Artists for A Better World International member, Becky Mate, founded an international holiday for the Arts in 1998, aptly called World Art Day.

This holiday falls annually on the 15th of April, the same day as the birth of world-famous artist, Leonardo da Vinci (1452).

Leonardo da Vinci’s areas of interest included invention, drawing, painting, sculpture, architecture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, literature, anatomy, geology, astronomy, botany and more. He is widely considered one of the greatest painters of all time, with two of his most widely known works including Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.

Since 1998, Mate has inspired and encouraged others to spread the word about this holiday to artists and art enthusiasts around the globe. The result has been a growing number of World Art Day celebrations with each passing year.

For many years the holiday was celebrated on the second Friday in August. In 2017, Mate announced the move of the holiday from August to April 15th, in a gesture of solidarity with a like-minded group that established World Art Day on da Vinci’s birthday.

World Art Day is the perfect time to celebrate creativity and bring joy to others:

Draw a picture

Compose a song

Write a poem or story

Paint

Create and send Mail Art

Have a party!

Additionally, give a card, photo, music CD, poem, story or anything creative to someone else.

In short, World Art Day is about bringing a smile to others and forwarding the concept of creating a better world through aesthetics.

Although World Art Day was formulated around a particular date to celebrate creativity, ideally, one would forward creativity all year round. World Art Day helps to call attention to its importance.

What do you think about having a day dedicated to artists?

What would you commit to doing on such a day to show your support for artists and the arts?

PAST WORLD ART DAY ACTIVITIES:

Visit the following link for past “World Art Day Events and Activities.”

Art Day Poetry:

WORLD ART DAY, APRIL 15TH

By R.L. Mate

Twas the night fore World Art Day

When all through the hush

Not an artist was stirring

Not even a brush.

Magic Picture Frame hung

By the chimney with care

In hopes that art gifts would

Soon would be there.

The children all nestled

All snug in their beds

Visions of music and art in their heads

Mama in her jewelry and me in my cap

Had just settle down for a long April nap

When out of the lawn there was such a clatter

I spring from the bed to see what was the matter

Away to the window, flying like a flash

Open the shutters, throw up the sash

The moon on the grass of the newly-mown lawn

Gave a magic to all just before dawn

When what to my wondering eyes did appear

But a Poet, Musician and Playwright, so queer.

With a little young Dancer so lively and quick

I knew in a moment she must do a trick

More rapid than eagles her backup they came

They set up with drummers and guitars and sang:

Now Singer, now Dancer

Now Artist and Sculptor

On Writer, on Poet

On Movie Director!

To the top of the charts

Top of them all

Art away, art away, art away all!!

For more information, email Becky Mate by visiting “Contact“