SchoolArts - March 2010

Youth

Art Month
Youth Art Month (YAM) is
an annual observance each March to
emphasize the value of art education for

activities for art educators— YAM! During the month of March, you can hold observances of many kinds,

ity school art programs. Established in 1961, FOCUS IN
all children and to encourage support for qual-
YAM provides a forum for acknowledging
o

Participate in YAM
Art Month, adopted the theme, “Start with Art,
Learn for Life.” Art education develops self-esteem,
appreciation of the work of others, self-

in schools, libraries, stores and other places. Your celebration can include exhibits of children’s artwork, promotional tools such as buttons, posters, and bumper stickers, a proclamation from your mayor and local officials, a collection of quotes in support of art and

expression, cooperation with others, and
critical thinking skills. All of these skills
are vital to the success of our future
leaders—our children.

art education from leading citizens and from young students on what art means to them, artwork in symphony programs, on billboards, restaurant placemats, in utilty customer flyers, and on supermarket bags. Whatever you do, be sure to submit photos and articles about all your events, newspaper, radio and television features, interviews, and other coverage of your observance to your state YAM chairperson. This information should be submitted by the close of the school year to your state chairperson, who will document all these state observances to CFAE by mid-July. CFAE reviews these state observances and gives awards to the states submitting a record of their observances.

Support YAM

Thanks to generous contributions from donors, CFAE
will raise awareness through national YAM observances,
including the display of the YAM Flags at the 24th
Annual National Flag Event, and distribution of YAM
information and display of the YAM state flags at several
national conferences. These activities show federal and
state legislators, education officials, businesses, com-
munity leaders, teachers and parents the importance of
keeping visual art education funded and in the schools.

In addition, contributions may be made separately to the

2010 “Sponsor a Flag Designer” fund to send student flag designers from all over the U. S. to New York City for the Flag Event to receive recognition for their unique, artistic YAM flags. Please consider sponsoring a Flag Designer, so that they may be able to attend this very special event.

You can also donate to the general fund, or provide an in-kind donation (art materials, services, etc.) to help make YAM a success. Your help makes a huge difference. For more information on making a donation, participating in a state observance, or to find out the name of your state chairperson, please contact: The Council for Art Education, Inc., P. O. Box 479, Hanson, MA 02341 or (781) 293-