Earlier in the year we made a national call-out for rainbow artworks made by children during the pandemic. All Will Be Well: Children's Rainbows from Lockdown presents a large-scale installation of these joyful artworks, paired with quotes from the young creators, to revisit this incredibly powerful moment. These homemade rainbows became an international signal of hope and animated streetscapes around the world during lockdown.
The concept was first conceived by families from the Lombardy region of Italy, accompanied by the phrase ‘Andrà Tutto Bene’, or All Will Be Well, reflecting on a moment in time when formal schooling, playing with friends, visit family, or leaving the house wasn’t possible. Creating a rainbow was an opportunity to express creativity, and a way to feel part of a powerful collective movement, and – particularly for children living in the UK – a way to show their appreciation for the NHS.
The call-out in May 2020 was led jointly by the V&A and V&A Museum of Childhood. The artworks shown here express the power and impact of child creativity, and will enter the V&A Museum of Childhood’s permanent collection, which is currently undergoing a major transformation to become a world-leading museum of design and creativity for children and young people.
As part of the V&A’s collecting initiative, a we’ve put together a digital image archive showcasing rainbow-related artwork made by children during the first lockdown of 2020. This film shows a selection of these images, as well as oral testimonies from some of the participants, describing what motivated them to make their creations.
