Inspiring virtues in Bermuda?s children through the arts is the hope of the co-ordinators of the Peace of Art Project.

Its organisers have teamed up with local artists and the Baha?i of Bermuda to organise a month of workshops to creatively promote peace.

With the help of Bermudian songstress Deletta Gillespie and artist-educator Carmen Mitchell, the programme hopes to tap into the children?s creativity in order to explore a different virtue each week ? unity, peace, respect and excellence were the chosen focuses for this year?s Peace of Art Project.

?We have a great potential with this programme to transform the Bermudian community positively, but of course slowly, through our children.? said one of the project?s co-ordinators, Dr. Cheryl Peek-Ball.

She said the series of four workshops is designed specifically for children between the ages of five and ten years.

?We are aiming to provide a nurturing, creative environment for children to explore the values of such virtues as unity, respect and excellence,? said Dr. Peek-Ball.

?The Peace of Art project is our way of making Bermuda part of the international movement towards character education for children.

?And five to ten years is such a great age to being instilling the meaning of peace and unity.?

?Our programme in 2002 was met with great success and the kids were so enthusiastic about the skills they learned.

?Not only did they do a performance of song, dance and poetry at the end of the workshop, but they participated in the Race Unity Day later on that year.?

Dr. Peek-Ball also said that the Peace of Art Project aims to educate parents as well.

A series of workshops will be held later this year to help parents learn how to build positive character traits in their children.

The children?s workshop, which will take place at the Baha?i National Centre in Hamilton, has space for only 30 children, so Dr. Peek-Ball said that it was vital for parents to make sure they register on time.

Registration will take place on Saturday, January 24, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Baha?i National Centre.

Children aged five and seven will attend between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and the eight to ten year olds will atend in the afternoon between 1.30 and 3.30 p.m.

The workshop will take place over four Saturdays in February.