World Art Chicago - An International Arts Exchange Opportunity

World Art Chicago offers elementary school children from Chicago and around the world the opportunity to create and exhibit artwork. The objective is to provide a forum for exchange and presentation of art created by students, grades 5-8 (ages 10-14) based on specific themes. Art work created in this project can be viewed in the World Art Chicago On-Line Gallery. To view a sample of what an on-line gallery will look like please click on the Sample Gallery tab at the bottom of this page.

Theme for 2009: Olympism

Olympism includes these six Olympic Values:

Hope

Hope for a better future for Chicago and the World

Respect

Respect for the rules, each other and competition

Harmony

Harmony between body, mind and soul; development and sustainability; and amongst the peoples of the world

Friendship

Friendship inspired by playing together without regard for differences

Excellence

Excellence as the goal for every Olympian and Paralympian

Celebration

Celebration of both participation and achievement

Each instructor will design an activity that allows students to create art reflecting their personal interpretations of one of the Olympic Values.

Exchange

The international, arts-based exchanges between students are a key element in World Art Chicago. Teachers in Chicago and International Schools are encouraged to develop activities that nurture these exchanges. When a school decides to participate in World Art Chicago, teacher(s) will be assisted in contacting counterparts abroad, including Chicago's 28 Sister Cities. To learn more about Chicago Sister Cities International and the Schools in the Sister Schools Program, visit www.chicagosistercities.com. Other cities and international schools are welcome to participate in the program as well.

Galleries for Artwork

An on-line gallery will be created here at www.worldartchicago.org where student artwork will be displayed. The on-line gallery can be viewed by school, city (Chicago or International City) or thematic subject.

Teachers can easily document and submit work for exhibition on-line. In order to upload images of students' work to the online gallery you must have the following:

• A computer connected to the internet
• One of the supported web browsers (supported browsers are: Internet Explorer 7+, Firefox 1.5+, or Safari 2.0+)
• Flash player installed
• A camera capable of documenting the artwork and downloading images to your computer (It is your responsibility to document and submit digital images of artwork to be included in the online gallery.)

There will be an exhibition of selected physical artwork in a public gallery space in Chicago. Students, families, teachers and members of the school community are encouraged to attend the opening of this exhibition. Due to limited space, not all artwork will be able to be displayed. Television monitors will display the entire catalogue of art created by students in our International and Chicago Schools. The gallery will be open to the public and provide a magnificent showcase for World Art Chicago.

Partners and Sponsors

This program is a partnership between the City of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Sister Cities International in cooperation with Chicago 2016. Sponsorship for the 2009 project is generously provided by Digication.

How to Participate

Please contact Nancy Cortes (773-553-1952 / nacortes@cps.k12.il.us) with questions regarding Chicago Public School participation.

Please contact Pat Daley (312-742-8226 / pdaley@cityofchicago.org) with questions regarding the on-line gallery.

International schools interested in participating in World Art Chicago should contact Pat Daley (+1-312-742-8226 / pdaley@cityofchicago.org) or click on "Contact Us" at the bottom of this website ( www.worldartchicago.org).

Click here to see a sample of an on-line gallery: http://worldartchicago.digication.com/wacsample/.

For additional information on World Art Chicago and a Registration Form for International Schools please download PDF: World_Art_Chicago_International_Packet.pdf.