World Art Day, a celebration to promote the development, diffusion and enjoyment of art, was proclaimed at the 40th session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 2019.
Art nurtures creativity, innovation and cultural diversity for all peoples across the globe and plays an important role in sharing knowledge and encouraging curiosity and dialogue. These are qualities that art has always had, and will always have if we continue to support environments where artists and artistic freedom are promoted and protected. In this way, furthering the development of art also furthers our means to achieve a free and peaceful world.
Each year, on 15 April, World Art Day celebrations help reinforce the links between artistic creations and society, encourage greater awareness of the diversity of artistic expressions and highlight the contribution of artists to sustainable development. It is also an occasion to shine a light on arts education in schools, as culture can pave the way for inclusive and equitable education.
There is much to learn, share and celebrate on World Art Day, and UNESCO encourages everyone to join in through various activities such as debates, conferences, workshops, cultural events and presentations or exhibitions.
World Art Day. Art is a wide range of human activities involving the expression of human creativity, conceptual ideas, and imagination. It refers to visual art (painting, sculpture, photography, architecture), performance (dance, theatre), literature, music, cinema, and more. Art is as old as humanity, and every civilization worldwide has had its artistic works!
World Art Day strives for the development, diffusion and enjoyment of art, appreciated for conveying beauty, emotions, but not only. Art can be functional, commemorate or tell stories worth remembering, express the infinite perspectives of human experience, or promote ideas.
There are numerous connections between Nature and art – here are just three examples: via the outstanding art as found at World Heritage Sites and via Wildlife Photography
Nature Journaling uses art to reconnect us with the Natural world all around us….. check out Bethan Burton’s brilliant work.
( Sources: UNESCO; https://www.internationaldays.co )
