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May 20, 2005 Children From Around the Globe SAN FRANCISCO, CA – May 20, 2005 – Zeum at Yerba Buena Gardens, the interactive arts and technology museum that fosters creativity in youth of all backgrounds, announces its newest international exhibit—Green Cities: International Children’s Painting Competition on the Environment. The exhibit, which features thought-provoking and inspirational children’s paintings from around the world on the common theme of “Green Cities”, opens to the public on Sunday, June 5th and runs through Sunday, August 28th. “We’re very excited to participate in the U.N. World Environment Day 2005 by providing a venue for children from all over the world to express their visions of cleaner, greener, eco-friendly cities through extraordinary artwork,” said Adrienne Pon, Zeum CEO. “Safeguarding our environment is a responsibility we all share. Using the universal language of art, the Green Cities paintings reflect common concerns and hopes about the future that transcend borders and cultures.” The Green Cities exhibit at Zeum features the top 53 paintings from the 14th International Children's Painting Competition on the Environment—an annual competition held by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to increase environmental awareness and action among children. Youth ages 6–15 from over 80 countries submit more than 10,000 paintings each year. Theodore Oben, Director of Children & Youth/Sport & the Environment says, “The more children become aware of the impact of the environment to their lives, the more they strive to use their imagination and energy to improve the environment.” The International Children’s Painting Competition will continue to provide children with the opportunity to express their concerns for the environment through art. This year, the children were tasked with expressing their visions of “Green Cities” through their paintings. Finalists from seven different countries will receive cash prizes and the opportunity to travel to San Francisco to see their artwork on display, meet the other artists, and to participate in the U.N. World Environment Day (WED) festivities, being hosted in San Francisco. The 2005 finalists represent the countries of Bulgaria, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Syria, and USA. One global winner will be announced on June 3rd and awarded top honors. A celebrated fixture in San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens since 1998, Zeum consistently features original and interesting exhibits that allow children of all ages to express their perceptions of the world through visual, performing and media arts. RECEPTION AND MEDIA PREVIEW Listing for Calendars (Museums/Art/Youth/Family): Green Cities: International Children’s Art Competition on the Environment About Zeum About U.N. World Environment Day 2005 The United Nations has selected the city of San Francisco to be the host of the 2005 World Environment Day. San Francisco is the first city in North America to host World Environment Day in the international event’s 30-year history. The United Nations World Environment Day 2005 will bring together Mayors of the world’s 100 largest cities to San Francisco the week of June 1-5. The Mayors will compose a set of concrete and achievable actions for improving the environment in their home cities. The purpose of these Urban Environmental Accords is to establish a set of actions that cities can adopt to develop livable environments and identify the tools needed to achieve the targets outlined in what will be formalized as the San Francisco Urban Environmental Accords. For more information about World Environment Day, visit www.wed2005.org. About The United Nations Environment Programme
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