Youth month ar t
Youth Art Month (YAM) is an annual observance each March to emphasize
the value of art education for all children and to encourage support for quality
school art programs. Established in 1961, YAM provides a forum for acknowledging skills that are not possible in other subjects. The Council for Art Education, a sponsor of Youth Art Month, adopted the theme, “Art Shapes the
World!” Art education develops self-esteem, appreciation of the work of others, self-expression, cooperation with others, and critical-thinking skills. All of
these skills are vital to the success of our future leaders—our children.
Participate in YAM
We hope you are participating in one of the most rewarding activities for art educators—YAM! During the month
of March, you can hold observances of many kinds 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 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 26th
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
2012 “Sponsor a Flag Designer” fund to send student flag
designers from all over the United States to Washington,
DC, for the Flag Event to receive recognition for their
unique, artistic YAM flags. Please consider sponsoring
a Flag Designer, so that he or she may be able to attend
this very special event. You can also donate to the gen-
eral 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 mak-
ing 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) 293-4100 or debbiem@
acminet.org.
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