Small Size Days 2021

Covid-19 has confined citizens to their homes and brought a real challenge for everyone in their towns, cities, countries across the globe. Most of all, children have been unable to access arts and culture as they did before.

Arts and Culture are defined as a basic need for children of all ages, protected under Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. This Article aims to guarantee opportunities for children to express their creativity, improve their imagination, gain self-confidence and develop physically, socially, mentally and emotionally.

Small Size Network focuses on performing arts for early years. Early childhood is the period when humans grow up and learn the fastest. Current research shows that 85% of the human brain develops within the first 1000 days. Joyful interaction with early years is important for their brain development. They dance to music from 16 to 18 months onwards. From the age of two, children’s journey to the world of imagination begins and they start to observe other children. They learn by reaching out to touch things, discovering sounds, shapes and colours. That’s why it’s important for children to come to performances and socialise with other children.

Local Authorities and National Governments should create an environment that allows children to explore, encounter performances and helps them to learn by observation and socialization. Young residents and their families make up on average 40%-50% of urban populations. Authorities must respond to the need for activities such as theatre, dance performances and other high-quality activities for early years.

Together with 91 members from 37 countries in six continents, we urge to you to support performing arts for early years, to enable children to participate in the arts, to encourage and support arts organisations in public spaces and schools. From Bologna to Santiago, from Toronto to Helsinki, from Ulaanbaatar to Rehovot, from Singapore to Sao Paolo, from Mexico City to Istanbul, from Athens to Edinburgh, from London to Brasilia, from Sabadell to Kazan and in many other places right across the world, we have a common wish; to continue to create for the little ones, to meet them, to listen to them, to take care of them and to let them feel, dream and fly!