Sixty seven pieces of children’s art from twenty four Michigan counties appear in this Web exhibit. Each child’s painting, drawing, mixed media or collage was created as a “visual letter” to a child in Binzhou City in Shandong Province. A “visual letter” is like a written letter in that both can tell stories and share important ideas and feelings.

The Michigan 4-H Children’s Art Exchange asks children in kindergarten to sixth grade to communicate (via visual art) something important in their lives, such as friends, family, home, pets, school, sports and holidays. The children are also encouraged to communicate about complex ideas, such as peace, diversity and protecting the environment.

In May 2004, a Michigan 4-H delegation traveled to China to visit schools that participated in the 2004 and 2005 4-H Art Exchanges. Please visit Michigan Children's Art in China .

All the artwork in this Web exhibit was exchanged with Binzhou in October 2006 as a gift to the children of China. For information about the 2007 Michigan 4-H Art Exchange contact your county Michigan State University Extension office.

For more information on how to become involved in the 4-H Children's Art Exchange, contact your county Michigan State University Extension office for details. Your county office is listed in the government section of your telephone book under your county name.