Patchwork Planet: Art Across Borders – Spring Program at River Arts

For 2nd–6th Graders

Patchwork Planet is an arts and children’s rights initiative founded on the belief that art can serve as a bridge across communities, generations, and borders.

We completed our first Art Across Borders pilot at River Arts this past Fall, and this Spring, we are offering a similar but expanded 10-week program, led by Meagan De Clerck, artist and advocate, Co-Founder of Patchowrk Planet. Students who participated in the Fall pilot are welcome to join again, building on their previous work and exploring new creative projects.

This program incorporates both visual arts and music, engaging students in weekly projects that explore children’s rights through creative expression. Projects include:

• Collages exploring the rights to education and medicine

• Clay guardians connected to freedom of thought and the right to live without fear

• Music and emotion connected to freedom of expression and protection from government

• Food and culture, where students prepare meals from different countries, connected to the rights to a caring family and a clean, safe environment

• The iceberg of culture, exploring rights to language and customs

• Self-portraits reflecting the rights to name, nationality, and enjoyment

The program culminates in a mural project during the final three weeks, bringing together visual art and musical inspiration from earlier sessions to create a collaborative work that reflects the students’ understanding of children’s rights and cross-cultural connections. It will begin March 4th and go for 10 weeks through May on Wednesdays from 3:30-5, with children arriving from 3-3:30PM depending on how far they have to come.

Music is a central component throughout the program, with students learning and sharing songs across countries. These musical collaborations are integrated into the curriculum and help children express culture, emotion, and shared humanity beyond language.

The program’s work is documented on our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@Patchwork-Planet), which includes weekly student projects, murals, and collaborative activities. Since September, the channel has reached over 40,000 views, with more than 2,400 views in the last 48 hours alone, highlighting strong engagement with cross-border, child-centered art.

We are also looking for additional sister sites abroad to collaborate with, allowing students to connect across borders through shared projects and musical exchanges.

This Spring at River Arts, students will experience hands-on, creative learning that emphasizes artistic expression, cultural understanding, and children’s rights, all within a supportive and collaborative environment.

$15 per class / $150 total Tuition Assistance Available