Programs > Creativity > The Arts Olympiad
The Arts Olympiad
Our art program empowers students to avert declining creativity and rising obesity risks.

Owen Omozore, age 10, New York

London Robinson (12, Georgia)

Kristina Gechevska (11, Bulgaria)

Arjaa Raghu (11, Illinois)
An innovative art program for students aged 8 to 12, the Arts Olympiad counters the “4th-grade slump” in children’s creativity, discovered by E. F. Torrance, a pioneer in creativity research. The program introduces students to the "Artist-Athlete Ideal" of the creative mind and healthy body (mente sana in corpo sano) to awaken the dormant "inner-artist" or the slumbering "inner-athlete." The revised self-image as “artist-athletes” solidifies when students depict themselves as "artist-athletes" in their works of art. As the number of "artist-athletes" increases and empathy grows, the school becomes a more creative, healthy, and peaceful community.
7th Arts Olympiad


We invite schools, after-school programs, art studios, and the homeschooled to participate in the 7th Arts Olympiad, the world’s largest art program for schoolchildren.
Please download and implement the lesson plan, organize an art contest, select the winner, and mail us their artwork. The paintings or drawings must be 18x24 inches (45x65 cm).

Deadline: Your mail to ICAF must be postmarked on or before April 1, 2024.

U.S. Arts Olympiad Lesson Plan: [English pdf]
Global Arts Olympiad Lesson Plan: [English pdf] [French pdf]
7th Arts Olympiad
A distinguished panel of judges in Washington, D.C. will select the 7th Arts Olympiad winners, who will be invited as “Official Delegates” representing their school communities at the 7th World Children's Festival on June 30 - July 2, 2024, at The National Mall across the U.S. Capitol.

While the Global Arts Olympiad is free of charge and the festival has zero registration fee, the delegates make their own travel, accommodation, meals, and local transport arrangements.