FUNARTE WHO? WHERE? WHAT? FUNARTE is a non-proÞt, non-governmental organisation that works for social change and to improve educational quality for the beneÞt of Nicaraguan children and young people. FUNARTEÕs aim is to promote and facilitate childrenÕs development through creative activities. During the revolution in Nicaragua many artists were active as political muralists. When democracy was restored after the revolution a group of artists continued to paint about rights education and literacy. They decided to train children and young people in mural painting so that they could express their opinions and have a voice. FUNARTE was founded in 1987 in Managua. It subsequently moved to Estel where support was found in the community of Barrio Oscar Gamez and FUNARTE began holding mural painting workshops every Saturday. As well as the staȔ, FUNARTE relies on volunteers to develop its program. Many of the children and young people who progress through the workshops and develop their artistic skills eventually learn to become facilitators of workshops themselves. FUNARTE has a number of international exchanges with arts organizations in diȔerent countries through which international artists work with FUNARTE in delivering workshops and exchanging skills. FUNARTE works with children, teenagers and young people including young people in prisons, young people aȔected by child labour, exploitation and various forms of disadvantage. They also work with parents, community leaders, teachers, educators and community leaders. FUNARTE runs a number of programs that aim to develop personal and creative capacities of children, young people and the community. These programs include: Art workshops: FUNARTE hold free art workshops every Saturday between February and November. Children from the community and other neighboring communities can develop their artistic skills through an open curriculum to become mural artists themselves. Murals/Public Art: The girls, boys and young people over 10 years of age that have participated in the Saturday workshops paint a mural at the end of every term. Each of these murals reßect a theme that has been elaborated and worked on collectively during the whole term. Exhibitions: Occasionally FUNARTE exhibits art created by the children, young people, teachers and parents in schools, preschools, cultural centres, libraries, city halls and for government delegations. Other activities include teacher training, family and community leader training workshops, festivals, discussion forums, awareness campaigns, exchange programs, historical, cultural and ecological tours, internal training and participation in local and national organisations and commissions. For more information see: www.funarte.org.ni FUNARTE is based in the city of Estel in the north of Nicaragua. It is a mountainous region about one and a half hours from the capital Managua. Estel is a city of about 119,000 people. FUNARTE work mainly in the barrios or communities surrounding the city centre. Nicaragua Esteli Photos: This page shows children at work in the Saturdays workshops in Esteli. Credits: FUNARTE. PARTNERS
