International Child Art Foundation
Established in 1997 partnered with the NZ Children's Art House Foundation and organizes the World Children's Art Festival every five years.
ICAF inspires students to boldly step beyond the boundaries set before them to improve the world.
"If we are to reach real peace in this world… we shall have to begin with children."
Mahatma Gandhi
Artolution
Art is the Solution
A global organization working with countries in trauma and in need, establishing murals in refugee camps and cities across the world.
Initiated by Max Freieder a USA student who visited New Zealand studying our Children's Art Houses. Max returned home to begin this global initiative modelled on the success of the NZ Children's Art House Foundation and Shona Hammond Boys international work for over 30 years.
Our Vision
A world where collaborative art-making
is a globally implemented tool to strengthen and transform communities.
We provide collaborative art-making experiences to our participants in vulnerable communities, strengthening mental health, social inclusion and livelihoods. Artolution programming is led by inspiring local Teaching Artists.
Murals & Sculpture
Mural projects begin with group discussions and sketching sessions, leading to the creation of a collective design. Then the painting begins! Each art-making session explores issues relevant to the participants’ lives. The final mural features dozens of small, personal works of art within the context of one large, cohesive mural. Select projects also include the creation of interactive musical sculptures made from recycled materials, known as the Foundstrument Soundstrument project.
Performance
Theater and dance projects begin with workshops focused on developing a story, choreography and theme, all of which reflect the lives of the participants. The group rehearses and improves their piece until the final day, when they perform it publicly to their families, friends and community. Workshops explore storytelling fundamentals, character development, and expression through movement.
Syrian students in Jordan, in front of the mural they helped design and paint
“We discovered our strengths and abilities that we did not recognize before.We are now able to express our feelings and thoughts through illustration and colors.”
- Asma, age 16, student from Jordan
Our sincere thanks to our sponsors
