School Children express creativity at MARTE museum

On October 31, the Embassy of the United States in El Salvador provided an opportunity for 156 students aged 6 to 10 from the Educational Center of Popotlán in Apopa, San Salvador, to create art and express themselves at the Museum of Art of El Salvador (MARTE).

The students, many of whom had never been to a museum before, enjoyed the opportunity to view the art exhibits and paint paintings.  For individual paintings, the students were asked to portray a positive word that expressed their hopes for the future. Students chose such words as “love,” “hope,” and “peace.”  The students then participated in the painting of a large mural that will be installed in their community.

Each student received a backpack full of art supplies, to support further development of their creativity after returning home.

Every year in October, MARTE dedicates a special day to children, inviting students from schools located in high-risk areas to visit the museum. With this 15-year tradition, MARTE aims to strengthen relationships with schools and communities.

In the last 5 years, the Public Affairs Office of the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador has invested more than $8 million in exchange programs, cultural programs, and support for entrepreneurship, English teaching and education.