Silvermine Arts Center outreach connects Concord Magnet 6th graders with peers in Lagos, Nigeria through a Creative Connections global exchange led by author/illustrator Lizzy Rockwell
NEW CANAAN, CT, February 25, 2026 — Students from Concord Magnet School in Norwalk, Connecticut connected with peers in India and Nigeria this year through a live international art exchange. Sponsored by Silvermine Arts Center’s Art Partners Outreach Program, the initiative continued a longstanding collaboration with Creative Connections in Norwalk.
Concord Magnet sixth graders engaged in meaningful conversations with students from Educon International School in Pune, India, and Phidel College in Nigeria through a series of virtual exchanges. The program combined student-created artwork, live videoconferences, and cultural presentations to foster dialogue, curiosity, and global understanding.
During a four-day residency, renowned author and illustrator Lizzy Rockwell guided Concord students through step-by-step illustration techniques. Her instruction strengthened students’ ability to convey emotion, detail, and depth in their artwork, transforming their drawings into powerful vehicles for storytelling and connection.
“It was exciting to see how the students used art to tell their stories and connect with peers from different parts of the world,” said Lizzy Rockwell. “Their creativity allowed them to express who they are while discovering meaningful points of connection with others. Each piece offered a glimpse into a young person’s world and demonstrated how art can build understanding beyond borders.”
Through this collaborative initiative, Concord Magnet students not only developed artistic skills but also gained broader cultural awareness by viewing and responding to artwork created by their international peers. Live videoconferences allowed students to speak directly with one another and share artwork inspired by personal experiences, family life, nature, and cultural traditions. Concord students presented paintings and drawings depicting changing seasons, travel, and everyday moments, while their international peers shared works featuring religious celebrations, cultural festivals, and stories rooted in local traditions. Each artwork became a starting point for thoughtful questions, dialogue, and reflection.
“These exchanges go far beyond sharing artwork,” said Barbara Linarducci, CEO of Silvermine Arts Center. “Students are learning to listen, ask meaningful questions, and see the world through someone else’s experience. Art becomes the bridge that connects them.”
The program emphasized breaking down stereotypes and highlighting shared humanity. Students were encouraged to see one another not through assumptions, but through stories told in their own voices. Facilitated by Creative Connections, the exchanges concluded with plans for students to share the artwork and recorded conferences within their school communities, extending the impact to families, teachers, and peers.
Silvermine Arts Center’s Art Partners Outreach Program continues to use art as a tool for global connection — helping students develop empathy, confidence, and a broader understanding of the world through creative exchange.
Serving more than 2,000 under-resourced youth annually, Silvermine Art Partners Outreach works to help close Connecticut’s persistent educational achievement gap by providing equitable access to high-quality arts education. Through curriculum-based residencies and enrichment programs delivered directly in schools and community sites, Silvermine supports student development in critical thinking, collaboration, literacy integration, and creative problem-solving—skills that support academic success and lifelong learning.
