Children from Around the World Create Masterpieces for World Leaders Including Mandela, Bush and Gates

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The most creative children from around the world gathered in Washington, DC on June 23-25, 2007 to create spectacular artwork for global leaders, including David Beckham, Jeffrey Bezos, President and Mrs. Bush, Bill Gates, Herbert Hainer, Robert A. Iger, Jeff Immelt, Steve Jobs, Nelson Mandela, Sheikha Mozah Al Missned, Pierre Omidyar, Larry Page, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and Jerry Yang.

This was part of the World Children’s Festival, a three-day celebration on the National Mall that marked the 10th anniversary of the International Child Art Foundation (ICAF). Approximately 10,000 people attended, making it the largest celebration of children’s creativity and imagination in the world.

Highlights of the Festival included:

First exhibition of the Third Arts Olympiad winners: Winning artwork by children on the theme My Favorite Sport, selected from more than three million entries, was displayed across from the National Gallery of Art. Seventy-four finalists from U.S. states and foreign countries attended the Festival, accompanied by teachers and parents.

Performances by more than 200 young musicians, dancers and performers from around the world: Also educators with leading universities and experts from Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center and the U.S. Forest Service gave workshops to create a unique learning experience.

LEGO®’s Creation Nation: Children built LEGO mosaics to fill up a map of the United States the size of a basketball court.

Distinguished Speakers and Sponsors: Including Representative Madeleine Z. Bordallo of Guam; General Jim Campbell, Director of the Army Staff; and Fred Lazarus IV, President of the Maryland Institute College of Art. Sponsors included Adidas, Disney and LEGO.

Press Coverage from Around the World: Including CNN, Fox national and local, Voice of America, Al Jazeera, Sharjah TV, Canal Futura, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, and Kuwait News.

Kennedy Center: Performances by youth groups from Serbia and Nicaragua.

First World Children’s Award: Children nominated the following creative leaders in the fields of business, academia, politics, community relations and volunteerism to receive the inaugural World Children’s Awards, designed by Tiffany & Co.: LEGO Systems Inc. (creative company), UC State College of Design (creative institution), Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (supportive politician), Portia Davidson (community outreach), and Salma Hasan Ali (volunteerism).

“Over the past decade ICAF has been at the forefront of efforts to foster children’s innate creativity,” said Dr. Ashfaq Ishaq, ICAF executive director. “Our Arts Olympiad program and educational festivals are designed to harness children’s imagination for positive social change. The World Festival promotes trust, friendship and cultural empathy by engaging American children, our finest ambassadors, in the development of future global leaders.”

The ICAF integrates the arts with science, sport and technology for the development of children’s creativity and empathy -- preconditions for a more just, prosperous and nonviolent world.

Children from around the world created artwork for world leaders including Nelson Mandela, George W. Bush and Bill Gates at the World Children’s Festival in Washington D.C. on June 23-25, 2007. Presented by the International Child Art Foundation (ICAF), the festival marks the tenth anniversary of the foundation. Approximately 10,000 people attended, making it the largest celebration of children’s creativity and imagination in the world.

ICAF, 1350 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA, Tel. +1 202 530 1000, Fax + 1 202 530 1080, www.icaf.org

Children From Around the World Create Masterpieces for World Leaders Including Mandela, Bush and Gates

The most creative children from around the world gathered in Washington, DC on June 23-25, 2007 to create spectacular artwork for global leaders, including David Beckham, Jeffrey Bezos, President and Mrs. Bush, Bill Gates, Herbert Hainer, Robert A. Iger, Jeff Immelt, Steve Jobs, Nelson Mandela, Sheikha Mozah Al Missned, Pierre Omidyar, Larry Page, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and Jerry Yang... Download full article