EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The creative project took place within the framework of cooperation with the primary organization of Vitebsk NGO "Belarusian Association for Assistance to Disabled Children and Young People with Disabilities" and the Vitebsk City Center for Additional Education of Children and Youth.
The exhibition presents more than 40 paintings by young artists with special needs.
"The language of creativity is the language of equal opportunities" is the motto under which the members of the Island of Hope club paint their paintings. On paper, the authors reflect their inner world, favorite animals, memorable places of their hometown or life events. The main desire is to show the whole world that they are the same people as everyone else. And creativity for them is a bridge between them and the ordinary world. The authors hope that behind the artwork, visitors to the exhibition will be able to see the guys themselves, who are open to people and ready to communicate.
Andrey Kovalev, methodologist at the Vitebsk City Center for Additional Education of Children and Youth:
— Our club for children and youth with special needs of psychophysical development "Island of Hope", of which I am the curator, often hosts interesting, large-scale projects. Our motto is "The language of creativity is the language of equal opportunities" so that children with disabilities can communicate with ordinary people through creativity. And today the grand opening of the exhibition of our students "Special talents" is taking place. This is the first time we are holding such an event at the Vitebsk Art Museum. Students and their parents take part in the exhibition with great enthusiasm. It's nice for them to be in demand. I would also like to note that this event has an international status: we cooperate with a boarding school for children with disabilities from Kostroma (Russia). Today, Russians watched us in an online format.
Alexander Bogatenok, Head of the Art Museum:
— The Vitebsk Art Museum can host eleven exhibitions at the same time. We try to present all directions in the painting, sculptural and graphic genre so that every Vitebsk resident or guest of our city can find something interesting for themselves. In my practice, we are presenting an exhibition of children with special needs for the first time. I think this is a very good experience. Despite the fact that the artists are not professional, there is no artistic taste in their works. The guys worked hard. This is very important for children and their parents. And in the future we will be glad to organize similar exhibitions in our museum again.
Svetlana Makarenko, Chairman of the primary united organization "Belarusian Union of Women of Belarusbank OJSC", Polina's mother:
— The Belarusbank BSJ organization held the exhibition "My World for You" at its workplace, as well as at the kindergarten, veterinary academy, medical university. This year, the Belarusian Association for Assistance to Disabled Children and Young People with Disabilities and the Island of Hope Club joined us. Together, we decided to show the paintings of children to an even larger circle of people at the Art Museum. According to the children, they are proud that their works hang in such an iconic place. Creativity, I see it in my child, helps children to open up, show their inner world and trust other people.
Photo by Alexey Vronsky.