CHILDHOOD ART

Artists worldwide are invited take part in a historic rebuilding and recovery of a vital missing element in the cultural record--the creative expression of childhood. PapaInk, the nonprofit International Children's Art Archive, is issuing its second call for professional artists' childhood and early youth artwork.

The call is open to all practicing artists with extant works from childhood or memories of epiphanic moments of early creative discovery. Select works will be shown as part of a traveling exhibition of galleries and museums. Museums and galleries who have not been invited to host the "When They Were Children" Exhibition are invited to submit their inquiry and request to Marc Feldman, the Executive Director of PapaInk.A large number of artworks and text will also be exhibited within the "When They Were Children" Collection.

This Collection, appearing within the online venue of PapaInk's world-noted archive of historical and contemporary children's art draws one million visitors annually. "When They Were Children" functions as the spirit and substance of artists' collective creative history, and as a material legacy and imaginative fuel for young artists today.

Artists who wish to donate physical childhood works to PapaInk's physical archives of children's art, please contact Marc Feldman at mailto:papaink@gmail.com. PapaInk preserves original art by children and holds it in trust within its archives for future generations of viewers and scholars.Submitting WorkArtists may submit works created up to and including age 20.

Submissions should be accompanied by a narrative detailing their discovery of creative expression, and its role in their early lives. Artists whose childhood works are not extant are invited to submit narrative about their discovery of creative expression, and its role in their early lives. (see example).

All artwork and texts are displayed with the artist's copyright, contact information and relevant links.There is no limit to the number of pieces an artist may submit. Artists who have eight or more works selected for inclusion will have their work displayed as a dedicated collection (see example) within the larger "When They Were Children" exhibition.

This dedicated collection will include a homepage presenting the artist's biography, resume, contact information and links to recent works online.

The submission deadline is July 11, 2006. Artwork may be submitted to PapaInk in original or digital format. Submission SpecificationsFor physical works:Please securely pack and send original works to PapaInk for free digitization. Our address is:PapaInkPO Box 467Guilford, CT 06437USAFor digital works:

*Works in jpeg format
*150 dpi or greater, at least 1,000 pixels on the longest side
*Cropped to the image (i.e., no matting please)
*Please email digital images to curators@papaink.org, or send images on CD to the address given below.

All submissions should be accompanied by the following supporting information:

*Artist's name and country
*Date and age for each piece
*Titles
*Media
*Any comments/context that has bearing on individual pieces' creation or meaning
*A brief narrative about the artist's creative exploration and discoveries in childhoodAbout PapaInkPapaInk is the world's leading nonprofit archival body for children's art, distinguished by its worldwide scope and historical depth.

The online venue of PapaInk's archive, http://www.papaink.org/, is expected to draw over one million visitors in 2003. The archive has been highlighted in publications including The New York Times, USA Today and Britain's The Guardian.

PapaInk works with a wide range of nonprofits, schools, museums, businesses and individuals worldwide to exhibit, preserve and document historical and contemporary children's art collections. Our partners include the UN, SOS Children's Villages, NATO, the World Bank, American Friends Service Committee, the Jewish Museum in Prague, Christian Children's Fund, Habitat for Humanity International and Gallaudet University. Through our exhibition and archival activities, we recognize and support young artists and their work, and highlight the diverse organizations and individuals worldwide that value and enable children's creative endeavors.

PapaInk is a Connecticut-based 501c3 nonprofit with volunteer staff and organizational partners worldwide.