About Us

ArtsJunktion mb was incorporated in August 2007 and has Charitable Tax Status.
ArtsJunktion mb is a non-profit organization run by a volunteer Executive Board and funded by Friends, Partners, Corporate Sponsors and Funders.

Mission Statement:

ArtsJunktion mb Inc. is a community-based, charitable organization committed to redistributing reusable materials.

Mandate:
· To support community artists and arts organizations by providing materials, workshop and gallery space
· To provide educational opportunities to community groups and community members on various techniques using recycled materials in art
· To support community artists through promotion of their art through fairly paid employment opportunities
· To gather reusable materials from businesses, organizations and individuals, that would otherwise be considered waste, sort them and make them available to all at no charge
· To reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills
· To raise awareness in the community regarding environmental issues and sustainability
· To support community development by being centrally located and by liaising between businesses, community organizations and community members

Executive Summary

In early 2006 a few Winnipeg individuals envisioned the reuse of ‘junk’ materials by artists and educators. A meeting was held on June 29th, 2006. Information was gathered from similar groups throughout Canada. Local arts and education organizations were approached for their support. ArtsJunktion mb was provided funds for promotional and start-up costs and given pro-bono legal services enabling the incorporation of ArtsJunktion mb on August 1, 2007.

We are located at 312 B William Avenue and are open four times a week during the winter months and three times during the summer months. Within our location, we continue to host Junktion Funktions, and have teamed with Manitoba Education Citizenship and Youth to offer free workshops for teachers on how to implement the new Arts curriculum and sustainability. Through this program we have also hired a coordinator for the space.

ArtsJunktion mb’s continuing goals include hosting artists in residence, as well as providing workshop space for artists, teachers, teachers and their students, and community groups. We provide the community with display space for their art and projects made from reused items. We continue to educate visiting groups about environmental sustainability. We also aim to instate an annual Earth Day Community event.

We continue to explore and access funds through donations, grants and fundraising events. We have drafted a tiered partnership plan allowing individuals to make donations, as well as a sponsorship program aimed at soliciting donations from businesses and organizations. We received our CRA charitable tax status in December 2008.

Membership to ArtsJunktion mb continues to be free to all those who work with art and children.

ArtsJunktion mb, although not a unique concept in Canada, is unique to the Province of Manitoba. ArtsJunktion mb’s mandate is to gather quality materials from businesses and private donors that would otherwise be considered waste, and redistribute these items at no charge to those who work with art or who work with children. These materials are sorted and stored for clients to browse and take at no charge. Although committed to art and education, ArtsJunktion mb does not provide direct programming for children.

ArtsJunktion mb will strengthen the Manitoba community by assisting five target groups:

Artists:

receive free materials
have a public venue to display their art
have free access to art workshop space when available

Educators:

receive free materials for use in their classrooms
have the opportunity to share and receive ideas for using recyclables in their teaching in many areas
have display space for projects using recyclables
have access to materials which they would otherwise not have space to keep
have free access to art workshop space when available

Students:

learn ways to reuse materials and become stewards of the environment
learn how the environment is affected by the reuse of materials
have access to a wide variety of materials
have space to display their art and project works

Community members:

benefit by developing new relationships between the arts community and the general public
develop understanding of the process of art
create connections between artists and aspiring artists
become aware of how donated materials to ArtsJunktion mb can positively impact our environment

Businesses:

ArtsJunktion mb fosters a relationship between businesses, the community and the environment.
provide businesses with an environmentally friendly waste disposal option
promote a better understanding of how businesses can work with and support the educational and arts communities