World Children's Festival 2011
Since 1997 ICAF has organized the World Children’s Festival in Washington, DC. The 3-day event – the world’s largest international celebration of children’s creativity and imagination – takes place every four years on The National Mall opposite the U.S. Capitol and is free and open to the public. Hosted to honor the Arts Olympiad winners from each U.S. state and territory and from nearly 100 participating countries, the festival attracts at least 10,000 attendees. The upcoming festival in June 2011 is a timely and important celebration for organizations, companies and leaders to demonstrate their support for children and a better future for all.
[P]eople who might not speak a single word of the same language, who might not have a single shared experience, might still be drawn together when their hearts are lifted by the notes of a song, or their souls are stirred by a vision on a canvas. That is the power of the arts -- to remind us of what we each have to offer, and what we all have in common; to help us understand our history and imagine our future; to give us hope in the moments of struggle; and to bring us together when nothing else will. - First Lady Michelle Obama, G-20 Pittsburgh Summit, January 2009
More than 300 educational, cultural and business leaders as well as artists, scientists, technologists and Olympians will host free workshops and activities, interact with the children, listen to their concerns, play and paint with them, inspire them and be inspired. But the children are our celebrities. They stage the festival and serve as event MCs. Young artists, musicians, dancers, and performers from across the globe showcase their talents, learn from each other, and create a nexus for the future.
The festival’s educational programming integrates the arts with science, sport and technology for the promotion of creative, peaceful and healthy cultures. Drawing upon ICAF’s Peace through Art approach, featured in the December 2006 issue of U.K.’s leading medical journal The Lancet, the instruction on festival’s first day [Health + Environment Day] is informational, spotlighting common concerns shared by children; the educational framework on the second day [Creativity + Imagination Day] is participatory, kindling children’s inherent talents and potential; and the training on the third day [Peace + Leadership Day] is inspirational, encouraging children to embrace lifelong creativity and empathy and dedicate themselves to building peaceful, prosperous and healthy communities.