Youth Art Month

Thanks to the schools that participated in 2024’s Youth Art Month!

This year’s theme: Art in a Dream

Prizes are sponsored by Blick Art Materials.  The contest itself is sponsored by the Council for Art Education Association.

What is Youth Art Month?

Council for Art Education (CFAE) administers Youth Art Month at the national level. Festivities take place annually, traditionally culminating each March, to celebrate visual arts for grades K – 12. 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. Youth Art Month also provides a forum for recognizing skills developed through visual arts experiences that are not possible in other curriculum subjects. Started in 1961 through The Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc. (ACMI) and in cooperation with the National Art Education Association (NAEA), Youth Art Month exists to

  • Recognize art education as a viable factor in the total education curricula that develops citizens of a global society.
  • Recognize art is a necessity for the full development of better quality of life for all.
  • Direct attention to the value of art education for divergent and critical thinking.
  • Expand art programs in schools and stimulate new art programs.
  • Encourage commitment to the arts by students, community organizations, and individuals everywhere.
  • Provide additional opportunities for individuals of all ages to participate in creative art learning.
  • Increase community, business and governmental support for art education.
  • Increase community understanding and interest in art and art education through involvement in art exhibits, workshops, and other creative ventures.
  • Reflect and demonstrate the goals of the National Art Education Association that work toward the improvement of art education at all levels.

Please note that Council for Art Education is the national sponsor of Youth Art Month

If you have any questions about what to include on your website please contact [email protected]

Lead a celebration at your school, community, or learning environment!

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Display the downloadable Youth Art Month logo located on the YAM Homepage , along with student artwork.
  • Invite local artists to come to school and share their artwork and art-making processes with students.
  • Ask your administrators and school board to endorse March as Youth Art Month ; declare it in school-wide publications.YAMendorsement2013
  • Host an afternoon or weekend student-led art-making festival for the community.
  • Partner with a local business or the local government to use student artwork for publicity purposes.
  • Contact local newspapers, radio stations, and television stations to cover your event!
  • Host a potluck breakfast before school for parents and students to recognize outstanding student artists in your school.
  • Create a bulletin board based on the state theme.
  • Get local businesses to support your efforts and keep track of who donates anything whether it’s money or time. We need to report who is supporting our programs.
  • Follow YOUTH ART MONTH board on Pinterest to see and share ideas.
  • Be sure to check out these useful letters for your principal, Superintendent, and library services.

 Congratulations to the 2023 YAM winners!

 

 Congratulations to the 2022 YAM winners!

 

STUDENT GRADE SCHOOL
Grand Prize Winner:
Kennadee Gabby
Grade 12
Marion High School
 
High School Winner:
Rebecca Yee
Grade 10 Belleville East High School
Middle School Winner:
Hayden Henkel
Grade 8

Yorkville Middle School

Elementary School Winner:
Abigail O’Connell
Grade 5 Cossitt Avenue School

 Congratulations to the 2021 YAM winners!

STUDENT GRADE SCHOOL
Grand Prize Winner:
Kennadee Gabby
Grade 11
Marion High School
 
High School Winner:
Valeria Echavarri
Grade 9 Ridgewood High School
Middle School Winner:
Juslyn White
Grade 8

Woodland Middle School

Elementary School Winner:
Katie Hall
Grade 5 Machesney Elementary

 Congratulations to the 2020 YAM winners!

STUDENT GRADE SCHOOL
Grand Prize Winner:
Thalia Wesclitz
Grade 12
Mother McAuley High School
 
High School Winner:
Kennadee Gabby
Grade 10 Marion High School Unit #2
Jr. High Winner:
Amanda Hansma
Grade 8 Yorkville Middle School
Elementary School Winner:
Alexa Mesi
Grade 1 Ivy Hall Elementary

 Congratulations to the 2019 YAM winners!

Sargent-Art-2019-YAM-Final-Poster-1-232x300

STUDENT GRADE SCHOOL
Grand Prize Winner:
Bekka Goldstein
Grade 12
Adlai E. Stevenson High School
 
High School Winner:
Megan Dunn
Grade 11 Johnsburg High School
Jr. High Winner:
Kenneth Sledzinski
Grade 8 Holy Trinity Catholic School
Elementary School Winner:
Dylan Knight
Grade 4 Dryden Elementary School

 Congratulations to the 2018 YAM winners!

Sargent-Art-2018-YAM-Final-Poster-236x300

 

 
STUDENT GRADE SCHOOL
Grand Prize Winner:
Hai Ling Chen
Grade 12
Johnsburg High School
 
High SchoolWinner:
Marliese Ruch
Grade 12 Oswego High School
Middle School Winner:
Alec Osato
Grade 7 Westfield Middle School
Elementary School Winner:
Tyler Ubert
Grade 2 Dryden Elementary School

 Congratulations to the 2017 YAM winners!

YAM-Poster-2017-232x300

STUDENT GRADE SCHOOL
Grand Prize:
Madison Glass
Grade 12
Stockton High School
540 North Rush Street
Stockton, IL 61085
Ava Hartschuh Grade 5 Monroe Elementary School
210 N. Madison
Hinsdale, IL 60521
Ashley Zhang
Grade 7 Westfield Middle School
149 Fairfield Way
Bloomingdale, IL 60108
Emma Jones
Grade 10 Plainfield South High School
7800 W. Caton Farm Road
Plainfield, IL 60586

Congratulations to the 2016 YAM winners!

IAEA Poster 2016

STUDENT GRADE SCHOOL
Carissa Silet Grade 9 Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Lincolnshire, IL
Savanna Bell Grade 11 Bureau Valley
High School
Manilus, IL
Rithik Thekiniath Grade 4 Fry Elementary School
Naperville, IL
Heather Cox Grade 7 Glenn Westlake Middle School
Lombard, IL
Kaiden Shofstall Grade 8 Glenn Westlake
Middle School
Lombard, IL
Janelle Butler Grade 12 Homewood-Flossmoor
High School
Flossmoor, IL
Emma Novak Grade 11 Homewood-Flossmoor
High School
Flossmoor, IL
Heidi Fischer Grade 10 Johnsburg
High School
Johnsburg, IL
Kendall McMahon Grade 12 Johnsburg
High School
Johnsburg, IL
Madison Bazilewich Grade 12 Lake County High School
Technology Campus
Grayslake, IL
Andrew Steele Grade 8 Liberty Junior
High School
Daniel Galush Grade 11 Marmion Academy
Aurora, IL
Bart Czechyra Grade 3 Meadow Ridge School
Orland Park, IL
Bianca Olson Grade 7 Westfield
Middle School
Bloomingdale,IL
Jenny Petrova Grade 7 Westfield
Middle School
Bloomingdale,IL
Haley Sullivan Grade 12 The Willows Academy
Des Plaines, IL

 Congratulations to the 2015 YAM winners!
IAEA Poster 2015

Breonna Balensiefen

Grade 11

Bureau Valley High School Sheila Heth
Mia Guzynski

Grade 12

 

Homewood-Flossmoor High School Jackie Wargo

 

Mick Delea

Grade 3

Dryden Elementary Tricia Fuglestad

 

Haley Wierzbicki

Grade 12

Bureau Valley High School Sheila Heth

 

Maggie Palcom

Grade 12

Jefferson High School Lynn Stockton

 

Elizabeth Erickson

Grade 12

Carmel Catholic High School Sheela Gladwell

 

Amanda Im

Grade 11

Carmel Catholic High School Sheela Gladwell

 

Cole Fisher

Grade 12

Yorkville High School Christine Glenn

 

Emily Lange

Grade 8

Martino Junior High School Brooke Nicholson

 

Jane Sieg

Grade 2

St. Peter Lutheran School Nancy Gilles

 

Casey Darre

Grade 8

Westfield Middle School Deyana Matt

 

Allison Greager

Grade 11

Hinsdale Central High School Laura Milas

 

Miranda Pikus

Grade 8

Still Middle School Donna Davis

 

Vanessa Bello

Grade 12

Lake County High School Technology Campus Heidi Stachulak

 

Katherine Doyle

Grade 4

Dryen Elementary School Tricia Fuglestad

 

YAM Endorsement

  • I hereby sign this form in agreement with the above statements. Writing my name on this form signifies my electronic signature. I authorize this action to be made public at the discretion of the IAEA organization.
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Illinois Youth Art Month Coordinator
Tricia Frost
[email protected]

Thank you to our Illinois legislators who have endorsed Illinois Youth Art Month!

Governor Pritzker
Celina Villanueva Senator 11th District
Michelle Mussman 56th District
Ryan Spain 73rd District
Jay Hoffman 113th District
Deb Conroy 46th District
Robyn Gabel 18th District
Sam Yingling 62nd District
Theresa Mah 2nd District
Jeff Keicher 70th District
Kathleen Willis 77th District
Martin McLaughlin 52nd District
Chris Miller 110th District
Mark A. Luft 91st District
Michael Kelly 15th District
Lamont Robinson 5th District
Janet Yang Rohr 41st District

Illinois YAM Proclamation 2023