The Robert S. Wennett and Mario Cader-Frech Foundation have joined forces to launch Y.ES, which is an initiative dedicated to the support and development of Salvadoran contemporary art.

In El Salvador and abroad, the ambitious program promotes critical debate, cross-border collaboration, and diverse community interactions. Y.ES describes itself as a nomadic contemporary art program, and it helps to grow ideas though projects and programs. Their mission is to support education and ambitious developments.

The Foundation's key art program, Y.ES stands for generation Y in El Salvador, and it supports contemporary art that originates in El Salvador. The program has assembled a seasoned team of council members to offer guidance, including the founders, Salvadoran artists Simon Vega and Mayra Barraza, and El Salvador native Carolina Alvarez-Mathies, Communications Director at New York City's El Museo del Barrio, and several others who have inserted Y.ES into the international dialogue.

"We are fortunate to have been able to make an impact on the art community of El Salvador, and look forward to collaborating with the program's partners and many friends to continue to make a meaningful contribution," said Robert S. Wennett and Mario Cader-Frech, according to a press release.

Y.ES director and chief curator is Claire Breukel, formerly of contemporary art program at the Art Museum of El Salvador. Breukel has helped to advance the program, which includes exhibitions, art trips, guests-in-residence programs, artist exchanges and artist publications, as well as workshops and career support for artists in El Salvador.

November marks the launch of the initiative, made more valuable by artist Mark Dion and Deana Haggag, director of The Contemporary, Baltimore, who will visit for a week and meet with six Salvadoran artists at Lake Coatepeque. They will offer insight into conceptualizing public works of art, alternative research methodologies, and tips on showing and selling work.

Additionally, Y.ES has planned to launch an exhibition in Miami, which will feature an international selection of installations that explore important aspects of the Salvadoran experience. Simon Vega (El Salvador) will display found-object social sculpture, and Crack Rodriguez (El Salvador) and Regina Jose Galindo (Guatemala) will showcase action-based video works. Also, Naama Tsabar (Israel/New York) will present a music-inspired performance.