Artists for Clean Water

As a Global Citizenship Fellow, I am always looking for ways to connect the community with UNICEF. I’ve also learned that there’s nothing quite like art to get people's attention. And since San Francisco is surrounded by water—and full of artists—I decided to hold a city-wide call for submissions for a water-inspired art show.
Rosie Breen is a U.S. Fund for UNICEF Second Year Global Citizenship Fellow. As a Global Citizenship Fellow, I am always looking for ways to connect the community with UNICEF. And I’ve also learned that there’s nothing quite like art to get people's attention. Last fall, Drew Annis, an instructor at the Academy of Art, and I put together a very successful Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF Create-a-Character project. It was so much fun, we wanted to do something like it again. Since San Francisco is surrounded by water—and full of artists—we decided to hold a city-wide call for submissions for a water-inspired art show. We felt this was a great way to spread the word about UNICEF’s work to provide safe water and sanitation to children worldwide. [slideshow_deploy id='11459'] We received 18 incredible pieces—including one by our very own Linda Naugle, director of the Northwest Regional Office—which we showcased at our opening at INJA, an antique furniture store. At the event, I talked about how UNICEF provides lifesaving clean water and sanitation, and brought in items from the field, like water bladders, water purification tablets and oral rehydration salts. Guests received materials to take home, and were given “Acqua for Life” gift bags provided by the National Sponsor of the UNICEF Tap Project, Giorgio Armani Fragrances. As people moved through the exhibition, they gained a new appreciation of the importance of safe drinking water and proper sanitation. Our art show brought together the San Francisco community to celebrate UNICEF’s belief in a world where ZERO children are deprived of clean water.