Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Graduate hosts silent auction for World AIDS Day
Nick Renn Nichol graduated with a BA (Hons) degree in Peace Studies and International Relations in 2008 and established aptART with Samantha Robinson in 2011. aptART is an organisation of artists, activists and educators working to engage vulnerable children worldwide in the arts through interactive workshops, public murals and exhibitions.
The free event will showcase work produced through aptART's work in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo, helping children to address the HIV and AIDS epidemic and ongoing conflict affecting their communities. It will take place at Leeds Metropolitan's Broadcasting Place building on Thursday 29 November from 5-9pm and will include a drinks reception. The exhibition will remain open until Sunday 2 December.
Nick commented: "aptArt has had an amazing first year. To see the work on the ground is amazing. The children really come to life and hopefully we are providing a fun, rewarding way to raise awareness of this crucial challenge. Every child that leaves an aptArt project understanding the risk from HIV/AIDS is one step forward in the global challenge to combat this epidemic."
Dr Alex Nunn, Head of Politics and Applied Global Ethics at Leeds Metropolitan and former tutor of Nick, added: "aptArt's success over the first year is proof of what can be achieved with a good idea, hard work and dedication to a good cause. Mozambique has one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in the world. UNICEF estimates that around 1.6 million Mozambicans are living with HIV or AIDS, more than 90,000 of them are children under 15. Raising the awareness of children before they reach sexual maturity is crucial to controlling the problem. It is immensely satisfying to see one of our graduates taking on this challenge and really proves the value of the courses we teach."
The event will also serve to raise funds for aptART's projects beginning in January 2013. For further information about the charity, please visit www.aptart.org or to book a place at the free event, please contact e.kijewski@leedsmet.ac.uk or 0113 812 5288.