Children in Third World Countries and Orphanages Get Empowered by Art and Music

Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWire) -- 10/01/2010 -- The Children’s Art Village, a 501(c)3 not for profit organization is creating an impact by helping orphans around the world connect to themselves and to their creative spirits, through art and music. The organization's leadership team has been working to bring art curricula to orphaned children around the world since 2005. Beginning in Vietnam, CAV has branched out, and launched an art program at the Village of Hope orphanage in Ghana in the August of 2007. The journey continued in 2008 to include an art camp in Cambodia.

In it’s fourth year, the Children’s Art Villagehas already set up sustainable Arts and Music Programs in Ghana, India, Vietnam and plans to include Haiti, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Latin America in their future.

In May of 2010, the Children's Art Village, in partnership with the Aadhi Arts Academy, launched its first art and music program at the Sevalaya Orphanage, located 1.5 hours outside of Chennai, India (southeast India). Their team of 6 American and 11 Indian artist teachers hosted a week-long program for over 200 orphans. Classes included: painting, paper mache, mixed medium art, mandala art, sculpting, water coloring, mural art, photography, Indian classical & folk dance, American music class and Indian classical singing class. With heavy emphasis on sustainable art and music programs, The Children's Art Village, working with the Sevalaya, has placed a full-time music teacher at the orphanage to teach classical Indian singing to over 1,500 children at the Sevalaya School.

The Children’s Art Village will be returning each year to the Sevalaya for a week-long fall program. This will enable American artist teachers to sponsor, travel, volunteer and join local Indian artist teachers to participate in a week of connection and empowerment for all involved.

The Children’s Art Village has been invited to exhibit 45 art pieces at the AT&T Gallery of Children’s Art, located at the Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries in St. Louis, MO. Each year approximately 70,000 people walk through the gallery halls. “We are extremely honored and excited about this invitation!” says Mai Lai, Founder and Executive Director of the Children’s Art Village. The “Colors of Hope: Artwork from the Children’s Art Village” with opening reception will be held on Friday, February 18, 2011. The exhibit will run from February – May 2011.

In June of The Children's Art Village has been invited by the International Child Art Foundation to submit our children's work to be on exhibit at The National Mall in Washington for the World's Children Festival. The world’s largest international children’s celebration lasts for three days with over 3 million children's artwork displayed throughout. The children are the celebrities. They stage the festival and are the MCs. Young artists, musicians, dancers, and performers from across the globe showcase their talents, learn from each other, and build a nexus for the future.

World's Children Festival - June 2011
The National Mall - Washington, DC

If you would like more information or to volunteer, sponsor, or donate to The Children’s Art Village please visit http://www.childrensartvillage.org