DECEMBER 2009 ISSUE 5

PAGE 1

Dear Friends,

Human dignity is the foundation of all progress, and in too many communities that dignity has been brutally denied. Artistic expression is a powerful way that people can reclaim their dignity and take important steps towards regaining control over their own lives and destiny.

Artfully AWARE mobilizes the talents of a remarkable team of young global citizens who are passionately committed to bringing this opportunity to those who need it. In this season of light and love, let's bring our full energies and resources to endeavors like Artfully AWARE, and build a world consistent with our highest aspirations.  John Coonrod

PhD, Artfu!y AWARE's Chairman of the Board and Vice President for Strategy and Impact with the Hunger Project www.thp.org

NEWSLETTER

Sustainable Empowerment Through The Arts

ABOUT USArtfully AWARE uses the arts

as an important tool for social improvement and emotional recovery of persons who have experienced traumatic events, disabilities, or living conditions. We also believe in the ability of the arts to inspire, promote positive change and provide hope in communities worldwide.

Artfully AWARE seeks to implement a range of educational arts programmes locally, nationally and internationally, in order to promote empowerment, cultural understanding and enable sustainable development.

OUR GOALS1. Creating and facilitating educational partnerships by

linking schools and communities through artistic projects 

2. Designing and implementing interactive programmes and workshops focusing on drama, dance, music, media and/or the visual arts 

3. Developing arts-based curricula for schools or programme centres 

4. Promoting the use of multimedia tools such as photography and film to enhance communications messaging 

5. Coordinating cultural exchange visits, showcases, and other special events 

6. Promote activities that generate income for local communities

DECEMBER 2009 ISSUE 5

PAGE 2

Volunteer

We are currently looking for creative

people willing to share their time and

talents. As a volunteer for Artfully

AWARE, you can help us achieve our

mission by becoming an active supporter

of advancing the arts in your area or internationally.Please download

our application form from our website and

email us with any questions.

volunteer@artfullyaware.org

Get Involved There are many different ways you

can become involved in Artfully AWARE’s present and future.

The generosity of our donors, supporters

and volunteers makes our work possible.

Please visit our Get Involved Page

MARCH 2010 UGANDA TRIP

Artfu!y AWARE’s Executive Director Hilary Wa!is wi! initiate new arts and media based programmes in Uganda in the spring of 2010. This success is owed to the phenomenal fundraising efforts of the last six months.

WRITTEN BY ARTFULLY AWARE’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HILARY WALLIS After raising nearly $20,000, AfA is now able to implement a series of programmes in Uganda's Tororo and Gulu communities for all of 2010. I will travel there for one month to enable us to reach the following goals:

1. To implement new programmes in Tororo, eastern Uganda

2. To train our AfA artists, teachers and community leaders

3. Follow up with AfA's ongoing School Education programme in Gulu, northern Uganda

4. Establish an official AfA Ugandan office

5. Do preliminary research for Artist Abroad trips to be held in the near future

6. Look into creating programmes in Mbale, northeastern Uganda

7. Locate and meet with potential local investors

8. Conduct a full research study based on the benefits of our programmes

9. Develop our first AfA Virtual Community Gallery project to highlight our programmes on the web through interactive workshops with community members

It will be a very busy and exciting time. I will be sure to keep all of you updated with the upcoming plans and our progress throughout the trip. If you, your school, community or centre would like to participate in a virtual cultural exchange with any of these communities, please email us for more information. 

Please visit our website to see photos of past AfA Uganda Trips in 08 and 09.

AFA’S AUTUMN EVENTSMusicport Festival. 23-25 October. Bridlington, England “Musicport was established in 2000 to promote live music and music education in Whitby and the surrounding area with its primary event being Musicport World Music Festival each autumn.  

Continued next page....

DECEMBER 2009 ISSUE 5

PAGE 3

Over the last nine years the festival has grown year on year and has established itself as a prestigious event in the festival calendar.” Artfully AWARE coordinated a children’s painting workshop relating to the performances on stage and music themes, while showcasing African artwork. www.musicportfestival.com

Fresh Connections' Wine & Wii event. 16 October. NYC, New York The evening was a celebration of the launch of the non-profit Fresh Connections, whose mission is to inspire young professionals and influential leaders to give back through philanthropy and community service. Artfully AWARE presented and sold artworks painted by our African artists. We thank this wonderful organisation for the opportunity and our volunteer who represented us, Joey Naham.

Prevent Child Abuse NY and Maiti Nepal's Artists United for Human Rights. 4 October. Buffalo, New York The "Artists United for Human Rights Event" brought together fine artists, crafts people,

musicians and vendors for the common cause of supporting Human Rights. This dynamic event was held at the historic Pearl St. Brewery in Buffalo, NY. Teachers and artists combined

forces to support human rights focusing on education, awareness and prevention of child abuse and trafficking.  Artfully AWARE had a very strong presence: as a vendor, we showcased artwork from our model project in Uganda, and volunteers discussed the

programmes we offer with many community members. Talented vocalist, AfA USA Director, Melissa Kate performed along side other incredible Buffalo musicians. Thank you to our volunteers, Katrina Daniels, Joey Naham and Melissa Kate. Please visit our website to see photos of the event.

A WIN TO A WELL-DESERVED PARTNER

Congratulations to our AfA partner, Uganda’s folk music group Ndere Troupe for their win at New York City's 2009 SUNSHINE Awards!  The Ndere Troupe was nominated in the Awards for Contribution to the Performing Arts together with five other notable artists that include Alston Becket Cyrus of St. Vincent, in the Caribbean; Elwin McQuilkin a.k.a Black Wizard from Grenada; calypso maestro William Elcock of Grenada; Armando Savaranga Crisanto of La Ceiba Atlántida, Honduras; and Eulalia Bernard-Little who hails from Costa Rica.

The Ndere Troupe, a cultural development organisation, founded in 1984 by its current director Stephen Rwangyezi, was nominated because of its excellent Ugandan Traditional Music that consists of over 40 different dances, hundreds of songs and a great variety of instruments. Artfully AWARE looks forward to working together with this fantastic ensemble.

DECEMBER 2009 ISSUE 5

PAGE 4

AN INTRODUCTION TO OUR PARTNERS IN SOUTH AFRICA AND SWAZILAND

In 2010, Artfu!y AWARE wi! help advance the work of the Swaziland Theatre for Children and Young People (SWATCYP) and Art for Humanity in South Africa. We wi! work closely together to create a programme using visual arts, drama and media to teach school children and community members about HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.

WRITTEN BY MASWATI DLUDLU, SECRETARY GENERAL OF SWATCYP-ASSITEJ Swaziland Theatre for Children and Young People was formed in November 2000 as a coordinating body for all children and young people’s theatre formations in the country. Throughout its history, the organisation has supported Swaziland's cultural environment by providing training and other arts related services to children, young people, schools, NGO's, United Nations agencies and other organisations. SWATCYP strives to fulfill children and young people’s rights to participation, recreation, development, freedom of expression and information through theatre by advocating,

training and networking at all levels.  "In Swaziland there is a proven record of a high rate of HIV infections, poverty, crime, alcohol and drug abuse in communities which have unnecessary social ills that need to be wiped out as soon as possible. The most unfortunate part is that arts and culture can play a major role in ensuring that such ills are reduced significantly, but they are absent in programming at all levels. Thus, people in communities will continue to be endless victims. The partnership we are developing with AfA and Art for Humanity will go a long way in reducing these social ills. Arts and culture possess a universal language that can bring hope to people of different backgrounds, and make them speak with one voice."   WRITTEN BY JAN JORDAAN, DIRECTOR OF AFH Art For Humanity (AFH) is a non-profit organisation based in Durban, South Africa, that engages with cultural production, specifically in the visual arts, to promote human rights awareness regionally and globally. The organisation focuses on the creation of fine art print portfolios, in collaboration with the participating artists, poets, endorsers, exhibitions, publications, billboards and

research projects which advocate various human rights issues in South Africa, across Africa and internationally. www.afh.org.za   "The HIV/AIDS pandemic is the result of the lack of respect of human rights in any society; lack of respect for ‘individual rights’ of ‘freedom of

expression’, ‘dignity’, ‘pride’ and ‘the quest for excellence’. All these ethical values are associated with human rights and social justice. As these values are embedded

in the arts, and as the arts inspires all of humanity, it remains important that the arts are employed to a much greater degree to inspire and sustain these values in society. Without society embracing these values, and as with all societies not embracing the arts, society itself remains vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, and all its associated ills." 

Please visit our website to read more about our work strategy.

AfA Blog

Please follow our AfA Blog to read up to the date

information about us as well as other artistic movements

in development and education.

DECEMBER 2009 ISSUE 5

PAGE 5

SEARCHING FOR UNIQUE HOLIDAY GIFTS? LOOK NO FURTHER... During this holiday season, give a gi, to a -iend, family member or decorate your home. Teach someone about where your new art piece comes -om. We offer original, handmade paintings and prints -om community members in Africa, beautiful greeting cards, items of clothing and designs on barkcloth material -om leading African artists.

The money you spend goes towards continuing the educational and  therapeutic programmes in the communities we currently work with in Uganda, and it will also help us start new programmes in Swaziland and South Africa.  Please visit our website to read about our artists and see the artwork.

Artfully AWARE, INC.501(c)(3) Public CharityNew York, NY

Artfully AWARE, CIC.Community Interest CompanyRegistered Number: 06589913London, England

Information

For any questions or comments, please email us at:

create@artfullyaware.org

For more information about us, please visit our

website:

www.artfullyaware.org

Contribute

During this season of giving, please consider making a one time contribution or donating $5 - $10 a month to Artfully AWARE to help us hit the ground running with our programmes in 2010.

The gift that you donate today will dramatically help us maintain our programmes

in communities by purchasing art supplies, funding teachers and training participants in new skills. With this sustainability, we will be able to create and develop new programmes

and projects globally.Give a gift on behalf of yourself or a loved

one. Please visit our Get Involved section of our website.