How Art Shapes the World: Call for Children's Art

Activity: Scavenger Hunt | Other 'Call for Children's Art' Activities
Resources | Art Provoking Discussion
Entry Guidelines | Participating Affiliates
Teachers and Parents Introduction | Table of Contents

Call for Children's Art Online Exhibit: 'How Does Art Shape Your World?'

What was this 'Call for Children's Art' all about?

VSA arts issued this Call for Children's Art through our affiliate network and designated organizations throughout the 50 states and the District of Columbia at the end of September 2000 with a deadline in February, 2001. All youth were invited to participate in the call by submitting artwork depicting the exhibition theme, 'How Does Art Shape Your World?'Entries were made through local participating VSA arts affiliates.

An online exhibit, 'How Does Art Shape Your World?', featuring the artwork generated from the activities related to this Call for Children's Art, is now online in the VSA arts Home Office Online Gallery.

Who was eligible to take part?

All children from Kindergarten to Grade 12 were eligible to participate in this call for art by submitting artwork through their local participatingVSA arts affiliate.

When was this Call taking place?

The Call ran until February 24th, 2001. Following the activity portion of this event, an online exhibit of selected artists from each of the participating VSA arts affiliates, was mounted as the culminating event of this Call for Children's Art. This exhibit will travel around the United States to museums and other venues.

Why do it at all?

To introduce young people to the exciting world of art, we have set challenges that will both teach them about the basics of art and lead them to discover their particular artistic interest.

arched title, 'How does art shape your world?' introducing the theme of the scavenger hunt

The Call for Children's Art is based on the topics stimulated by responses to the following discussion about the nature of art, who does it and where we find it.Visit the Teachers and Parents Introduction for more information.

Section marker for the children's call for art

What is art?

Art is created with skill and imagination. Art submitted to this call for art could be a painting, a drawing, a piece of sculpture or pottery, a collage, photography, beadwork, music, poetry or creative writing, a theatrical performance such as a play or an opera, a film, a cartoon or computer graphic, and so much more. In many cultures, art has a practical purpose and is deeply connected to life, as in spiritual rituals involving masks and dance. Often the process of creating art is just as important as the final artwork. Most importantly,each person's opinion about art is unique and valid.

Section marker for the children's call for art

Who is an artist?

An artist is someone who creates out of his or her imagination. Artists can make you feel emotions, recall memories, or think about the world in a new way. Artists may tell stories through quilts, dance, or book illustrations, decorate homes with furniture or paintings or decorate humans with jewelry or tattoos, teach history or interpret current events through cartoons or painting, or invent materials and products. Anyone can be an artist because everyone has the ability to create.

Section marker for the children's call for art

Where is art?

Art is all around you. There is art inside your home, in books, music, schools, churches, synagogues, mosques, libraries, museums, and in theatrical and musical performances. Art can also be found in the designs of buildings and furniture. Some people believe that nature is art. There is art inside all of us.

Table of Contents

Activities:
- A Scavenger Hunt encouraging research on the Internet
- other activities related to the Scavenger Hunt
- more Call for Children's Art activities relating to the topic, 'How does Art Shape Your World?' based on developmental levels
Resources:
- Web Sites relating to each of the Scavenger Art questions
- helpful arts and education Web sites
- suggestions for meeting an artist
- VSA arts curriculum programs
- the Disability Awareness Guide
- adaptive art techniques
- and the Book Nook.
Guildlines and Entry Forms:
- Eligibility guidelines and how to obtain entry forms.
- VSA arts Affiliates who participated in the Call for Children's Art
Introduction for Teachers and Parents:
- Details about the Call for Children's Art
- discussion topics to augment the theme for the Call
- answers to the Scavenger Hunt questions.