Washington Forum on the Future of Our Children
October 31, 2000 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Meeting Report
Attendees included Harriet Mayor Fulbright, Chair, Karen Christensen, National Endowment for the Arts, Lynne Boone Clement, National Arts and Education Information Associates, Gail Dixon, DC Arts Education Foundation, Janet Rice Elman, Association of Youth Museums, Cecilia Garcia, Benton Foundation/Connect for Kids, Judith Rényi, NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education, Howard Spector, Americans for the Arts, Wendy Timmons, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Katherine Zeifang, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation. ICAF staff members attending were Ashfaq Ishaq, Tim Bigelow and Sharon R. Franklin.

Mrs.Fulbright opened the meeting by asking each attendee to identify themselves and the organizations they represented. She further asked if they had received the concept paper on Transforming Our Nationa's Capital into the World Capital into the World Capital of Children's Art & Creativity ("DC Initiative"). She continued by requesting that each attendee give a brief overview of what their respective organizations were doing for children's art, creativity and education in Washington, DC and how these programs could fit into the proposed DC Initiative.

Dr. Ishaq began the discussion starting the DC Initiative aims to make the Washington Metropolitan area the "Silicon Valley" of children's art, creativity and imagination. The Initiatives will have a visual impact on the area by making children's at a part of the landscape. He further stated the DC Initiative woul promote the area as the meetig point out for the world's children, creativity experts, educvators and children's advocacy groups. The Initiative would also have an international scope, promoting multiculturalism, diversity and tolerance, and would link our children directly to the "global village." Dr.Ishaq explained that ICAF was forming a ChildArt & CreativityCoalition to develop and implement the DC Initiative. He was pleased that so many interested agencies were in attendance at the meeting. He concluded that he believed the DC Initiative would enhance the cultural importance of our nation's capital and broaden the arts and cultural renaissance in the Washington Metropolitan area.

Judith Rényi stated that Johns Hopkins Gifted and Talented Youth Program, in the School of Education, could provide additional research information on children and creativity. She added that the DC Initiative could provide a place for hands-on activities, especially since Washington was the top destination for children during Spring and Summer breaks. She stated that NEA could also provide assistance with promoting the DC Initiative during its Fine Arts Caucus. She concluded by suggesting that the DC Initiative explore utilizing the wall space in local airports such as Dulles Airport, especially since Dulles was an International Gateway and under an expansion.

Harriet Fulbright added that as a way to promote the DC Initiative, larger government agencies throughout the region could be persuaded to display ChildArt in their offices and at their meetings, and be encouraged to include a Summit on Creativity and Children. The data gathered from the Summit could later be distributed to the attendees.

Howard Spector stated that March 2001 was Arts Month, and along with Arts Advocacy Days, his organization is also initiating Youth Arts Day to give more visibility to the arts, and this could be a mechanism to promote this Initiative.

Katherine Zeifang stated that the Cafritz Foundation sponsored an initiative with the D.C. Commissions on the Arts and Humanities to have every DC school child attend at least one performing and/or visual art event every year, and this Initiative could be integrated into that program.

Wendy Timmons stated that the office of Communications at EPA could also assist with and publicize the DC Initiative through its Regional Coalitions and international contacts.

Gail Dixon stated that this Initiative must be presented through the schools and churches to reach the parents at the grass roots level. This will enhance the learning experience for the children and the parents. She stated that she would request time on the November 15th DC School Board Meeting agenda for ICAF to present the DC Initiative to the School Board.

Lynne Clements stated that in terms of funding the Initiative, the Coalition should consider inviting the spouses of the executives of corporations within the Metro DC area to co-chair the Initiative, because most of these spouses have school-aged children. She further stated that the DC Art Education Association (DCAEA) would be an excellent partner, which could also directly involve art teachers within the metropolitan area in the Initiative.

Cecilia Garcia stated that Connect for Kids has gotten 750,000 visitors, mostly parents and teachers, and could bring about visibility for the Initiative.

Harriet Fulbright concluded the meeting by thanking everyone for attending and stating that everyone’s input had been excellent and the ICAF staff would follow-up on the suggestions offered and would report on the Initiative’s progress at the next meeting. The meeting concluded at 2:00 p.m.

Notification of the date and time of next meeting of the Washington Forum will be forwarded later. For further information, please contact Tim Bigelow at (202) 530-1000 or tim_bigelow@icaf.org.

The Forum is organized by the International Child Art Foundation on bi-monthly basis. Participation is by invitation.