Page 5 - Child Art Magazine Transformative Experiences

Our flagship program remains the Arts Olympiad, which over the

past twenty years has grown into the world’s largest art program

for schoolchildren. The idea behind the Olympiad was simple:

Create an innovative lesson plan for schools worldwide so that
every student can learn about creativity and empathy and then

produce art on a single theme.

The students whose art is selected as strongly believe that their stories will inspire you
masterpieces are invited as “official delegates” by transporting you to new places and creative
to the World Children’s Festival (WCF) in spaces, where you can see how their creativity
Washington, D.C. The WCF is held every four mirrors your own imagination. The journey begins
years as the “Olympics” of children’s imagination in New York, with 13-year-old entrepreneur Michael
to honor the Arts Olympiad winners. It’s an Wong. After that, we hop over to Hong Kong and
opportunity for American children to become meet up with Fiona Chung, a twelve-year old world
more aware of the world, and for the children explorer. This journey ends with Carson Beyl, a
from around the world to make new friends and designer, in Asheville, North Carolina.
share their cultures. The three-day festival and
the awards banquet on the fourth day comprise a This issue is not just about the WCF artists, but
transformative experience for the participants. The your own transformation as well. By taking in the
WCF changes them forever. They are no longer arc of each creative youngster featured here, you
only creative but become empathic as well. They can learn something deep about yourself. You can
do not fear the world but embrace it instead. start your own journey to become a creative and
empathic learner and leader.
The WCF brings the human race together through
the children to celebrate “Creativity, Diversity, HAPPY TRAVELS!
and Unity.” The Arts Olympiad winners lead their
own workshops, learn from their peers, and often
also teach something useful to their parents
and teachers. They become the champions for
peace and social justice, the entrepreneurs for
sustainable prosperity. Their stories and their
art can be best told by them, so we invite you
along on this journey with past and present
WCF participants.

In this issue, we start with the 2015WCF, then
journey back interviewing participants of all
previous WCFs and finally the 1998 ChildArt USA,
the first national art festival in U.S. history. You’ll be
introduced to school children, university students
and finally a few working professionals. We

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