6. Bringing Artists Together Across Canada to Celebrate Water

Artists for Water Logo

Swim Drink Fish has been lucky enough to work with artists across Canada for the last 12 years as part of our annual Artists for Water fundraiser. Artists for Water is a fundraiser in support of Swim Drink Fish. It is an evening where our community comes together to celebrate our shared love of water, nature, and make sure we continue to advocate for a future where everyone has access to clean water. 

The support we receive from Artists for Water makes our work possible. We are building a community of people across Canada who are working to protect and restore our waters. 

Musical roots run deep in Swim Drink Fish, as the late Gord Downie was a huge voice in our organization, someone who gave our work vision, meaning and force in Canada. Gord performed at several of our events, along with other great musicians, including Sarah Harmer, Serena Ryder, Matthew Goode, Feist, Tom Wilson, the band Shaye, Dan Mangan, Daniel Lanois, Donna Grantis & Friends, and several others.  

Over 250 works of art have been donated to our auctions by both emerging and world-renowned Canadian artists. Some notable artists include Edward Burtynsky, Martine Côté, Kim Dorland, Willo Downie, Steve Driscoll, Michael Dumontier, and Neil Farber, Quinn Hopkins, Joshua Jensen-Nagle, Nicole Katsuras, James Lahey, and Dara Vandor.

As the movement has grown and evolved over the years, artists have become guides for exploring our vision of a world where communities can swim in their local waters without risking their health, drink the water flowing from their taps without fear of illness, and where fish and wildlife thrive in their natural environment. 

Even though artists often have the least to give, they are the first to contribute. A musician writes a song, a painter creates a painting, a storyteller crafts a message, and the Swim Drink Fish movement builds communities where everyone has access to clean water. 

These incredible works have helped us reach millions of people who are passionate about safeguarding the waters that we depend so deeply on.