This new workbook on 191 ways how children see the world is aimed at young school children who visit the exhibition 191 children’s views of the world at Caraffa Stores, Cottonera Waterfront.
Designed and created by students attending the Art Programme within the Department of Arts and Languages in Education (DALE), Faculty of Education, University of Malta, the workbook introduces children to the idea of finding things out and to produce art work of their own.
“The general idea is to encourage Maltese children to appreciate the work of others and to understand the cultural contexts in which these children’s drawings from 191 United Nations countries were produced,” said Dr Raphael Vella, Art Coordinator, Dale within the Faculty of Education, University of Malta.
“School children will experience the exhibition as an adventure, a process of discovery. Children will try finding specific items in the drawings, jot down their own feelings about these paintings, and work hands on in paint, collage, crayons or clay,” explained Dr Vella.
The original drawings by children from 191 member states of the United Nations, including one drawing representing Malta by Chardian Camilleri, express a thirst for peace, security and recognition. An initiative by GenevaWorld Association and organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts in collaboration with the Ministry for Tourism and Culture, the exhibition will be touring the several United Nations countries, and Malta has been the first country to host this exhibition outside Geneva.
The Art Workshops for secondary schools are being organised by Edukarti, an art students’ association within the Faculty of Education. Edukarti organises various art exhibitions, events and outreach programmes related to the visual arts. University students following the second, third and fourth year of study have prepared a series of lessons based on children’s paintings that can be seen in the exhibition 191 children’s views of the world. These lessons were incorporated in a workbook which young school children can take home with them.
The B.Ed. (Hons) art students who have participated in the workbook and workshops include Kristina Borg, Darren Tanti, Lucienne Lughermo, George James Cutajar, William Hayman, Charlene Agius, Isabel Cutajar, Laura Cachia, Maria Micallef, Louise Mallia, Emanuel Bonnici, Clive Gerada, Massabielle Zammit, Alexia Mercieca, Katia Borg Sant, Fiorella Zammit, Carmen Sultana, Adrian Scicluna, Ian Coleiro, Victoria Vella, and Rachel Theuma.
The exhibition 191 children’s views of the world is also being held in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Employment, the Foundation for Educational Services, DALE in Faculty of Education from the University of Malta, Agenda Bookshop and Birgu Local Council and sponsored by the Embassy of Switzerland in Rome and the Consulate General of Switzerland in Malta, Cottonera Waterfront Group, Malta Tourism Authority, Air Malta, Zaffarese Exhibitions and Events Ltd and BPC.
The exhibition is open daily from 9am to 7pm on weekdays (Mondays to Fridays) and from 9am to 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays and will be up until 17 December. Entrance to the exhibition is free of charge.