How it Began
The ArtSpeaks Project came into existence in 2016 thanks to a SEED Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. ArtSpeaks operated in collaborative partnership with three local agencies invested in women's health: Breton House (link), Sault Area Hospital's Sexual Assault Care Centre (link) and Phoenix Rising Women's Centre (link). Many thanks to the generous in-kind support of their directors, counselors and staff.
In it's inception, The ArtSpeaks Project offered women and female-identifying individuals impacted by trauma due to sexual violence, addictions and mental health challenges, the opportunity to participate in art-based-learning through cultural mentorship with professional artists.
What We Were About
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Mission
We are dedicated to offering women and female-identifying folks impacted by trauma due to sexual violence, addictions and mental health challenges, a ‘safe space’ to collaborate with local professional artists in the service of cultural mentorship, fostering resiliency through arts-based skill-building towards the creation of personally meaningful works. |
Goals
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In Review
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The ARTSPEAKS Project leapt off to a great start in March of 2017.
Sootoday.com dropped in on March 31st to find out what it was all about! |
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Friday April 21 we hosted an
Open House/Meet & Greet
from 4-6pm.
"Join us in celebrating the launch of The ARTSpeaks Project at our Ideal Art Space,
724 Queen St. East, SSM, ON."
Open House/Meet & Greet
from 4-6pm.
"Join us in celebrating the launch of The ARTSpeaks Project at our Ideal Art Space,
724 Queen St. East, SSM, ON."
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"ArtSpeaks has been a blessing to me. The first time I came to the space I was quite nervous. After that I felt so welcome. Despite any differences in backgrounds, types of trauma or current circumstances we all just wanted the best for each other. That acceptance is so important." - Project Participant
We made some changes to our programing in the fall:
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'ART-Drop
TUESDAYS' September 19, 2017, Art-Drop Tuesdays begin! Join us, Tuesdays from 1-4pm for our regular drop-in art-making sessions for women/female-identifying, non-binary folks and youth (ages 16+), in our Ideal Art Space @ 724 Queen Street East! Sessions will run until November, and are offered Free-of-Charge. Donations of gently used art supplies, textiles, yarns, found objects, canvases, drawing paper, etc. are gratefully accepted. |
'ART-Drop
FRIDAYS' September 22, 2017, Art-Drop Fridays will be up and running, with a twist! Join us, Fridays from 1-4pm for a 3hr Guest Artist Mentor presentation and workshop at our Friday Drop-In sessions for women, female-identifying, non-binary folks and youth (ages 16+), as well as men dealing with trauma, in our Ideal Art Space @ 724 Queen Street East! These sessions will be offered BY DONATION ($5 min.) or pay-what-you-can. |
"Eventually, with the guidance and encouragement of both the instructors
and the other clients, I found I was moving forward with the variety of pieces we were working on." - Program Participant
and the other clients, I found I was moving forward with the variety of pieces we were working on." - Program Participant
November 11th the ARTSPEAKS Team was in attendance at the 5th Annual Holiday Gift & Craft Show, hosted by the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre! We were there with all kinds of art and information regarding the project,
and the exhibit,
"Re-Purposing Trauma,"
and how you could help keep the project running into 2018.
and the exhibit,
"Re-Purposing Trauma,"
and how you could help keep the project running into 2018.
More media coverage!
The ARTSPEAKS Project Open House - April 18, 2017
The ARTSPEAKS Project Launches into Action! - March 22, 2017
MAKING ART THAT SPEAKS: The ARTSPEAKS Project Launches into Action with ART-Drop Fridays - March 23, 2017
New Project's Art Featured - November 7, 2017
The ARTSPEAKS Project Exhibit Opening and OTF Recognition Event - November 16, 2017
Art Speaks - November 17, 2017
$75,000 OTF Grant Makes the ARTSPEAKS Project Possible
- November 21, 2017
The ARTSPEAKS Project Launches into Action! - March 22, 2017
MAKING ART THAT SPEAKS: The ARTSPEAKS Project Launches into Action with ART-Drop Fridays - March 23, 2017
New Project's Art Featured - November 7, 2017
The ARTSPEAKS Project Exhibit Opening and OTF Recognition Event - November 16, 2017
Art Speaks - November 17, 2017
$75,000 OTF Grant Makes the ARTSPEAKS Project Possible
- November 21, 2017
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CTV Northern Ontario's Lincoln Louttit stopped by November 2017 to help spread the word about our upcoming exhibit and what ARTSPEAKS means to us and our participants.
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"I found hope. I found emotions. I found courage. I found joy. I found there is a
life worth living and I found I have ability to not only speak about how I feel but also write about it." - Program Participant
life worth living and I found I have ability to not only speak about how I feel but also write about it." - Program Participant
Please visit our GALLERY2017 to catch a glimpse of what went on during our first year at The ARTSPEAKS Project!!!
ARTSPEAKS Fundraising Campaign
Exhibit Opening: "Re-Purposing Trauma"
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The exhibit was open for viewing starting November 16th from 6p.m. - 10p.m., at the Ideal ArtSpace
(724 Queen Street East). Gallery Hours Were: (November 17, 2017 - December 16, 2017) Tuesday 1pm-3:30pm & 5:30pm-8pm Wednesday - Friday 1pm-3:30pm
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Sault Ste. Marie MPP, Ross Romano, and OTF Rep., Connie Witty presented Project Coordinator, Maria Parrella-ilaria, with the OTF plaque.
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"It was not about comparing myself to others with different artistic abilities but about allowing the anger, the pain and the sadness to flow through my fingers and make themselves known." - Program Participant