UNITY IN DIVERSITY:CHILDREN’S ART COMPETITION TO - by Kumkum Ramchandani

“Unity in Diversity”, an art competition for children, is aimed at showcasing diversity at the grass roots level. The artistic creativity of children will highlight the theme of unity to bring home the message of harmonious existence, the main strength behind Canada’s unique social fabric.

The event, scheduled to be held at City Square, Square One, Mississauga, will start at 10.30 am on Saturday, September 16th. The children will be divided into three age groups, 6-8 years, 9-12 years and 13-15 years. Paper will be supplied but art materials will have to be brought by the contestants. Side by side with the competition, local artists from all backgrounds will be exhibiting their work

Prizes will be awarded for the best work in the children’s competition and judging will be carried out by a distinguished panel of experts. An awards ceremony for the prize winners will be held on October 14 at 5pm at Gallery Streetsville. The prizewinning entries and others will be exhibited at the gallery during the ceremony.

The event, the first of its kind, is the brainchild of Meena Chopra, director of Learna Education Centre and founder of Cross Currents Indo-Canadian International Arts, a non-profit organization. Learna, the main sponsor, is providing scholarships across its 12 centres in the GTA for the winners of the competition. The event is also being launched with the support of the Mississauga Arts Council, the Art Unit of Mississauga City and several other sponsors and volunteers.
Expressing her support, the Honourable Caroline Di Cocco, Minister of Culture, said in a message: “This competition sets a fine example of encouraging citizens of all ages to join together to strengthen the multicultural fabric of Canadian society.”
In another message, Mississauga Mayor, Hazel McCallion, pointed out: “Children in their innocence can achieve anything they want without barriers. They are not blinded by prejudice, colour or gender.”

Also supporting the cause is Omar Alghabra, M.P. Mississauga-Erindale. He affirmed, “Your hard work in developing young artists and celebrating diversity is well appreciated.”
Linda Thomas, executive director of the Mississauga Arts Council lauded the effort. “We live in a world filled with a wondrous diversity of experiences, opinions, physical appearance, cultures, religions. One of the challenges of this age is not only to find a way to live in harmony with people who differ from us, but to celebrate the diversity and learn from it,” she pointed out.
Said Ms Chopra, who is also an artist and poet, “All of us have a rainbow of attributes within ourselves that unite in our personalities to create that one shining flame of everlasting sunshine. One spirit that we all seek. That is how we want to see a blossoming Canada under the sunshine of Unity and Diversity. Always celebrating the light and the rainbow at the same time and with the same spirit.”
“We hope that people turn up in record numbers for the competition. If they do, we would like to make this an annual event,” she added.
For registration contact Meena Chopra 905-507-2579, 905-819-8142. Email:crosscurrents.ca@gmail.com. Registration forms are also available at http://www.learna.com/

_____contributed by Kumkum Ramchandani, freelance artist and writer