The Association for Education through Arts, an organization in the Republic of China (Taiwan), is bracing up for its 40th World School Children's Arts Exhibition, lasting from 4th to 20th September, 2009 in the Taiwanese capital of Taipei.

The organisation, through its embassy in Banjul, is inviting school children between the ages of 6 and 15, to participate in the competition. According to information from the Taiwanese embassy, the event aims at promoting mutual understanding and friendship among the young generation of the world, through the exchange of children's art work. It is also geared towards enriching arts exhibitions that pave the way for the promotion of cross-cultural understanding among young people.

The event also serves as a platform for children in art work to be evaluated, which will be done by correspondences, by airmail.  Winning artists will be awarded with certificates and medals. According to reports from the embassy, identified oil paint and water colours, wood cut prints, pencil sketches, crayon drawings, pastels, collages, etchings, graphic designs, among others, are preferred. The report called on students willing to participate to use water paints or oil paints (preferably), noting that pencils are also allowed but that water and oil paints, will award more marks.

It further noted that the sizes of each participant's work should be between 55cm + 40cm and all information should be given in English on every entry. The report added that all applications should reach the organisers in Taiwan via the Taiwan embassy in Banjul, not later than April 15, for onward processing. All entries are to be addressed to: The Association for Education through Arts, in the Republic of China, No.62 Lung Jiang Rd., Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China (Taiwan). According to related regulations, the winners of the gold and silver medals will be invited to attend the World Children's Arts Convention in Taiwan to be hosted by the association.

The rules of the event can also be downloaded from the Arts Education Network  web site (ed.arte.gov.tw). Interested participants can also contact the Taiwanese embassy in Banjul on Tel 4374107.