Youth Art Month
This year we are excited that Blick will be sponsoring our YAM Poster Contest!
Due Date: January 15th, 2021
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.
Theme: ART CONNECTS US
The student poster artwork submission can include “Illinois” and “Youth Art Month” in the design (but not required). Winning artwork will be placed onto a commemorative poster and featured in the IAEA Mosaic Publication. More details on prizes listed below. No ratio for the work required. Work must be 2-D. Limit 25 entries per teacher.
YAM is sponsored by Blick this year. The winning students and their teachers will be awarded the following:
Grade Level Category Winners:
$100 Student Award in Blick products and $300 Teacher Award of Blick products and gift certificate ($150 value for each) for Elementary, Middle and High School level winners
Grand Prize Winner & Teacher:
$500 Student Award ($100 Blick products, $400 gift certificate) and $1000 Teacher Award for the Grand Prize winner ($250 in Blick products and $750 gift certificate)
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.
- 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 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!
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!
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!
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!
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!

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
Illinois Youth Art Month Coordinator
Tricia Frost
[email protected]
Thank you to our Illinois legislators who endorse Illinois Youth Art Month 2020
State Representative District 51 Mary Edly-Allen
56th District Michelle Mussman
114th District LaToya Greenwood
65th District Dan Ugaste
18th District Robyn Gabel
Senator Sara Feigenholtz
11th District Ann Williams
75th District David Welter
2nd District Theresa Mah
78th District Camille Lilly
State Senator Laura Fine
State Rep Fran Hurley for the 35th District