Did you know that official international Art Day is celebrated every year on the 2nd Friday in August and this year it was on 8/8/8? I learnt about this special day just today on the website Artists for A Better World.

It started out as a simple idea for people the world over to set aside a day for appreciating artists and for enjoying the kind of art they like. And it has now turned into a debate, not dissimilar to the conflicted international views about whether the arts deserve funding and where the arts fit into a technologically advancing culture.

Artists for A Better World member Becky Mate is the founder of an international holiday for artists of all disciplines called Art Day. For the past 10 years, she has let people around the world know that such a holiday exists. The idea has been met with both favor and controversy.

Art Day is the perfect time to celebrate creativity and bring joy to others. Draw a picture. Compose a song. Write a poem or story. Paint. Have a party! Additionally, give a card, photo, music CD, poem, story or anything creative to someone else 

In short, Art Day is about bringing a smile to others and forwarding the concept of creating a better world though aesthetics. Although Art Day was formulated around a particular date to celebrate creativity, ideally, one can spread creativity all year round. Art Day helps highlight its importance.