For more than eleven years “Maria’s Children” Arts Rehabilitation Centre has been helping children with special needs to practice various forms of art and has been exhibiting their works at various venues in Moscow. This year’s exhibition of group and individual projects, executed in different techniques (painting, graphics, ceramics, patchwork), will be hosted by the Moscow Museum of Modern Art. There will be a sale of postcards and calendars with reproductions of children’s’ works. Children attending the show will have a chance to create their own artworks and to leave them for the exposition. Dr. Patch Adams and his clown company will be visiting children in hospitals and orphanages in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The clowns and Dr. Patch Adams will also attend the charity auction of children’s works, that will be held during the opening. The proceeds from the auction will help “Maria’s Children” to continue charity projects and to launch new creative initiatives.

“Maria’s Children” aims to assist creative and psychological rehabilitation, social adaptation of children left without parental support, orphaned children, children with special needs, and their integration into society. One of the programs realized by the Centre is “Children for Children”, targeted at supporting children at orphanages, nursing homes, and hospitals. This program is carried out by children themselves, who help younger children, paint the walls, and set up clown festivals. The Center also organizes clown tours, allowing the participants to visit their peers in hospitals and orphanages abroad, while enabling them to see new cities and countries. This social adaptation program helps children who have spent most of their life in orphanages or special centers for the disabled. Summer and spring vacation adaptation camps allow children to acquire the necessary life skills through active communication with new friends, older children, specialists, nature and art.

The Moscow Museum of Modern Art pays special attention to children’s art development and training. During the winter school break the museum hosts the annual art festival of junior artists, with the participation of art schools and art centers of the Central District of Moscow (CAO). In summer the museum opens its doors to the children’s and junior artists’ photography exhibition, housing personal and group shows of young artists. The museum hosts “Fantasy” art studio for primary and secondary school students and the “Free Studios” School of Contemporary Art for young artists. The mission of the Rehabilitation Arts Center are very important for us, and we are happy to offer the opportunity to exhibit children’s works in the museum halls.