The local art exhibition and program empowering children globally
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Canberra is playing host to a groundbreaking art exhibition for two days in February, showcasing the creativity and resilience of children from around the world.
The exhibit Drawing For Your Rights, is showcasing the artworks of children from around the world who took part in a program teaching them on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Canberran Lauren Cannell is the founder and CEO of Educacion Diversa which has been running the program internationally, with an exciting and successful pilot run in Canberra.
“We’re an organisation that provides art education in human rights, sexual and reproductive health and eliminating violence with peaceful conflict resolution,” Lauren says.
“One of the programs is called ‘drawing for your rights’ which we established in a two-year pilot in Colombia back in 2016.”
After a short hiatus, the program was brought back and is now running in Maribyrnong Primary School in Kaleen, with plans to roll out the program across other schools in Canberra in term two.
“What that program does is it uses art to teach children about the convention of the rights of the child, why [the convention] exists, what it is, which governments are signed up to it, and then each individual article that’s contained within the convention,” Lauren says.
Photography credit: Lauren Cannell.
For three days, the Hellenic Club in the city will be showcasing the works of the children who have taken part in the program internationally and locally, as well as different artists’ works who have donated relevant pieces.
Lauren’s decision to raise awareness and empower the next generation through the power of art comes from a personal passion.
“For me, using art and doing art from the heart to create inclusive communities is something that I’m passionate about.”
“I wanted to create an organisation that produces education that all kids can undertake and do in some way, and all kids can use art to also heal the neurological pathways in the brain that have experienced neglect and trauma.”
While on the surface this program may seem like it’s only about teaching children about their rights, there’s so much more to it.
“If you’re teaching kids about their rights, … you’re teaching them about a whole bunch of other stuff that enables them to be successful in life and to contribute to inclusive communities.”
“If we don’t raise awareness on it, our kids won’t have the information that they need to make good decisions about their life and bodies as they go into the future.”
Even though this program has been running internationally since 2016, this is the first time the art has been showcased in an exhibition.
“I had all the artwork sitting there from Colombia and I just went I’d love to showcase these.”
Photography credit: Lauren Cannell.
“I put a post up [saying] I wonder if there’s any gallery out there that would be willing to help me do it.”
Lauren’s hoping this is the start of many more exhibitions showcasing the work these children create.
“I’m hoping to make it an annual exhibition, hoping to get funding from the government, I’ve had interest from the committee from National Children’s Week, the Human Rights Commission, and places like that.”
As for a ticket fee? It’s up to you, with visitors invited to pay what they can to support the program.
“We’re not charging tickets, it’s free entry but what we’re asking people to do is to donate what you think the exhibition was worth, and the proceeds go towards funding our trip this year back to Colombia.”
“The funds from the exhibition have a social impact layer, … and enable us to then deliver the program in under-developed countries.”
After a successful pilot in Maribyrnong Primary, with enrolments for the program doubling and filling up within two hours of the form being opened to the parents, Lauren is looking to the future.
“At this stage in Maribyrnong, parents sign their kids up to the program, but I want to get to a point where it’s part of the curriculum for schools.”
“By empowering kids and teaching them about their rights, they’re our future and they can advocate for change for themselves.”
THE ESSENTIALS
What: Drawing For Your Rights Exhibition
When: Friday 21 to Sunday 23 February
Where: Hellenic Club, City, 13 Moore Street
Web: facebook.com
Feature image: Deejay Jukic, We Are Found.
