Adjudicator Experience at Froebel’s International Annual Art Expo 24-25
In May, a class fellow invited me to adjudicate Froebel’s International School’s Annual Art Expo – a vibrant celebration of student creativity featuring works from both primary and secondary learners.
I stepped into a transformed library that radiated the spirit of artistic expression, each piece revealing the students’ imagination and effort. The school mentor greeted us with warmth and outlined the event’s central theme, “Celebrations,” commemorating Froebel’s 50th anniversary. She embraced a powerful philosophy: inviting volunteer artists to evaluate the artwork, believing that passion-driven adjudication fosters deeper authenticity and sincerity than compensated roles.
📝 Thoughtful Planning and Meaningful Dialogue
The school team organized the event with precision and care. They developed rubrics that thoroughly assessed technical skill and creative expression, guiding us to evaluate student work based on criteria like line, shape, colour, form, composition, texture, value, gradation, harmony, rhythm, variation, space, balance, originality, creativity, description, and impact. Staff members fostered a warm yet professional environment, offering clear support throughout. The students contributed gracefully, showing respect and decorum that elevated the entire experience.
We received ample time to review each submission thoughtfully. Midway through, a tea break created space for us to recharge and spark an enriching dialogue. We discussed how the value of art has quietly faded in educational spaces and explored how rubrics could be redesigned to champion wild ideas and fearless creativity. Together, we reflected on ways to better support kinesthetic learners – those who thrive through touch, craft, and movement – and how to rekindle the significance of artistic expression in schools where it often remains undervalued.
🎭 Freedom of Expression and Community Effort
Students embraced complete creative freedom, submitting as many pieces as they wished. They worked across 2D, 3D, and collage formats, experimenting with materials like thermopore sheets, glitter paper, balloons, colored paper, clay, shells, straws, toy cars, plastic chairs, cocktail sticks, crepe paper, glaze paper, and wooden blocks. Their submissions brought to life key moments from school culture – sports days, bake sales, spelling bees, pet day festivities, the art expo, and drama club performances.
Each display told a vivid story: racing tracks buzzing with motion, tiny spectators seated on makeshift chairs, miniature costumes and banners fluttering, handmade cakes and animal figurines, barns and shacks crafted from ice cream sticks. Every detail pulsed with energy and celebration, transforming simple materials into immersive snapshots of joy and collective memory.
Behind the scenes, the school navigated significant challenges in rallying parental support for the value of art. Some parents questioned its relevance, showing visible disinterest. Undeterred, the school took initiative – holding conversations, building trust, and involving families – ultimately creating an inclusive event that united the entire community. Teachers stepped up with heartfelt dedication, crafting props and curating experiences that made every child feel seen, celebrated, and proud of their role in the artistic showcase.
🏆 A Lasting Impression
As adjudicators, we aimed to honor each student’s effort, though even with generous time and care, the depth of creativity on display felt beyond measure. At the event’s close, Froebel’s International presented us with commemorative shields – thoughtful tokens that now grace my study desk, reminding me daily of the school’s unwavering dedication to nurturing creativity in an age increasingly dominated by AI and digital distractions.
This experience reaffirmed the vital role of artistic expression in education – especially for kinesthetic learners who flourish through tactile, hands-on engagement. At a time when imagination often takes a back seat to screen time, Froebel’s Art Expo stood as a living testament to the power of art, community, and purposeful learning.
