Arts For Global Development Inc Team

Arts For Global Development, Inc.

TreasurePostcards'08 | Flier | Call 4 Participation | Event Invitation | Catalogue (pdf. file)

At the educational event Alice Hsiu-Ching Lin, Program Officer (Grassroots Business Initiative Department at International Finance Corporation, IFC) emphasized the importance of 'Pangea*' in facilitating a valuable market place for those creative works from transitional countries; and Kristin Beyard, Membership Coordinator (The Crafts Center-CHF International), shared information about the Crafts Center's field programs and international network that are dedicated to supporting low-income artisans. The founder and president of Arts for Global Development, Nil Sismanyazici - Navaie talked about the significance of arts and creative industries in development while briefly touching on an international poverty reduction campaign, 'Stand Up' , that has been organized by the UN Millennium Campaign in collaboration with the World Guinness World Record. Navaie also presented the TreasurePostcards project which was launched in September 2006 as an arts contest.

The winner of the TreasurePostcards arts contest is an American artist Abigail Doan who dwelled upon the cultural heritage theme in her artwork, titled "What Remains". Doan states:

"What Remains is an examination of loss and future archaeology … By cutting away portions of the postcard I wanted to highlight the challenges involved in creating true cultural cohesion and lasting treasures for native peoples. What insight we would have into this process if no archaeological or historical remains 'remained' at all? How would we stitch together the remains of a site like this without our knowledge of how things have already played out? How can we create value without possessing such treasures?"

'STANDING UP against poverty with arts and culture' was one of the aims of the program that brought international arts lovers together at Pangea on November 16, 2006.

Arts for Global Development, Inc. and the Crafts Center at CHF International co-organized an educational event titled "Arts, Culture, and Economic Development?" to discuss the role of arts in the economic development field and highlight the significance of preserving and protecting humankind's major cultural heritage sites and artistic creations.

The event showcased the TreasurePostcards exhibit which reveals the visual voices of artists from around the world. Participating artists focused on global issues including cultural preservation, education, creative identity, HIV/AIDS, peace, and economic empowerment. During the event visitors were able to view 27 artists' work as well as browse through the TreasurePostcards catalogue that introduces all artists; close to 100 images of 46 artists from 26 countries.

The international crowd at Pangea was able to enjoy the symbolic TreasurePostcards exhibit as well as listen to the event's guest speaker, CEO and President of Anatolian Artisans, Yildiz Yagci. In her speech, Ms Yagci addressed the important role arts and culture have in individual and community level development, and provided successful case examples of artistic micro-credit programs from the Southeast Anatolian region. Yagci also showed a documentary film about a cultural tour that was organized in the Northern Black Sea coast of Turkey. Event participants were able to discuss the arts, culture and economics; enjoy the creative atmosphere, and purchase artists' and artisans' work from across the globe!

*Pangea is an artisans market and café located in Washington DC. The event was organized in support with Pangea. For more information about the "Arts, Culture and Economic Development?" event please contact Art4Development.Net at info@art4development.net.

TreasurePostcards that were exhibited at Pangea (until May 2007):

Two Orchid flowers - Catleya by Anamar Alverez, Venezuela
We also live Here by Julio Quispe "Quispejo", Peru
Mother and Child by Mathi Durga, India
Struggle for Water by Mathi Durga, India
Mugullu by Mathi Durga, India
Same Value by Nuri Morillo Roig, Venezuela
You and Me and Everybody by Sandra Betancort, Venezuela