Eight-Year-Old Organizes Children’s Art Exhibition in York

An art exhibition showcasing the work of primary school-aged children has been organized by an eight-year-old girl. Ada, a resident of York, conceived the idea after visiting the York Open Studios arts festival last year. She quickly enlisted three friends to help arrange her own version for children. This initiative, named YorKAOS (York Kids Art Open Studios), is an exhibition scheduled to take place at the community venue Spark during the upcoming February half term. Ada, who also intends for the event to generate funds for charity, stated: “I love art a lot, it makes me happy and I just like doing it” Ada established a committee with her friends HS, Seth, and Mabel, and is receiving assistance from her father, John, who serves as the secretary. She explained: “The idea came from when I went to go around looking at people’s artwork at the arts open studios day, when I came home I was thinking we could have an exhibition for kids like this. “The next day I told my friend, HS, who is now on the committee as well and he helped me set it up a bit, and so did Mabel and Seth.”” Submissions are currently being sought from children residing within the York ring road, with their artwork to be featured and potentially sold to benefit local charities St Leonard’s Hospice, York Explore Libraries and Archives, and BBC Children In Need. Ada further noted: “You can do digital art, photographic art, or just drawing, painting and colouring and lots of other craft. “You can do 3D models and make really cool sculptures and things like that”.” John commented: “It is amazing what young people can do, and their energy and enthusiasm for all this.” He also mentioned that information packs would be distributed to all primary schools, with the organizers “hoping a couple of thousand [pupils]” would participate.