About
Mission Statement
The Art For Aid Project works to support First Nations, Inuit and Metis art education programs in Canada through access to quality art supplies and skills labs support. We work to bring forward an awareness of the issues facing remote communities today.
Our symbolic icon and its meaning ...
The bear is a powerful symbol of healing and brotherhood among the First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities. The bear symbolizes healing, wisdom, and strength in the connection to the land through the use of the traditional medicines. All nations have their respective representations of what each colour means to them.
Our bear is comprised of the 5 colours used among the Indigenous communities of Turtle Island (North America) Yellow is East - a place of new beginnings. Red is South - the place of our childhood and of learning. Black is the West - representing healing and the past. The Cree will use the colour blue in the West. The bear itself is White, which is the North - the place of great age, of wisdom and of introspection and deeper thought.
More information on the project can be found at https://artforaid.ca
The Art For Aid Project
The passionate artist behind it all.
Since 2013, Colleen Gray has, been creating and selling her moving and unusual art, using the proceeds to ship art supplies and support skills labs in remote Indigenous schools across Canada.
Many remote schools are lacking in variety when it comes to available art supplies. At Art for Aid we believe strongly in the power of art to invite healing and provide a positive creative vehicle to help inspire and support art exploration for Indigenous youth.
“Art is a powerful creative force but it just can’t happen without tools.”
New and gently used art supplies are collected from August to May through school project involvement, from supporters and from organizations who want to see greater access to learning tools for Indigenous youth. Collection dates are announced on the website and social media. Once the supplies are collected at our small Carleton Place warehouse, Colleen and the Art for Aid volunteers sort and box them, then ship them to that year's roster of schools. The Art For Aid Website - www.artforaid.ca - offers a comprehensive list of supplies that are most needed. Occasionally through social media, Colleen will request special materials that will be used for specific programs being built in a school. In 2019 Art for Aid incorporated a land based learning component to it's support chain.
This ongoing initiative gives everyone an opportunity to help through the purchase and donation of art supplies, through education, or through donations made to Art for Aid through our host agency, Soaring Circle, a Canadian registered charity.
The quality of our fundraising store's art and art products is second to none. All proceeds from the The Art for Aid Shop are used to operate our demanding shipping and operations budget. (Sales of Colleen's original art support her personal income and allow her to continue running Art for Aid as a volunteer)
The Governor General of Canada Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteering
Colleen Gray - June 26, 2019
for her role in supporting art exploration through access to art supplies and creative art programs in remote Indigenous schools through The Art For Aid Project.
Together with your help, we can continue to support access to quality art and program learning tools for Indigenous youth across Canada.