World Art Day (WAD) is annually observed across the globe on 15 April to raise awareness of the variety of artistic expressions, acknowledge the role of artists in sustainable development, and strengthen the bond between artistic creations and society.
- The celebration of WAD focuses on the promotion, development, diffusion, and enjoyment of art.
The day is annually led by the International Association of Art/Association Internationale des Arts Plastiques (IAA/AIAP), in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Note: IAA/AIAP is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) working in official partnership with UNESCO.
Background:
i.In April 2011, the IAA/AIAP during its 17th General Assembly in Guadalajara, Mexico, unanimously adopted the initiative presented by the Turkish National Committee to proclaim 15 April, as World Art Day.
ii.The first World Art Day was observed on 15 April 2012.
iii.World Art Day was also proclaimed at the 40th session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 2019.
iv.Artists for A Better World (AFABW) International member, Becky Mate founded World Art Day locally in 1998 and has championed the celebration every year since.
Note:
i.The Day has been made official in Los Angeles (LA), United States of America (USA) by a proclamation of the LA City Council.
ii.LA is one of the world’s greatest centers of art education and is home to the first USA chapter of IAA/AIAP.
Why April 15?
i.The date of April 15 was chosen to commemorate and honour the birth anniversary of world-famous artist Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian polymath.
ii.Born on 15th April 1452, Leonardo da Vinci was recognised as a champion of freedom of expression, tolerance, and brotherhood.
- Some of his notable works include Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, Lady with an Ermine, Portrait of Ginevra Benci, etc.
UNESCO works of art collection:
i.UNESCO’s art collection traces back to the 1950s with the construction of its Headquarters in Paris (France), designed by Marcel Breuer, Luigi Nervi, and Bernard Zehrfuss.
ii.Notable contemporary artists like Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, and Henry Moore were commissioned to decorate the building.
iii.The collection expanded through purchases until the 1980s. Artists like Alberto Giacometti, Carlos Cruz-Diez, and Jesus Rafael Soto contributed.
iv.Currently, UNESCO boasts the largest art collection within the United Nations (UN) system, with over 700 works (old and modern) of artistic diversity from around the world.
2024 Event:
i.UNESCO organised an online World Art Day Forum “Art and Human Dignity” on 15 April 2024, in partnership with Global Peace Education Network.
ii.The online forum was directed and hosted by Dr Guila Clara Kessous, UNESCO Artist for Peace, Ambassador for Peace of the Universal Circle of Ambassadors of Peace (Geneva, Switzerland).
About International Association of Art (IAA/AIAP):
It was established in Beirut, Lebanon in 1948 at the 3rd General Conference of UNESCO. It became an independent organization in 1954 and was declared a UNESCO partner.
President– Kwang Soo Lee (Korea)
Headquarters– Paris, France
