Artlink Program - Creative Connections

ArtLink is Creative Connections’ unique international exchange program designed for art classes. Students from grades 3 through 12 work on art projects based on a yearly theme, one that requires each young artist to thoughtfully reflect on his/her life and culture. The completed pieces are exchanged with an overseas partner art class. In past years, our international ArtLink classes came from 34 countries on 5 continents.

Artlink is an adventure in cross-cultural discovery, a way for students to expand beyond their locality to feel their inclusion in a global community. They discover that art is a surprisingly effective and satisfying medium for expressing and sharing their ideas with new international friends. As well as discovering that they share many of the same interests, dreams, and goals, the young artists also often find intriguing differences in how they live.

What do you see when looking out of or into any window? It could be a window at home, at school, at a local store, in a church, in a bus, in a prision... indeed anyplace that has a window.

This view will be the subject of your art piece. It can depict what one literally sees at any time of day or night, or what one sees in the mind or in a dream. Your art can depict a revealing scene from everyday life or one that takes place on a special day or holiday. It can be set in the past, present, or even future. Your scene can be positive, troubling, or a combination of both. One scene or multiple scenes can be presented.

The subject matter is therefore wide open. You need only bear in mind that you are communicating meaningful aspects of your culture through your art.

Special assignment: Your piece should include some indication of the window itself by incorporating a bordering window frame, superimposed panes, a hint of curtains, or some other device. The medium used is up to you and your teacher.

Here is an Overview of the ArtLink 2008 Program...

Phase 1:

In September, ArtLink teachers receive program guidelines, details on the ArtLink 2008 theme, a description of their overseas partner class, and introductory workshop materials.

In September and October partner classes conduct intro-workshops and produce their sets of artwork.

In early November, the art and artist description sheets are sent to our office.

Phase 2:

In January, each art class receives the set of art and description sheets from their partner.

In February, each art class reviews their partner’s art and responds to their partner by filling out the "Insights We Gained From Your Art" response sheet. Once responses are exchanged, each class receives a portfolio of photocopied international art.

In late Spring, we host our annual International Children’s Art Exhibit at Flow of Art Gallery in Norwalk, CT. The show is also posted on our website.

All US classes pay a $395 exchange fee (or $375 if enrolled by May 31st, 2008), which includes a live introductory workshop for our local schools and an intro workshop packet for all non-local schools. All international shipping costs are included in the exchange fee. Our non-U.S. partner classes pay no fees but are usually responsible for mailing their art to our office.

Interested in joining us? Please fill in the enrollment form. ArtLink has only a limited number of openings, and we anticipate filling them by early summer. Feel free to contact us with any questions.