Rekindling hearts with art: A community arts project for the young survivors of the Sichuan earthquake

Abstract

A devastating earthquake of magnitude 7.9 struck Sichuan in China on 12 May 2008, resulting in over 69,000 deaths, leaving 37,000 people injured and 4.8 million people homeless. Immediately after the catastrophe, many of the young survivors were confused and lost, and experienced difficulty in expressing their inner emotions. In the past two years, Art for All, a non-profit-making community arts organization in Hong Kong, has run a series of art programmes for school children in the areas of Qingchuan and Malu. This article reports on the practice of various creative workshops and their support of the children.

Keywords:

• finger puppets
• interactive life drama
• song writing
• collaborative painting

Notes

1. Art for All (www.art-for-all.org), a charitable community arts organization founded in 2001 enables socially underprivileged people to encounter the arts. It facilitates individuals to recognize their creative potential, develop their confidence and skills and encourage integration with the community as a whole.

2. Hiep Nguyen is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Circle Painting project. Hiep is an interdisciplinary artist with a lifelong passion for teaching. He received his BA and teaching credential in Art Education at California State University Long Beach. Hiep has worked as a muralist, stage designer, and art teacher. For details of the Circle painting Project, see http://www.circlepainting.org/