The International Child Art Foundation | 1350 Connecticut Avenue, NW | Washington, DC 20036-1702

NEWS RELEASE

September 04, 2003

CONTACT: Media Relations
Phone: (202) 530-1000
Fax: (202) 530-1080
E-mail: media@icaf.org
Url: www.icaf.org

International ChildArt Festival on September 9-11 on the National Mall

WASHINGTON, DC - The International Child Art Foundation (ICAF) announced today that Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter, Co-chair of the Congressional Arts Caucus will open the 2003 International ChildArt Festival on The National Mall at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 9, 2003. The festival will include the largest exhibit in the world of children's art from around the world since the 9/11 attacks, and collaborative murals that children will create to "paint a new future for the world."

"Creative young Americans representing 30 U.S. states and territories, chosen through an art competition, will host exceptionally talented child artists from around the world at the festival on 7th to 14th Streets of The National Mall from September 9 through 11, 2003," said Mrs. Harriet Mayor Fulbright, Chairman of ICAF. The event has "important national and international implications," Congresswoman Slaughter wrote in a letter to all congressional representatives inviting their participation in the 2003 Festival.

The three-day festival focuses on important universal themes:
Sept. 9 Mother Earth Day - environmental education and natural arts
Sept. 10 Children's Wellness Day - health education and the arts of self-expression
Sept. 11 Children's Peace Day - peace education and collaborative arts & crafts

The festival on the Mall will be open and free to the public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for September 11 when a special program will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Special guests include Mayor Anthony Williams, Lt. Gen. Joseph Cosumano (US Army Space and Missile Defense Command), and Vice Admiral Charles Moore (Navy Pentagon). A moment of silence will be observed at 10:02 a.m. in memory of the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Mayor Williams will issue an official proclamation declaring September 11 as the "Children's Peace Day."

The setup on The National Mall will include an exhibition of the winning entries on the theme Me in the New Millennium, which reflects children's concerns and hopes for the future. A Festival School will provide educational workshops and leadership training, whereas hands-on art activities will take place in the Arts & Crafts Studio. The National Science Center's Mobile Discovery Center will travel from Augusta, Georgia, to the festival. A US Army 'peace through art' totem pole will also be exhibited.

Internationally renowned artist George Rodrigue will guide the children and make murals with them. Many celebrities and cultural leaders will attend the festival to "commemorate the past and celebrate the future."

Every four years, ICAF launches an Arts Olympiad for children which begins with local and national art competitions and culminates in the world's largest international children's celebration, traditionally held on The National Mall. ICAF is the national art and creativity organization for children in the United States. ICAF also serves as the only international umbrella organization promoting children's creativity and cooperation through the arts. Details are posted at www.icaf.org.

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The International Child Art Foundation, based in Washington, DC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. ICAF's mission is to prepare children for a creative and cooperative future through the arts, so children can lead us into a safer, better world.