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Dear Friends, Welcome to all of the

new supporters who have met us during our 2009 summer events and signed up to receive our newsletters.

We are delighted to announce the completion of our fully updated website including more detailed information about our projects. www.artfullyaware.org

On behalf of us all at Artfully AWARE, we would like to extend a very big thank you to those who participated in our Three Peaks Challenge. Please read our article to get a first hand account of the amazing day that was shared by the participants.

By being a part of this journey with us, together we will reach more communities that are in need of inspiration and hope. Please feel free to forward our newsletters on to your friends and contacts who may be interested in learning about us.

Thank you for your continued support,

Hilary Wallis and the AfA Team

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.

Artfully AWARE works in two ways:

1)We provide services to groups who wish to partner and work with us, such as humanitarian agencies, schools, arts organisations, youth and community groups and heath institutions. Our services can promote community capacity building, education, sustainable development, team building and can contain therapeutic benefits.

2)We implement a Sustainable Models Plan in selective communities. AfA creates sustainability by training local community leaders and teachers to run programmes while we continue to provide materials and support.

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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

THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE

Programmes Director Emily Hatfield coordinated a team that embarked on an intense physical cha"enge to raise money towards a media workshop for The Kids League Uganda. This workshop wi" train 12 disabled children $om across the ability spectrum to use film/ media to explore their identity and environment. The objective is to promote integration whilst building perspectives and generating mutual respect.

The cha"enge involved climbing Britain’s three highest peaks – Ben Nevis, Scafe" Pike and Snowdon – a" within 24 hours.

WRITTEN BY RICHARD FRENCH OF THE BRITISH COUNCIL

After spending a relaxing evening savouring the delights of Glasgow’s nightlife – only fruit juice for us as we wanted to feel fresh for the challenge ahead – the team was in good spirits as we gathered at the foot of Ben Nevis. A group photo and a few quick, half-hearted stretches later, we set off on our climb.

It was a sunny afternoon on Ben Nevis, and the mountain path was thronging with ramblers, runners and other fearless 3-peakers. I soon realised that borrowing walking boots from a slightly smaller-footed friend is a false economy as the money I would have saved is bound to be spent on plasters. A quick stop at a creek helped refresh the spirits, and we push on up the steepening mountain path.

We come across a snow field in the middle of summer – what a pleasant surprise. After two and a half hours of solid uphill walking, we finally reached the peak, much faster than we had anticipated. After an assortment of snacks has been passed around the group of smiling faces and a few victory photos taken on top of the mount, we head back down. The monotony of the descent is broken up with an epic game of 20 questions. A nice hot plate of pasta awaits us back at base campus and then we pile back in to the minibuses for the 8 hour drive to the Lake district.

I always thought my long legs were a help rather than hindrance; however, where exactly to lay my legs keeps me awake for most of the drive, and I only manage two hours sleep. The second climb begins at 0600 hours, and we only have a few minutes to stretch out our stiff limbs. Scafell Pike is a short, steep climb that in the early morning sun requires a lot of gritting of teeth to get to the top in just over an hour. Pride at having reached the top so quickly, with what seemed like so little energy left in my legs, is the predominant feeling at the peak. The walk down is just as tough, particularly on the knees, as I’m really starting to wonder how I got myself in to this mess in the first place!

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A few swift stretches and cursory inspection in to the state of my feet before we’re back on the bus for the comparatively short drive (a mere 4 hours!) to North Wales.

The atmosphere on the bus is surprisingly good – everyone’s wide awake and excited to get to Snowdon as soon as possible. It’s a race against the clock to get there on time. The final ascent! We take the short, quick route to the top - realising short and quick are shorthand for very steep. After 45 minutes climbing we’re making good progress and the peak is in sight – we in such high spirits that we even find the energy to break in to a jog. The top now only looks a hop, skip and a jump away - it turns out it is a hop, skip, climb, hop, jump, climb, climb away. With heavy lungs and tired legs, we finally make it to the top. The feeling of absolute exhilaration amongst the group is clear for everyone to see. 30 minutes, tea, muffins and midges later, we blissfully head downwards, singing through the back catalogue the Beatles.

Having now put my experience in to perspective, it's hard to believe what can happen in just a single day, 24 hours, 1440 minutes, 86,400 seconds. If I was asked to do this again next year, I would jump at the chance.

Please visit our website to see photos of the Three Peaks Challenge.

GULU’S COMMUNITY BOOK PROJECT

AfA's Community Book Project is part of a cultural exchange between community members in Gulu, Uganda and Chesterfield, England. It is part of our School Education Package that is being developed.

WRITTEN BY SARAH EVANS, AFA MARKETING MANAGER

Together with the Artfully AWARE Uganda Team and Programmes Director Emily Hatfield, I travelled to Gulu in northern Uganda in July of 2009. We met with staff at Karin Childrens Medical Centre and visited the community involved in the AfA Community Book Project.

We were fortunate to meet with both the adults, who form the Community Book Committee, and the children at the after school club, who are involved in producing the books. I was inspired by the enthusiasm of the staff at the centre and their ability to work with over 150 children every afternoon to enhance their learning, fitness and social kills. I was also moved to see how many people want to be involved in the creation of the books.

The community continues to show great initiative and creativity in making the books and developing the themes included. I saw the effect that the books have on the lives of children at the centre. The books bring both adults and children of different ages and abilities together to create them, thus enabling the community to learn more about their own culture and traditions and giving them an insight into the lives of other children around the world.

Many of the children I spoke to cannot afford to go to school, and the ones who are lucky enough to attend are often faced with challenges within the school environment, such as lack of resources. These books allow the children to learn outside of mainstream education. I saw the potential to build an excellent relationship between our partner school in the UK called Brookfield and the community in Gulu. The Ugandans have begun to realise that people from the UK are interested in their way of life and want to support them.

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Contribute

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.

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I will cherish the memories of the children I met, the excitement they showed on our arrival and the warm welcome we received through their traditional songs, music and dancing. I will also remember the kindness which the people of Gulu showed to us all.

Please visit our website to see photos of our 2009 Uganda Programmes.

AFA WITH NOT PART OF FESTIVAL MOOCH ART GALLERY

This was included in our summer Advocacy Events.

WRITTEN BY ZILLAH EDWARDS, UK MANAGING DIRECTOR

On Sunday 5th July Manchester’s Great Northern outdoor amphitheatre was transformed in to an artistic playground when Artfully AWARE, a not for profit Arts for Development Organisation, along with an injection of The Fancy Toys, with their fresh, exciting and utterly unique style of music, hosted a live Art In Action event, as an eclectic and energetic Part of the (quite ironically) Not Part Of Festival.

Music and Art were fused to create a day that was perfect for all ages and genres of audience. It was an event that was free for all to benefit from, and through the use of unusual instruments. The Fancy

Toys attracted a diverse range of people assisting Artfully AWARE

in lifting the mood of the city for an afternoon of enjoyment. Artfully AWARE had their very own artists spread around the amphitheatre, painting on huge canvases live to the music whilst using the backdrop of the Great Northern, a landmark in Manchester’s city centre. To involve the public even further Artfully AWARE, an opportunity to partake in some art by using the mini painting workshop station and art supplies on offer.

Dotted around the huge open space children danced and painted flowers, adults listened enthusiastically to the music, chatted and painted the band, and couples smiled whilst painting each other. A fusion of the arts, the participation of the public together with a dash of sunshine meant that the day was a huge success for all of those that were lucky enough to be there for the event.

AfA Community Members' artwork at Mooch Gallery

Through participation in the Not Part Of Festival Artfully AWARE, has been fortunate to gain support of one of Manchester’s prestigious Art Galleries ‘Mooch-Art’, which has

galleries on both Oldham Street and in The Triangle. A six week

exhibition which began on Monday 6th July is showcasing Artfully AWARE paintings from a series of art for empowerment workshops held with vulnerable adults and youth from partner communities in

rural Uganda. Partnering with the Not Part of Festival and Mooch Art has been vital for Artfully AWARE in establishing firm links with Manchester. The organisation is thriving and can now be seen as a huge asset to the arts for development sector within this vibrant and hugely artistic city.

Please visit our website to read more about our Advocacy Events.

FIGMENTThis was included in our

summer Advocacy Events.

WRITTEN BY MELISSA KATE, USA DIRECTOR

When I was a kid, the iconic “Figment the Dragon” from Walt Disney World was my favorite doll. I liked the idea of a fraction of a moment’s worth of ideas coming to life. In July 2009 Artfully AWARE participated in the NYC Figment Festival—which, in the spirit of Burning Man, is a festival of artwork designed to be as temporary and fleeting as the figment of a morning’s daydream.

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Out on a previously inaccessible island (run by the US Army and then the US Coast Guard), Governor’s Island in NYC is an oasis of quiet nature—about 10 minutes from the mother city. No cars, lots of land, and old historic buildings cover the landscape—a rare view of the Statue of Liberty on one side, and fields of green and an occasional canon on the other.

Here, for one weekend, hundreds of artists take over the space, and thousands of visitors attend. The artwork must be temporary, Mandala-like, although I suspect that most of the artwork presented that weekend travels to a variety of festivals and fairs.

We decided to combine drama with art and create an art installation comprised of human bodies. The volunteers would enter the space, be transformed by

human hand into a variety of shapes and were named, as if they were plants in a garden. They would then transfer this experience into a drawing that was available for all to see. We met amazing people and artists, and established connections that can only benefit everybody involved. Volunteers—even the reluctant ones—were all won over by the memorable exercise.

Our NYC team showed its colors during the festival—with new additions Katrina Daniels and Jamie Kulhanek stepped up and proved to be dynamic! They were enthusiastic and welcoming to all. Everybody came together—the entire NYC team plus founder Hilary Wallis attended. Like any good

“figment” it was over quickly, but the effects of our outreach and teamwork will be long lasting.

Please visit our website to see photos of FIGMENT.

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

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

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For more information about us, please visit our

website:

www.artfullyaware.org

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