CREDIT: LONDON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
The London's Children's Museum is seeking volunteers for The Brush Off event in April 2013.

For nearly 40 years, children in the London area have explored, discovered and learned in The Children's Museum. With their April 2013 signature event, The Brush Off, the Museum aims to share that sense of joy and wonder with less fortunate children in our community.

Linda Leja, development officer for The Children's Museum, described The Brush Off as a live painting competition. "Twenty artists will test their skills through four rounds of competition and guests will vote on who's going to make it through each round. Guests will ultimately crown the night's artist of the evening."

Guests will watch as 38 works of art are created live, right before their eyes. "They're going to watch these artists in motion, doing their thing, the artists expressing their intense creativity — artistic expression at its rawest," described Leja.

All 20 artists will be given identical kits that include acrylic tube paints, a pencil, brushes, non-metal knives, paper towel, an easel and a table. Local artists who have already signed up to participate include Val Sloggett, an abstract artist who graduated from Fanshawe College in Illustration Design, through the Graphic Arts program; her husband Ross Bishop, who is also an abstract artist; and Ryan Mahy, who creates graffiti-style art. The Children's Museum is still looking for artists — if you'd like to sign up to participate as an artist, contact Leja at linda@londonchildrensmuseum.ca. The cutoff date to apply to be an artist is January 18, 2013 and the selection committee will decide on the 20 artists by February 1.

The Brush Off will have a "mix and mingle party atmosphere," said Leja, which will include cocktails, appetizers and a silent auction of all the art created.

The Children's Museum has been a huge part of many Londoners' childhoods since 1975. "Children from infancy through (the age of) 12 explore and discover science, the arts and our heritage within nine permanent galleries and through many special exhibits, events and programs," explained Leja. "Every year, we have approximately 100,000 visitors participate in school education programs, workshops, day camps, self-guided visits and more."

The goal of The Brush Off is to raise $20,000, which will go toward sharing the magic of the Museum with some schools in need in London. "In the city of London, 26 schools have been identified as 'priority schools,' meaning that they are schools that reside in areas of profound poverty and are in need of time, resources and support," explained Leja. She added that many students come to school hungry, as their families are unable to provide them with breakfast and lunch. "Cost and access is a barrier to almost everything that these schools try to do to enrich the education and lives of the children living in these neighbourhoods."

Over the years, the Children's Museum has offered a subsidy to try to help with the cost associated with field trips, but the cost of bussing is still a barrier, she said. "We have developed a program whereby funds raised through this event will go toward supporting these schools in London. For every $1,000 we raise, two classes — 60 children and their chaperones — will have the opportunity to get on a big, yellow school bus, experience a curriculum-connected education program, receive a hot lunch and, most importantly, the right to play."

If you'd like to get involved in the event, The Children's Museum is currently seeking volunteers to help out. Leja said she envisions volunteers at the end of each round of The Brush Off working like a pit crew at a race. "These artist stations will have to be cleaned up and prepped for the next round, so (volunteers) can be part of that pit crew." You can also volunteer to help set up for or clean up after the event, or you can volunteer to be an ambassador to take care of the guests throughout the evening. If you're a photographer or videographer, you can capture all the fun of the event with your chosen medium.

Tickets for The Brush Off, which will take place on April 25, 2013 at The Children's Museum (21 Wharncliffe Rd. S.), are $50 each. For more information on The Children's Museum, go to londonchildrensmuseum.ca. To get involved either as an artist or as a volunteer, contact Leja at linda@londonchildrensmuseum.ca.