On June 1, in celebration of International Children's Day, the Exhibition Hall of the National Library of Georgia was transformed into a vibrant interactive space hosting a diverse program of educational and creative events throughout the day.
Emzar Jgerenaia, Director of the Science, Culture, and Civic Education Department at the National Library, welcomed students from various schools across Georgia. He introduced the day's specialized program and shared insightful stories about the history and global significance of International Children's Day.
Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, General Director of the National Library, addressed the young guests with an inspiring speech:
"June 1 is a truly special date completely dedicated to children, their joy, development, and future. The National Library of Georgia traditionally joins this celebration with a clear goal: we want the library to be far more than just a repository of books. Our vision is for this space to become a place of discovery, play, creativity, and inspiration. This is why we designed a multi-faceted program that blends literature and art with modern technologies and creative practices, empowering children to think freely, read, create, and discover their inner potential."
The immersive program featured an array of interactive workshops and meetings:
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Literature & Art: Children engaged with renowned children's author Mariam Tsiklauri, who spoke about her literary works. They also met acclaimed artist and illustrator Nino Chakvetadze, who conducted an exclusive masterclass on illustrating poetry.
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Sketching & Crafts: Budding young artists participated in a live drawing session with instructors from the Zaal Sulakauri Studio, receiving personal autographs from Zaal Sulakauri himself. Meanwhile, mentors from the "Mosaico" Studio introduced the children to the intricate techniques of mosaic art.
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Library Science: Professional conservators from the National Library demonstrated book restoration techniques, giving the library's future readers a behind-the-scenes look at preserving cultural heritage.
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Pop Culture & Tech: Translator Ketevan Kanchashvili led an engaging discussion on the world of "Harry Potter," while Giorgi and Elene Abelashvili from the School of Design and Animation gave tech-savvy students an introductory look into the elements of video game design and creation.