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This was my introduction to the chat. There were a lot of art teachers who were very welcoming and a couple of pre-service art teachers

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I went on a chat, #K12artchat, on twitter with art teachers from all over. They were talking about Youth Art Month (YAM), a month that celebrates youth art in March, and advocacy in art.

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On the Council for Art Education (CFAE), they talked about the history, benefits, and how art teachers can participate in YAM.

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Student exhibitions, public artworks, art festivals, and school events raise awareness and support of the visual arts to

local and state education officials

business and community leaders

state and federal legislators

The 2017/2018 theme is "Building Community Through Art".
Youth Art Month History

In 1969 the celebration expanded to include secondary school students, and the Children's Art Month event officially became known as Youth Art Month.

In 1984, ACMI created the non-profit organization The Council for Art Education (CFAE) to advocate for visual art education. CFAE coordinates the Youth Art Month program at the national level.

While Youth Art Month typically occurs in March, local and state events celebrating visual art education take place on almost a year round basis! Events and fundraisers take place in schools, libraries, art centers, museums, and even state capitol buildings.
Youth Art Month Benefits
Youth Art Month exists to:

1. Recognize art education as a viable factor in the total education curriculum that develops citizens of a global society.

2. Recognize art is a necessity for the full development of better quality of life for all.

3. Direct attention to the value of art education for divergent and critical thinking.

4. Expand art programs in schools and stimulate new art programs.

5. Encourage commitment to the arts by students, community organizations, and individuals everywhere.

6. Provide additional opportunities for individuals of all ages to participate in creative art learning.

7. Increase community, business and governmental support for art education.

8. Increase community understanding and interest in art and art education through involvement in art exhibits, workshops, and other creative ventures.

9. Reflect and demonstrate the goals of the National Art Education Association that work toward the improvement of art education at all levels.

To learn more about Youth Art Month or how to get involved in your state, contact your Youth Art Month Chairperson or State Art Education Association. See the Youth Art Month Overview for more information.

Youth Art Month State Flags and Banners

Art teachers coordinate the design contest at the local level.
Youth Art Month Art Exhibitions

Students participate in art exhibitions during Youth Art Month.

Youth Art Month Activities
Celebrating Youth Art Month is fun!

Approximately 700 students at Lake Hamilton Middle School in Arkansas created "Get Well" cards for patients at St. Vincent's Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas as a community service project.

Broward County Art Educators in Florida exhibited artwork alongside a display board informing the viewer about the inspirations, connections, studio skills and standards of the learning activities and how they culminated in the student's work.

Over 60 schools and 325 student artists participated in the largest and first ever Illinois Regional High School Art Show in Chicago in 2014. Over 2500 people attended, and 90 senior students received at least one college scholarship.

Texas created Big Art Day. This one day celebration includes 125 public K-12 school events and 25 community arts sponsored events.

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Student exhibitions, public artworks, art festivals, and school events raise awareness and support of the visual arts to local and state education officials business and community leaders state and federal legislators The 2017/2018 theme is "Building Community Through Art".

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On arteducators.org, they summarized what Youth Art Month and how the Council for Art Education administers YAM

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The Youth Art Month Program emphasizes the value of art education for all children, encourages support for quality school art programs, and promotes art material safety.

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I was answering a question about advocacy for the arts and how teachers promoted their art. A lot I saw was social media

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I was answering a question about YAM and if I've experienced it YAM in the classroom. The moderator was nice to give me a history about it