April 30, 2007

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

THE ARTS OLYMPIAD FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

The International Child Art Foundation (ICAF) announced today the finalists for the third Arts Olympiad, the world’s largest and most prestigious arts-based initiative for children ages 8 to 12.

The third Arts Olympiad (2005-2008) commenced in late 2005 and early 2006 in classrooms around the world with a free lesson plan to introduce the ICAF’s innovative “artist-athlete” ideal of a creative mind and healthy body. The structured lesson plan resulted in school art competitions on the theme My Favorite Sport to encourage artistically inclined children to develop their physical abilities and inspire athletically inclined children to be creative. Two media were allowed: paintings and digital artwork. Teachers were asked to involve their students in the selection of the school finalist artwork.
More than three million children produced artworks on the theme My Favorite Sport under the third Arts Olympiad. In China alone, the Shanghai Cultural Development Foundation, ICAF’s country partner, collected more than one million artworks. The artworks from 50 countries and 30 U.S. states were selected as finalists to be displayed on the National Mall at the World Children’s Festival on June 23-25, 2007. Artworks submitted from a few additional countries and U.S. states and territories are currently under review, and if selected, these works will be added to the finalists.

The selected works are masterpieces, depicting Olympic and non-Olympic sports. Children not only painted popular sports but also chess and traditional games. The finalist from New Zealand, 9-year-old Mathew Bastion, invented a new game “Held,” which has since become popular in his school. The ICAF partner in Italy, CarpeDiem, in collaboration with the University of Rome published a book titled, “Psychological Interpretation of Top 100 Children's Art Works for Arts Olympiad.” At Spring Branch Independent School District in Houston, Texas, physically and mentally handicapped children painted and played sport, and were presented medals by Eric Thomas, a 2000 track and field USA Olympian.

Most of the Arts Olympiad finalists will represent their home countries and states at the World Children’s Festival in Washington this June. Some are unable to attend because of financial reasons or the impossibility of securing a U.S. visa, as is the case with the finalist from Thailand, ten-year old Jeng, whose parents died from AIDS and who suffers from HIV and lives in an orphanage.

“We are very pleased with the third Arts Olympiad results and the opportunity this global program provides to all children,” said Dr. Ashfaq Ishaq, ICAF Executive Director. “We invite everyone interested in children’s creative development and better health to view the amazing collection of international works on the theme My Favorite Sport posted on our website, www.icaf.org.”

The ICAF serves as the national art and creativity organization for American children and the only international art for the world’s children. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization registered in April 1997 in the District of Columbia, the ICAF integrates the art with science, sport and technology to nurture children’s creativity and develop empathy - preconditions for a more just, prosperous and nonviolent world. To demonstrate your support for the children and their World Festival, kindly make a donation to ICAF and mail your check today to the International Child Art Foundation, 1350 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA.

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