Children’s Art Day 2009
Children's Art Day was set up as part of the Artworks programme run by the Clore Duffield Foundation. It is the national
programme encouraging children, young people, families and teachers to engage with visual art. In 2009 Children's Art Day took
place during Shine week - a national schools festival celebrating talent in all young people. In 2009 231 events took place.
Taking into account preditcted attendance at all 231 events it is estimated that over 51,300 children and their family members
were involved in Children's Art Day activities.
How did it work?
Art galleries and museums, schools, youth and community organisations, libraries and other organisations across the UK were
invited to devise and submit ideas for participatory visual arts events. Events were aimed at under- 19s and in some cases
their families, and all took place during the week 6-12 July. Some happened within schools or group, many were open to the public.
The first 150 organisers to register an event were able to claim £50 after the week, to help support their event. All
participating venues received balloons and stickers with Children's Art Day branding, and were been offered support to
attract media coverage for their events.
All London-based Children's Art Day events registered before 15 May 2009 were automatically listed in a specially commissioned
Time Out supplement (which can be downloaded in the 'Press' section below).
Events
You can view events in 2009 open to families here
or school-only events here.
Children's Art Day Gallery
Click here to see a selection of artworks from Children's Art Day events in 2009
and to listen to XpressitFM's radio broadcast which was part of their Children's Art Day event.
Design Museum
Ffotogallery
Keats_House
Press
A selection of press coverage from Children's Art Day 2009 can be downloaded
here.
You can download the commissioned Children's Art Day 2009 Time Out London supplement
here.
Feedback
There was excellent feedback from Children's Art Day in 2009. Over 99% of event organisers surveyed said they would be
interested in organising Children's Art Day activities in the future.
Participants said:
“Fantastic day!”
“I had fun drawing pictures. I didn't think the museum would be so fun and have lots to do”
“Love having a chance to do something different”
“It was inspiring seeing my child create art”
“The tutors were excellent”
Organisers said:
“For many, it was their first time experiencing Children's Art Day. Passing adults joined in as well.”
“Parents were positive about viewing their children's work”
“All participants said they would take part in another session”
“Children enjoyed the activity- some spent all session developing the technique”
“Families [were] grateful for local, free event as an alternative day out.”
“Many families asked about our other regular events, so we hope to work with them again”
“People were really surprised and inspired by the profile of the exhibition and were proud of their children who took part”
“Participants were very complementary on what was being offered.”
“Appealing to everyone that the event was free”
Supporters said:
“My cousin Jane is a brilliant sculptor and her Fun Clay Day is going to be a whole lot of fun.”
Sir Paul McCartney
“Art is an essential part of all our lives and it is never too early or too late to begin. Children are never innocent, but their
fresh vision opens our eyes to the world... Children's Art Day has created a new focus for celebrating achievement in the visual arts.”
Sir Nicholas Serota
“Art is the ultimate playground: a place for fun, adventure and innovation. With so many school art programmes under threat
Children's Art Day is a vital way to engage children and young people in something which will bring them lifelong pleasure.”
Loyd Grossman
“...a vibrant reminder of the extraordinary and unlimited creativity and ingenuity of children and young people, and their
capacity to imagine and fashion futures different to our own.”
Peter Jenkinson OBE
2009 Partners
In 2009 Children's Art Day took place during Shine week - a national festival celebrating talent in all young people. Children's Art
Day in 2009 was managed by engage and supported by the Clore Duffield Foundation, the Mayor of London and Visit London.
Previous Children's Art Day events
In 2007 ninety-eight organisations ran events as part of Children's Art Day. To find out more about events in 2007 and
view a gallery of winners in previous years, click here.