It has been more than 30 years since the Bermuda National Gallery inaugurated its first Bermuda Biennial Art Exhibition. Now, 16 Biennials later, it is evident that it has been the primary catalyst in the impressive advancement of the visual arts in Bermuda during this time period.

In the wake of the Bermuda Biennial's success, the BNG has now expanded its Biennial concept to include a Junior Biennial, open to children aged 5 to 17

The concept for a junior biennial was inspired by the Young Artists’ Summer Show at the Royal Academy in London and the person behind the London show, Molly Bretton, who is head of learning at the Royal Academy, was also the juror for our BNG Junior Biennial.

The inaugural BNG Junior Biennial exhibition is sponsored by Gary L. Philips in honour of his late wife, Patricia Ann Philips, who was an avid champion of the arts and creativity in the learning process. Additional supporters are Skyport and the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club.

The making of art by the very young is indicative of a growing awareness of their surroundings, which in some will become a lifelong process in artistic development. I see it as a continuum, nevertheless. It is practical and appropriate that the Junior Biennial be separate from the regular BNG Bermuda Biennial. After all, they are still children. They approach the making of art uncritically. They are having fun. It is a special kind of play, all freely rendered.

Children, even as young as those in kindergarten and elementary school begin to stand out for their varying interests and natural abilities. Some are gifted in the making of art, others in music or science, mathematics or sports and so on. Nevertheless, young children normally go through developmental stages in their apprehension of the world around them.

According to renowned art educator, Viktor Lowenfeld, children normally go through various art stages beginning with scribbles, then named scribbles, followed by schemas, including simple symbols, such as stick figures and so on until about age 12. At this stage they begin to emulate the naturalism of adult art and can be critical of their efforts.

All children make art. It is an aspect of learning through play and one of the differences between a mature artist and that of children, is that a child will approach art making through uncritical, innocent eyes. That is what makes their art so magical, so fresh.

The Bermuda Junior Biennial will provide our children ages 5 to 17 with a national platform for artistic expression, which, like the regular Bermuda Biennial, is and will continue to be internationally juried.

As already indicated, the regular Bermuda Biennial has provided a powerful incentive for the expansion and creative development of the visual arts. It will be interesting to see what impact the Junior Biennial will have on our young artists.

Although the Junior Biennial is for young people aged 5 to 17, the exhibition itself is not organised chronologically. Rather, it is displayed more aesthetically. In other words, in ways that work artistically. There was a conscious decision not to organise it by age. For that information, check the exhibition catalogue.

There is apparently a division between the art of the younger children up to about age twelve and adolescent art. With the latter, their art is more transitional, more consciously aware of traditional rules, such as linear perspective or accuracy in depicting realistically the human form or landscape.

As I perused the catalogue, two things stood out. The art of those under twelve is generally more colourful than the art of the teenage participants. Also, for whatever reason, there are far more younger participants than teenagers in the show.

My guess is that while the younger artists just get in there and do what they do without much in the way of criticising their efforts, adolescents are different, in that they are becoming more critically aware of their efforts. Perhaps with this group there is a growing sense of inadequacy as they compare their work with mature artists. This is where supportive teaching helps.

There are 81 works of art in the Junior Biennial created by 79 artists.

Because there are so many participants in this exhibition and because they have already gone through a selection process, but also because of space constraints, I have decided to forego writing about each participant. That is regretful, for I have found this exhibition oozes with talent, charm and joyousness.

This is an art exhibition by our children. They are our future. By cultivating our young, as this Junior Biennial does, we are ensuring their future, our future.

The Bermuda Junior Biennial continues through May 3. I encourage all to visit this show and support our children.

• Bermuda National Gallery is open Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, and Saturdays, 10am to 2pm. Free admission is made possible by The Christian Humann Foundation