Calgary event shows city’s culture and compassion
Julie Chandler is not an artist.
In fact three years ago when she founded Canadian Artists for the Poor she didn’t even know any artists.
But she was inspired after reading the book ONE — A Face Behind the Numbers which talked about AIDS human trafficking unclean water issues and “all kinds of stuff you don’t really want to read about.”
“Once I finished the book I realized I could contribute much more than just giving money to different charities” she says “because over my lifetime that would be just a drop in the bucket.”
With some great ideas bubbling in her mind she bumped into an artist who provided insight into the artist community and the association was born.
Canadian Artist for the Poor provides financial support to other registered non-profit organizations and charities working in the poorest and most destitute areas of the world to help break the cycle of poverty.
“Whether they are rescuing girls from human-trafficking rings or drilling water wells or educating or providing medical or development help there are already groups doing great work” says Chandler.
The intention of Canadian Artists for the Poor is to provide much-needed funds to those charities. While in the past the group has supported Calgary’s local Mustard Seed 90 per cent of the group’s funding goes toward work being done elsewhere in the world.
Chandler started brainstorming about ways to raise money and discovered there were already more than enough golf tournaments and dinners so she wanted to do something different.
Her first event a wine and cheese evening was held in the fall of 2008. The event was so successful that the group held a second event in the spring of 2009. Chandler says she was very happy with the success of those events but “it was a lot of work.”
She decided it would be more productive to go where the people are rather than try to bring the people to her.
She did some research and discovered that Edmonton had been hosting an Art Walk event for over 15 years and it was quite large and very successful.
“Calgary didn’t have such an event” she says. “What a great opportunity.”
The first Art Walk was held in September 2009 and the second last August. This year Chandler’s group joined forces with Calgary Cultural District and First Thursday a monthly event hosted by a group of Calgary’s downtown arts venues that organize special events on the first Thursday of each month.
Art Walk has already proven successful in its first two of four dates and organizers expect this to continue. The events will feature different types of art displayed on the trendy and popular Stephen Avenue with many art works created in front of Calgarians. Besides helping charities the event showcases local artists Chandler says.
