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First Arts Olympiad (1997-2000)

Children's Visions of the Future
The objective of ICAF's first program was to involve the world's children in the celebration of the new millennium. The theme of the art competition was "My World in the Year 2000". Our developmental goal was to encourage children by reassuring them of the promise of a bright future in the third millennium.

More than one million children in 86 countries participated in the global art creation program. The very first national children's art festival in the United States was hosted by ICAF on September 4-8, 1998 in Washington, DC. The international festival took place on the National Mall in Washington, DC from June 29 to July 5, 1999. Delegations from 50 countries participated. First ladies from three different countries presented awards to the young artists at a banquet held in the Ronald Reagan Building.

National festivals and exhibitions were held in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Liberia, Lithuania, Mexico, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

1999 International ChildArt Festival

ICAF's first international festival was held in Washington, DC from June 29 to July 6, 1999. Delegations comprised of the national finalists, their teachers and parents, from 50 countries attended the festival. On June 30, 1999, national child artists from 50 countries collaboratively created the World 2000 Mural on the National Mall, near the U.S. Capitol. This 16 x 24 foot mural, outlined by the map of the world, reflects the dreams, aspirations and concerns of the world's children for this millennium.

ChildArt USA Festival

The first-ever national children's art festival in the United States was hosted by ICAF from September 4-6, 1998. As part of the activities, young American artists collaboratively created the America 2000 Mural on the National Mall, near the U.S. Capitol. The 16 x 24 foot mural, outlined by the map of the United States, reflects the dreams, aspirations and concerns of the children for the United States in the year 2000 and beyond.