The first principle of the Charter of Children’s Rights to Arts and Culture states that:

"Children have a right to experience artistic languages as fundamental knowledge."

The artwork accompanying the charter was created by Italian illustrator Mauro Evangelista, who has contributed numerous contributions to the world of books for children. His latest important large illustration work was a book titled 'Illustrated Alice' published in 2009 by Usborne Illustrated Classics.

Exhibition of artwork accompanying the Charter of Children’s Rights to Arts and Culture, at Hanager Arts Centre, March 2015 (Photo: Ati Metwaly)

18 principles enumerated in the Charter of Children’s Rights to Arts and Culture is a project created by a theatre company La Baracca – Testoni Ragazzi from Bologna, Italy, with a group of educators and parents.

Charter of Children’s Rights to Arts and Culture has been widely adopted by Italian and European institutions aiming at bringing arts to children, and in 2011 it was awarded the Medal of the Presidency of the Italian Republic. La Baracca company -- that has been working with children and young people for over 30 years -- translated the 18 charter points into 27 languages, assigned Italian illustrators to produce images depicting each of the principles and turned the project into a book.

Soon after, the idea of an exhibition of the artwork was born and works accompanying the 18 principles are being displayed throughout the festivals dedicated to children across Europe.

The drawings have been brought to Egypt by AFCA for Arts and Culture with an exhibition held at Hanager Arts Centre paralleling the Hakawy Arts Festival that took place between 9 and 17 March, followed by a display at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria where Hakawy staged two performances on 18 and 19 March.

Check also:
1st principle of the Charter of Children’s Rights to Arts and Culture

Ahram Online -- the official media sponsor of AFCA's Campaign of Children's Rights to Art and Culture -- will be posting each of the 18 principles with accompanying it artwork on weekly basis.