Youth Art Month

Addison P., Northstar Middle School (Teacher: Johanna Peterson).

Katherine Josten

For more than sixty years, Youth Art Month (YAM) has continued to cultivate and foster visual art education for K–12 students. This year’s theme, Dream in Art, speaks to the power of art for all. As a special celebration of Youth Art Month, YAM is teaming up with the 2022 Claire Flanagan Grand Awardee New York State, the New York State Art Teachers Association (NYSATA), and an inspiring local artist, Jennifer Orkin Lewis (a.k.a. August Wren), who is highly recognized for her loose painting style and spontaneity, to light up the Empire State Building on March 15th.

Our Mission
The nonprofit organization Council for Art Education nationally sponsors YAM, which focuses on one primary goal: To visually demonstrate to federal and state legislators, education officials, community leaders, teachers, and parents the importance of keeping quality art education funded in K–12 schools, and provide a forum for acknowledging skills that are exclusively gained in, with, and through visual art.

Art for All
Today, YAM celebrations take place across the nation with the help of YAM coordinators and visual art educators in each participating state. Local and statewide events take place throughout March in a variety of locations, including schools, libraries, art centers, museums, and even state capitol buildings, serving to focus attention on the value of art education for all children and to encourage support for quality school programs. As the program continues to expand, YAM celebrations like Art Walk on Main Street in Fauquier County, Virginia, bring back the joy and excitement of youth art to local communities.

Today, YAM celebrations take place across the nation with the help of YAM coordinators and visual art educators.

As part of the annual YAM event, students at every grade level in each state have the opportunity to design artwork for a flag or banner in support of the annual theme. One design from each state is selected to be made into a flag or banner using the student’s winning artwork. Winning flags and banners from all states are featured in the YAM Museum at the National Art Education Association (NAEA) convention.

Students and teachers can also advocate at the local level through a variety of activities. In addition to art exhibits and school events, local YAM coordinators obtain proclamations from local elected and school officials. Students can also help create promotional materials such as buttons, posters, bumper stickers, flyers, or signs.

Beginnings
The annual obser vance of YAM began in 1961 when the Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI) created the Children’s Art Month event as a way to emphasize the value of visual art education. In 1969, when the celebration expanded to include secondary school students, the event officially became recognized as Youth Art Month. Today, the Council for Art Education manages YAM through the generous support of ACMI.

Get Involved
After a challenging few years, we are excited to bring back this historical event with the support of state YAM coordinators and art educators. Wisconsin, Kansas, and Alabama repor ted significant increases in YAM participants and exhibit visits. The State of New York connected the State Education Department with the New York State Union of Teachers and collaborated for YAM support.

If you would like to get involved in YAM or want to encourage student participation, contact the chairperson in your state. Find more information at councilforarteducation.org.