Walls of Sorrow/Walls of Hope: An international Journey of Transformation Through Community of Art

This project is a highly creative public engagement, education and collaborative youth art project/installation that is being offered in Toronto May 2008 by the Phoenix Community Works Foundation (FCWF).

The Project will be facilitated by Argentinian artist Claudia Bernardi (Artistic Director of the School of Art and Open Studio in Perquin, El Salvador) and the WSWH Project Coordinator, Phoenix Community Works Foundation) with a team of local artists. They will work together with a diverse group of youth from across the GTA to explore through art global poverty and development issues in countries like El Salvador, Guatemala and Rwanda, along with models for successful arts-based community development projects.

The Walls of Sorrow/Walls of Hope project is being designed to address CIDA’s (UN) Millennium goal to eradicate extreme poverty worldwide by 2015. While there will be some slides and discussions, most of the issues will be explored through and inspired by art activities and/or storytelling opportunities. One of the main goals of the project is to explore and develop meaningful local and global partnerships (across sectors, ethnic groups, ages and countries) that incorporate best practices in community arts and international development.

For more details contact Julie Jarvis, Project Coordinator: julie.jarvis@sympatico.ca