About us:

About SIX AH WI

Established in 1993, the SIX AH WI Artists’ Collective (SAW) grew out of the recognition that the creative ideas, concepts and works of African-Caribbean-Canadian artists, need to be cultivated, supported and exhibited.   An incorporated not-for-profit visual arts organization, SAW mounts and participates in exhibitions exploring visual art forms from a variety of mediums and disciplines.  A forum through which artists co-create, collaborate, organize and develop, the collective’s  goals include strengthening and inspiring upcoming generations of artists and provoking dialogue around the Diaspora’s contemporary and historic contribution to the arts.

Mandate: To provide effective programs, projects and other arts related services to help African-Caribbean-Canadian artists develop professional arts practices.

Mission Statement: We are committed to creating visual art, planning exhibitions and organizing programs and activities that contribute to the development of Canada’s and the world’s artistic mosaic.

Collective Statement: We explore the historic and contemporary dimensions of the African-Caribbean-Canadian experience through the visual arts.  While our styles, personal histories and places of origin are diverse, we are committed to producing art that; inspires others, supports intellectual discourse, educates and encourages the collection and preservation of works by African-Caribbean-Canadian artists.

Goals:

• To foster a culture of excellence that will lead to the recognition and celebration of African-Caribbean-Canadian artists’ contributions to the visual arts landscape in Canada and the world.
• To provide a space for inspiration, where emerging artists connect, share ideas and have access to appropriate information, can exhibit their works and derive the benefits of membership in the SIX AH WI Artists’ Collective Association.
• To recognize and accept that unity through the devotion of a purpose is a philosophy that supports collaboration between artists, art institutions, funders, patrons, government policy makers and the media, and that adhering to this philosophy is a requirement for the development and sustenance of artistic communities.
• To create artistic concepts that support creative thinking, individual and collective development within a trans-cultural context.
• To foster an environment where discipline and consistency leads to the development and staging of innovative exhibitions.
• To show and document the historical and contemporary evolution and intellectual development of Africa-Caribbean-Canadian artists by producing publications, staging exhibitions, workshops, seminars and conferences.