIDS International Exhibit: Showcasing UWO Talent". The night was an overwhelming success and saw an amazing turnout. The cupcakes and cookies provided by Colie Cakes were both beautiful and delicious, the music performed by Graham Nicholas, Alanna Gurr, and Sam Allen was spectacular, and the art was inspiring. Thank to you all the contributors who made the night happen, especially Art for AIDS International’s amazing volunteers—without them the night would not have run as smoothly as it did. So, to everyone, a big thank you! Read more
Art for AIDS International Exhibit: Showcasing UWO's Talent
The following post was written by Alex Kruger, Student Intern at Art for AIDS International.
Art for AIDS International is excited to present an Art for AIDS International Exhibit: Showcasing UWO’s Talent!
On February 5th, 2010, a group of students from the University of Western Ontario (UWO) took part in a day-long workshop with Hendrikus Bervoets, Executive Director of Art for AIDS International. The artwork they created was both passionate and engaging.
Please join us on Sunday, March 27th, from 7PM-10PM to celebrate their beautiful art. Keeping in tune with the local theme, local musicians, Alanna Gurr, Sam Allen, and Graham Nicholas will be performing. Baked goodies are also being donated from up-and-coming baker, Colie Cakes. (Mmmm.) Read more
Art for AIDS International exhibits at Stephen Lewis talk
Stephen Lewis spoke to a full ballroom at the London Hilton Hotel on Wednesday evening. Presented by the Monsignor Feeney Foundation, Lewis’s speech was focused on the Millennium goals, specifically global and local poverty and the position of women worldwide. Lewis spoke with ease and elegance and praised the work and mission of the Monsignor Feeney Foundation. Despite having to endure an increase in security at the door, those who attended the event were captivated by Lewis and welcomed him on stage with a standing ovation. The controversial lead up to Lewis’s visit had received much attention in local news; however, the controversy was forgettable as another standing ovation and prolonged applause concluded the evening.
Art for AIDS International was pleased to be the sole exhibitor at the event. Conveniently located adjacent to the bar, Art for AIDS International’s exhibit attracted an excess of observers, future partners and buyers. Volunteers Brittany Coulter, Jess McKeen and Kate Hoad-Reddick were on site to promote Art for AIDS International and help sell and package purchased pieces. Founder and Executive Director, Hendrikus Bervoets, was pleased with the attention Art for AIDS International received as well as the money garnered. 90% of Art for AIDS International’s proceeds go directly to grassroots projects that help women and children affected by AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.
Art for AIDS International would like to thanks Stephen Lewis, the Monsignor Feeney Foundation, the London Hilton and all of the individuals who visited our exhibit and purchased a piece of art.
Art for AIDS International has a permanent gallery located at 242 Dundas St. in London. If you are interested in purchasing a piece of art, browsing the gallery or paying us a visit, please do not hesitate to come by.
Stephen Lewis comes to London
On February 16th join Art for AIDS International at an evening with Stephen Lewis presented by The Monsignor Feeney Foundation presents. Art of AIDS International is excited to be exhibiting a large selection of artwork at this event and we strongly encourage everyone in the area to attend, not only for the beautiful exhibition but to witness one of the most passionate and thought-provoking public speakers, Stephen Lewis, who is without a doubt one of Canada's foremost advocates for people living with HIV and AIDS.
Details:
Where: Hilton Hotel- 300 King St. London, ON
When: Wednesday February 16, 2011
Cocktails at 6pm
Presentation at 7pm
Cost: Tickets $45 each
For more information or tickets please call 519-652-3033 or visit: The Monsignor Feeney Foundation.
Read more
Top 10 HIV/AIDS News Stories from 2010: A Year in Review
Sections from this post were originally published online by the humanitarian news and analysis service, IRIN, and PlusNews. To view the original article, please visit PlusNews's article: HIV/AIDS: Top 10 for 2010
This has been an exciting year for the fight against HIV, with dramatic developments in biomedical HIV prevention and a record five million people receiving life-prolonging treatment. It has also been a year fraught with funding difficulties and the continued discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS and other marginalized groups. Last week PlusNews released the top 10 stories from 2010. While all of us at Art for AIDS have been following these developments closely, it is unlikely that we would have been able to list them so succinctly; thankfully PlusNews has already done a wonderful job. Please read through, comment, and let us know if you feel a story was missed!
Microbicide breakthrough - After years of disappointing results, this year saw the first clinical evidence that a vaginal gel - known as a microbicide - could help to prevent sexual transmission of HIV. Such a preventative tool in the hands of women would radically reduce the level of new infections, analysts say.
ARVs for prevention - A new study found that daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) - the use of ARVs to prevent HIV in high-risk groups - reduced HIV infection risk among participants who took the ARV Truvada by an average 43.8 percent.
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