Exchange program brings young Chinese, Canadian students together
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This article was published 25/07/2012 (4906 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Grade 6 students from Ecole St. Avila recently received a cross-cultural experience.
In January, they travelled to Shenzhen, China as part of an exchange program involving the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Ecole St. Avila Elementary School and the Yang Mythos school in Shenzhen.
Last week, it was the students from Schenzhen’s turn to visit Winnipeg. They arrived on July 13 and spent the next eight days experiencing Canadian culture, including art classes at the WAG.
“The students participated in a week of art classes — a few days in the studios at St. Avila school and a couple of days here at the WAG with their hosts from Ecole St. Avila,” said Michael Boss, head of the WAG’s studio programs.
The students’ artwork was then put on display as part of an exhibition held July 19 to 23 at the WAG.
The exchange program was initiated three years ago after local artist, Karen Cornelius, who was working with students at Ecole St. Avila, travelled to China and met representatives from Yang Mythos school.
School representatives subsequently travelled to Winnipeg and the idea for the exchange program was born. This is the second year students have participated in the swap.
“The exchanges are really to teach students what it means to be a global citizen and to be part of the world community, and they’re able to do this through art. Kids get to meet each other and work together, and that brings down lots of the language barriers,” said Gordon Campbell, principal of Ecole St. Avila.
Campbell said the program operates similarly in both countries. Students stay for approximately eight days in the host city during which time they are exposed to what it has to offer culturally.
“In the morning we do about three hours of art activities and that is what is finally put on display at the end of the week. (In Shenzhen) the students’ artwork is put on display at their art museum,” he said.
“It really brings that community feeling. Both the kids and the adults involved get so much out of it, it’s phenomenal,” Campbell said.