Ellen Os, project manager and Leif Hernes, member of the project management in Glitterbird

Dear artist
- dear coordinators
- dear friends
- dear all of you!

The Glitterbird journey is over – or has the journey just started?

Throughout these three years
- we have been struggling
- we have been sweating
- we have been discussing
- we have been fighting
searching the same target to make the world a better place to live for the younger human beings.

At this time in space you have every one of you shown us through your artistic contribution
- ways to go
- paths to follow
- mountains to climb
but still believing that the idea is strong.

IT IS POSSIBLE TO CREATE ART FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS.

Your art your artistic activities have proved that the distance between laughter and tears is short, even for our target group – and so also for us.

Touching moments in the Glitterbird projects have been countless!
Moving moments have been countless!

Children’s reactions have moved us numerously!

But all due to your humble and sensitive way of meeting the children has proved the essence of this project to us.

Thank you – every one of you!

We have had the privilege to meet with different artists and have been given the opportunity to take part in artistic processes, ethic dilemmas, and aesthetic attitudes together with you – all due to your generosity.

As we hoped when we initiated the project, we have met so many clever, pleasant, intelligent and witty people, and though seriously working – have shown an enormous scope for humour.

We think that the meeting with small children brings out the best of mankind – and you have proved this for us!

We have not chosen to work with in the Glitterbird project because of our language abilities. Still we feel that even if we cannot elaborate our thoughts and feelings in a common verbal language. This has made all of us vulnerable. We had wished to spend more time with every one of you.

At this point we would like to thank quite a few people;
- well knowing that there would have been no Glitterbird project without every single of them.

Anne-Francoise and AMALYS who has invited us all to Paris and together with Marie Calude and Coralie made this festival possible.
And of course, Olivier – also called the Magic Man, thank you!

The Coordinators from Denmark, from Finland, from Hungary and of course France/Italy for their commitment to the project, thank you!

Oslo University College – by Ragnvald who has taken on the great responsibility and risks as beneficiary for the whole project, thank you!

And of course Linn who has been the invisible and visible hand in this project, thank you!

We want also to thank our heads of study for their support and enthusiasm and for attending this festival.

And at last - but not least – every single artist. You have taken on the responsibility of making this project an artistic success.

And now it is time to say goodbye – but even if the EU Culture2000 funded project Glitterbird – Art for the Very Young is over
we hope that the Glitterbird IDEA will continue to live and develop through you and through your art and that still many children will be given the opportunity to enjoy your art and the meetings with you.

And that you will continue to have the privilege and will be given the gift fo being together with the hopes for the future – OUR CHILDREN.