NATIONAL CHILDREN’S ART CONTEST

The project entitled “National children’s drawing contest” has been conceived by Igor Iankovskyi Foundation “Initiative for the Future” in 2012 with the aim of revelation and support of talented children in fine arts. The most large-scale creative competition in Ukraine, that is being held once a year, serves to unveil new and bright talents of our country to the world. The contest multiplies the geography of participants regardless of borders, collecting pieces from Kyiv to New-York.

Summing up the first nation-wide project on the 16th of June 2013, Igor Iankovskyi Foundation announced the winners of the I National children’s art contest entitled “My native land – Ukraine”, officially marking the start of exhibition of the best young artists’ pieces in the hall of “Art center “Chocolate House”.

“I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who supported the creative appeal of the Foundation, took part in the contest and helped us to reveal the new talents among artistic children. Today we confidently state – we’ve been passionately supported by the whole nation!”, - underlined Igor Iankovskyi.

The contest became a truly nation-wide event since kids from all-over Ukraine take part in it, being supported by their parents, their teachers from art schools and studios. Such enthusiasm enabled the Foundation to collect more than 700 pieces in 1,5 month from every region of Ukraine. This is another confirmation of the scope of creative activity of our children.

All finalists of the contest have been acknowledged by diplomas and certificates, the winners have also been awarded with valuable prizes – vacations in international children’s camp “Artek”, professional art kits and instruments.

The underlying concept of the II National children’s art contest “My peaceful Ukraine” in 2014 was the dream about the united, peaceful and undivided Ukraine. The idea generated enormous response among young artists from every region of Ukraine, who submitted over 600 pieces for this edition.

“FAITH. HOPE.LOVE.” - those human values, understood by each and every person on Earth, were chosen as a motto for the III National children’s art contest, organized and conducted in 2015 by Igor Iankovskyi Foundation. And it was for the young artists to recreate in their drawings the vivid and colorful diversity of these words’ perception.

In 2016, the IV National children’s art contest “UKRAINE: THE WAY TO PEACE!” received 500 pieces. The finals of the contest gathered more than 260 young artists and their parents from all-over Ukraine. Professional jury of the contest has chosen 40 finalists in 13 nominations.

The theme of the new Children drawing competition began in 2017 - "UKRAINE – THE LAND OF TALENTS".

The unique compilations of young contest finalists pieces have been exhibited in many countries:

2013 – Brussels (Belgium), the European Parliament, art exhibition “Ukraine through children’s eyes”;

2014 – Krynica Zdroj (Poland), XXIV Economic Forum - art exhibition “My peaceful Ukraine”;

2014 – Paris (France), Ukrainian Center of Culture and Information of the Embassy of Ukraine, art exhibition “My peaceful Ukraine”;

2015 – New York (USA), United Nations Headquarters, art exhibition “FAITH. HOPE.LOVE.”.

EXHIBITING CHILDREN’S CONTEST WINNERS ABROAD

November of 2013 has been marked by a unique event, organized by Igor Iankovskyi Foundation – for the first time in its history, the European Parliament in Brussels hosted an exhibition-performance of children’s artwork “UKRAINE THROUGH CHILDREN’S EYES”. The event generated an unknown interest among the deputies from different European countries, diplomats and international mass-media representatives. The solemn concert, along with the art exhibition, presented the talented Ukrainian youth to the European community, whose musical and artistic creations are truly amazing.

“Ukraine is a modern European country. I’m joyful today to present our country’s new generation to Europe. This presentation is unusual – it has been made by children’s drawings, by the future creators of our State. All the pieces have been created by little Ukrainians, who are dreaming about happiness and reflect their dreams in these chef-d’oeuvres, that impersonate their vision of the future. These pieces are the best way to reproduce the aspirations of this new generation of Ukrainians, who remembers the history, values the achievements of their ancestors, while proudly dreaming to become the new genius minds of the XXI century. I am sincerely convinced that our exhibition will represent Ukraine to the European community in the best way imaginable!”, - noted Igor Iankovskyi.

In September 2014, Igor Iankovskyi Foundation “Initiative for the Future” has organized an art exhibition “My peaceful Ukraine” as a side-event of the XXIV Economic Forum in Krynica Zdroj (Poland). The exhibition’s compilation comprised the finest pieces of the National children’s art contest.

In October 2014, Igor Iankovskyi Foundation “Initiative for the Future” has opened the first exhibition of children’s artwork in Paris. The Foundation brought to France 60 finest pieces of the II National children’s art contest “MY PEACEFUL UKRAINE”. The solemn opening reception gathered at the evening more than 100 guests in a mansion that once belonged to Alain Delon.

In November 2015, Igor Iankovskyi National Charity Foundation "Initiative for the Future" with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, has, for the first time in history, held the art exhibition «FAITH. HOPE.LOVE.» in the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

On the 24th of November, the spacious lobby of the United Nations Headquarters invited the States’ permanent representatives to the United Nations, UN Secretariat staff, diplomats, journalists, artists and gallery owners to enjoy the artwork of young Ukrainians.

The opening ceremony has been attended by permanent representatives – chiefs of missions to the UN from Finland, Bulgaria, Indonesia, Luxembourg, Belarus, Fiji Islands and a number of African countries. Furthermore, the exhibition has received the attention of the Head of the 70th UN General Assembly and the ex-speaker of Danish parliament, Mogens Lykketoft.

EASTER EGGS DECORATION CONTEST “UNIVERSE OF CHILDREN’S PYSANKA”

With the aim of revive and develop the traditional Ukrainian arts, along with the traditions of charity, every spring Igor Iankovskyi Charity Foundation is conducting a unique creative project dedicated to Easter: “Universe of children’s pysanka”. The contest is being held in Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Mykolaiv and Poltava regions for all kids who want to create a traditional colored Easter egg – the “pysanka”.

The first contest’s edition has been held in 2014 in partnership with “Podillya Poultry Factory” for children from villages Stepanivka and Voronovytsia (Vinnytsia region). It gathered more than 90 pysankas of every type and size, in every imaginable technique: from traditional wax painting to embroidery and papier-maché. The jury members have underlined, that it was almost impossible to choose the best from this variety and every work merited an attention because it had been created by a child.

Next editions of the contest in 2015 and 2016 greatly extended the geography to Zhytomyr, Mykolaiv and Poltava regions. Each year the scope of the contest grows, so is the creativity of its participants. And the finals became a long-awaited festival with musical and poetic performances by little participants and their friends.

In 2016, children’s Easter eggs from the contest were given for artistic examination to the Museum of Pysanka (Kolomyia city) that is unique establishment in the world dedicated to this tradition. And the Foundation plans to extend the contest further! The children's masterpieces deservedly received the highest scores!