About Us – Cairo International Biennale of Children’s Art 2024

About the Biennial

The Cairo International Biennial for Children’s Art is a global art event that aims to promote creativity and cultural awareness among children from around the world. The Biennial was established in 2019 as a joint initiative between the Fine Arts Sector of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture and the Amsea Association for Education through Art – Africa and the Middle East. The Biennial aims to provide a platform for children to express their artistic insights and feelings about the themes of their local environment and global issues such as climate change.

The Biennial was first launched in November 2019, with the foundation Biennial held at the Gezira Art Center in Zamalek and the Faculty of Art Education at Helwan University. The first Biennial was titled “My Favorite Place” and was attended by children from 19 countries, making it a unique platform for cultural and civilizational communication between children.

Biennial Objectives

Foster artistic creativity: Encourage children to express their thoughts and feelings through art.
Building bridges of cultural communication: Promote understanding and communication between children from different cultures and backgrounds.
Environmental Awareness: Highlight the importance of environmental issues and the role of children in shaping a sustainable future.
Supporting children with special abilities: Provide equal opportunities for children with special abilities to participate and express themselves.

Vision

To be a leading global platform in promoting artistic creativity and cultural communication among children, with a focus on environmental and social issues that affect their future.

Mission

Providing a comprehensive educational art experience for children from all over the world, allowing them to express their visions and ideas freely, and enhancing their abilities to think critically and creatively, with a focus on the importance of art as a means of positive change in society.

History

First Biennial – Foundation (2019)

"My Favorite Place"

Year

Children

Countries

The first Biennial was held in November 2019 at the Gezira Art Center in Zamalek, the Faculty of Art Education at Helwan University in Zamalek, and the Ramatan Cultural Center at the Taha Hussein Museum in Haram.

The awards were distributed on November 12, 2019 in the main lobby of the Museum of Egyptian Modern Art at the Egyptian Opera.

Theme:

The first Biennial was titled “My Favorite Place”, where children were invited to express their artistic insights into the places they love and their relationship with them.

Participation Statistics:

The first Biennial was attended by 943 children from 19 countries, including Egypt. Participants included different age groups, as well as a special category for children with special abilities.

Biennial Objectives:

The Biennial aimed to build bridges of cultural and civilizational communication between children from different parts of the world and encourage them to express their artistic opinions and ideas on topics from their local environment and problems related to the future of the world and the environment.

Organizing Committee:

The Supreme Committee was chaired by Dr. Saria Sedky, and the Biennial was co-organized by Dr. Ahmed Hatem as a general coordinator, along with a number of prominent figures in the field of arts. It was held under the patronage of the Minister of Culture, Dr. Enas Abdel Dayem, and the Head of the Fine Arts Sector, Dr. Khaled Sorour.

Second Biennial

"A Portrait of My Country"

Year

Children

0 +

Countries

The second session was held in 2022 in the halls of the Mahmoud Mokhtar Cultural Center in the island and the Faculty of Art Education at Helwan University in Zamalek.

The second Biennial was held under the slogan “A Portrait of My Country”, which focused on expressing the local environment and the environmental challenges it faces.

Participation Statistics:

More than 1,200 children from 27 countries participated in the second Biennial, including 350 from Egypt. Participants included age groups from 4 to 18 years, in addition to a special category for children with special abilities.

Biennial Objectives:

The second Biennial continued to focus on the importance of children’s perspectives on environmental issues and their role in shaping a sustainable future. It also encouraged collaboration between children, their teachers and parents in discussing the themes of the artworks.