What do young Grenadians know about ‘Traditional Childhood Games’ such as ‘Jacks’ and ‘Hopscotch’ or ‘Chinese Skip’?

The Inaugural National Student Art Exhibition, which is being organised by the Patron of the Arts Fund, may just provide answers to that question.

The deadline for submissions to the Exhibition is fast approaching. Principals and art teachers at all public and private primary and secondary schools are reminded that entries must be submitted to the Ministry of Education Art Director no later than Wednesday, October 31, 2007. Entries must be submitted by the school, rather than individually.

Teachers are encouraged to use the Inaugural National Student Art Exhibition as a teaching tool for artistic expression and cultural research, as well as a way of encouraging physical activity. Chair of Patron of the Arts Fund Management Team, Mrs. Lisa Francis, who is also the Art Supervisor in the Ministry of Education, said the ‘Traditional Childhood Games’ theme was selected for several reasons. Firstly, to encourage students to use their imagination and artistic talents to create drawings, paintings or collages that depict games with which they are familiar.

“The Management Team also felt that the Theme was a means to encourage students to explore Grenada’s cultural history by depicting traditional childhood games of their parents and grandparents,” Mrs. Francis noted.

Each entry must include a description of the game depicted, which cannot exceed 50 words, written by the student.

It is the intention of the Patron of the Arts Fund to feature the winning submissions publicly.

“By displaying the entries in public, the Exhibition has the potential to spark happy memories among Grenadians, thereby giving greater focus on the value of art as a means of expression for young people and as a way to preserve both past and present traditions,” she added.

The Patron of the Arts Fund was established by the Agency for Reconstruction and Development (ARD) from a post-Ivan exercise that utilised art as a therapeutic tool. Fund activities for 2007 featured a Workshop in January for 60 Art Teachers, and an Art Creates Employment Visual Summer Art and Craft Camp for 32 students with proven artistic potential in July, which was sponsored by UNESCO in collaboration with the Grenada Arts Council.