Children of all ages and abilities are getting a firsthand lesson on how wonderfully diverse art and life can be in a new art program that groups children from special needs schools and backgrounds with students from other campuses. The goal is to help the different groups of children learn from one another and discover that there are a wealth of unique abilities and personalities out there in the world — all with the help of art.
Organizers for the program say art is one of the most effective ways to bring people together because it acts as a common denominator. While some people might have trouble reading and writing, nearly everyone has the ability to make and understand some form of art. This is a simple way to unite people from different backgrounds — children particularly — and make a learning experience out of it for everyone.
One such program hosted by the organization recently had the theme of a dinner party. Students from different schools got to sit around the table, socialize, eat snacks, draw portraits, and create their own special recipe for artistic pizza out of reusable materials like caps from bottles, string, paints, and other creative mediums. The goal was not to put students too far outside of their own understandings — everyone has sat around a table for a meal before, for example — and to focus on being hands-on and creative.
Though the programming was originally scheduled around young students around preschool ages, the organization behind them recently opened them up to the public, meaning parents can bring their own young children in to get an early taste of art. Crafts inspired by many different art genres, including making collages and working with wood, are on the docket, so children can return to the facility again and again and never get bored — whether it’s working on a completely new project that tests their creative skills or meeting new students from different walks of life. The facility itself serves as a place to inspire creative pursuits, as it is decorated with work from projects completed by young participants in the past. One of the most popular installations is a small room designed to look like a rocket, complete with seating and twinkling lights.
You’re never too young — or too old — to find a place for art in your life. Begin your foray into art today by visiting SGArtClass.com. Browse everything from informative articles to affordable art supplies before getting your creative juices flowing by enrolling in one of the many art classes offered on our website. Try your hand at portrait painting or collage art, or start lessons in landscape painting. If you’re a busy professional, there is even the option of enrolling in online-only classes, meaning you can start and stop your lessons whenever you need to, offering a maximum of convenience.
To read more about the shared artistic experience the group of children enjoyed in Singapore, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/inclusive-art-sessions-draw-kids-together.