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Sep 4, 2003 - International ChildArt Festival on September 9-11 on The National Mall

Aug 2003 - ICAF recognized by the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command

Jul 24, 2003 - George Rodrigue's "Honesty" supports 2003 International ChildArt Festival

Oct 19, 2003 - Qatari kid makes it to Arts Olympiad - The Peninsula, Qatar

Sep 24, 2003 - Back from D.C. - Clear Creek Courant, Colorado, US

Sep 16, 2003 - Hampton girl in D.C. for Sept. 11 - The Hampton Union, NH, US

Sep 12, 2003 - Child Art Festival in Washington DC - Voice of America (Bangla language)

Aug 18, 2003 - Girl does Bangalore proud - Times of India, India

Jun 19, 2003 - Power through art - Deccan Herald, India

Jun 16, 2003 - Global Child Artist - The Asian Age, India

1. Every four years ICAF organizes an international children's festival, traditionally on The National Mall in Washington, DC.
2. Delegates from 50 countries came together in Washington at ICAF's 1999 Festival, which attracted first ladies from three countries.
3. The festival is a culmination of ICAF's Arts Olympiad, which begins with global art competitions on ICAF's theme. More than one million children worldwide participated in ICAF's previous competition (1997-1999).
4. The current competition theme is "Me in the New Millennium." The theme encourages children to think of the future and their role in it, and to depict their thoughts with creativity and imagination. The theme invokes vitally important issues for children and society: "How do I see myself?" "How do I see the world?" "How do I want the world to see me?" "What do I want to change?" Participation in the competition is free of charge and restricted to children ages 8 to 12.
5. The 2003 International ChildArt Festival will be held in Washington, DC from September 6th through 13th.
6. Three days of public events are planned on The National Mall (between 7th and 12th Streets, NW): Sept 9 (Mother Earth Day); Sept 10 (Children's Wellness Day); and Sept 11 (Children's Peace Day). Each day from 11 am to 5 pm, programs such as art activities, educational workshops, performances, etc. are free and open to all. A special ceremony will take place from 9:30 am until 10:30 am on September 11th to unite the children to 'commemorate the past and celebrate the future'.
7. Delegates from nearly 40 U.S. states and 70 countries will participate in the festival, as will children and families from the Greater Washington Area.
8. Internationally famous artists like George Rodrigue will paint together with the children and guide the children in creation of murals.
9. The festival is funded through sponsorship. Festival sponsors include the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the Qatar Foundation. Mr. George Rodrigue has created a special silk-screen that fuses ICAF's children's art from around the world with the Blue Dog as a fundraiser to help finance the festival.

1. ICAF is the national art and creativity organization for children in the United States. ICAF also serves as an international umbrella organization that promotes children's creativity and cooperation through the arts.
2. ICAF is an independent, private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization registered and based in the District of Columbia since 1997.
3. Mrs. Harriet Mayor Fulbright is the ICAF Chairman and Dr. Ashfaq Ishaq is the ICAF founder and executive director. Nearly 20 first ladies from around the world, including two former U.S. first ladies, are ICAF Honorary Board Members. Prominent artists and educators serve as ICAF Advisory Board Members.
4. ICAF obtains its funding primarily through individual donations. ICAF is a member of America's Charities and Combined Federal Campaign. ICAF publishes the ChildArt magazine and sells reproductions of artworks and organizes children's art exhibitions to supplement its revenues.
5. ICAF is operated mostly by volunteers and interns and maintains a 1 to 10 staff to volunteer/intern ratio.
6. Other ICAF initiatives in 2003 include display of children's art at the 2003 Annual Meetings of the World Bank and IMF Dubai 2003 and a symposium on the partnership of arts and sciences in Doha, Qatar in October 2003.

Congressional Arts Caucus, U.S. Congress

The ICAF festival has "important national and international implications."

Manling Tong media@icaf.org

Tel: +1 202 530 1000