Kentucky elementary and middle schools are invited to participate in the 5th Arts Olympiad this year and the 5th World Children’s Festival on the National Mall next July 2-4.

The Arts Olympiad, the world’s largest and most prestigious art program, introduces students ages 8 to 12 to the Artist-Athlete Ideal of the creative mind and healthy body. The lesson plan for this free global program can be downloaded at http://www.icaf.org/artsolympiad/.

Also, we look forward to receiving your school entries before the Dec. 31 deadline so that students from Kentucky can represent your state at the World Children’s Festival 2015. The WCF has become a permanent quadrennial event in our nation’s capital since it was launched in 1999 as the “Olympics” of children’s imagination and co-creation.

The WCF pulls together different communities and individuals from all walks of life around their common interest and shared concern: Children and the future that awaits them.

Educational programming at the WCF is based on STEAMS Education, which integrates STEM disciplines with art and culture (signified by the “A”) and sport and play (the second “S”) for children’s holistic development. Young musicians and performers also can apply to perform on the “World Stage” with the U.S. Capitol as backdrop. We hope that you will join your state’s delegation to the WCF and also will propose a workshop on the Mall for children or their teachers/parents.

Founded in 1997, the International Child Art Foundation serves American children as their national arts organization and the world’s children as their international arts organization. We do not charge any fee for participation in the Arts Olympiad or the WCF on the Mall, nor do we provide any financial support for travel expenses.