World Art Day 2020: Occasion marks Leonardo Da Vinci's birth anniversary, aims to create awareness about diversity of artistic expression
The day was adopted by the International Association of Art, a partner of UNESCO, to create awareness of creative activity worldwide.
World Art Day, an international event of fine arts, is celebrated on 15 April. The day was adopted by the International Association of Art, a partner of UNESCO, to create awareness of creative activity worldwide.
History and Significance of World Art Day
Representational Image. Image credits: UNESCO website
The first World Art Day was celebrated on this day in 2012 and the date – 15 April – was chosen in honour of Leonardo da Vinci's birth anniversary. World Art Day was officially held for the first time in the City of Los Angeles in 2015. In the year 2017, IAA USA, the official US-based chapter of the IAA, was formed.
According to UNESCO, World Art Day celebrations help strengthen the links between artistic creations and society, encourage awareness of the diversity of artistic expressions and highlight the contribution of artists to sustainable development. The day also focuses on arts education in schools.
World Art Day celebrations
Workshops, cultural events, debates, conferences and exhibitions are held across the world to celebrate World Art Day. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the celebrations this year would, however, would be subdued.
The IAA said people can celebrate art from their homes by connecting with other artists on social media and create unique ways of exhibiting and promoting the arts.
On the occasion of World Art Day, the official Twitter account of the Nobel Prize organisation posted a short message highlighting the artistic genius of Rabindranath Tagore.
#Didyouknow that Rabindranath Tagore was a dedicated painter?
Even though he began painting in his sixties, he managed to produce thousands of works. His individual painting style with simple bold forms has inspired many modern Indian artists.#WorldArtDay pic.twitter.com/oJFYhxyENP
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) April 15, 2020
UNESCO too shared a message on Twitter speaking about how the coronavirus pandemic has created a cultural emergency. The organisation highlighted the crisis faced by artists around the world due to the coronavirus pandemic, urging people to join them in giving the artists a voice.
Health crisis has created a cultural emergency.
Many artists and cultural professionals are suffering without a safety of unemployment benefits or insurance.
UNESCO's Resiliart movement gives them a voice of resilience.
Join us! 👇https://t.co/CdGXKOKnhd #ShareCulture pic.twitter.com/dgigaLRs82
— UNESCO (@UNESCO) April 14, 2020
also read
No need for fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine given current evidence, says Dr Raman Gangakhedkar
Dr Raman Gangakhedkar appealed to the citizens to take precautionary dose and to follow all the precautions, especially those who are in vulnerable group
Germany to scrap mask mandate in long-distance transport
Masks remain mandatory in doctors’ practices, while masks and negative tests are still required to enter hospitals and nursing homes
China reports nearly 60,000 deaths due to Covid-19 complications in 35 days
The figure refers only to deaths recorded at medical facilities, with the total count likely to be higher. It includes 5,503 deaths caused by respiratory failure directly due to the virus, and 54,435 deaths caused by underlying diseases combined with Covid-19, Chinese health officials said