ABOUT | intergenarts

ABOUT

Founded in 2014, I.AM (Intergenerational Arts Movement) is a non for profit arts initiative reclaiming under utilized community spaces to host multi-day festivals rooted in art making, arts celebration and happenings. Led by community arts advocate and movement shaker, Veronica Abrenica, I.AM continues to collaborate with organizations to bridge communities and people together through the arts.

MANDATE

I.AM is deeply rooted in creating spaces and opportunities for art exploration through a collaborative, inclusive framework. The primary goal of our initiative is to foster relationships between artists and the surrounding community with accessible arts programming. Our events are a celebration of togetherness, creativity and empowerment through the arts.

HISTORY

I.AM was created by Veronica Abrenica alongside co-founders Elizabeth Vargas and Patricia Roncone, as a way to create accessible arts programming within the City of Vaughan. In its first year of running, we brought together local artists to showcase and share the process of their work on the beautiful grounds of the hidden JEH Macdonald House. We provided a space for individuals to explore their creative potential, a service we experienced was lacking within the area.

Since our first community arts festival back in 2015, we’ve hosted a total of 150 exhibiting artists, ran over 20 different workshops and brought together over 50 musicians and performing artists through our community arts festivals at the JEH Macdonald House. I.AM partners include the City of Vaughan, Ontario Culture Days and York Region Arts Council to continue the journey as one of the pioneers in the community arts realm in York Region. We have also had the pleasure to work with organizations such as March Of Dimes Canada and their Aphasia and Communication Disabilities Program (ACDP), Toronto based Conscious Minds Coop (CMC) and the Debajehmujig Storytellers of Manitoulin Island.

Going forward, I.AM will continue its partnerships and extend its programming and services within other community based organizations.