ADVOCACY
Congratulations to our YAM Winners!
Tennessee embraces Art for All with Youth Art Month!
The Tennessee Art Education Association invites all art educators to participate in the annual Youth Arts Month for March 2022! Tennessee art educators can be a part of YAM celebrations by committing to a single class activity that focuses on advocating for the arts or something larger like school art exhibits. You can start with one thing you are already doing successfully and designing a way to share the value gained by your students with school administrators, with your community, and/or with politicians.
Youth Art month is celebrated during the month of March. Think about any of the successes and highlights of your art classes during the year that may deserve recognition. Send those pictures, with a description(media, size, student name(s), title, school, city and district), or any articles about advocacy event or student work to TAEA’s Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook(META) pages. Images, articles, and events will be included in Florida’s YAM national report as well. Label your emails with the title “YAM Event 2021/2022” and send it in anytime.
What is YAM?
YAM, or Youth Art Month, is a yearly celebration during the month of March that promotes Art and Art Education in schools across the nation.
Youth Art Month was founded by the Crayon, Water Color & Craft Institute, Inc., the predecessor of the Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc. (ACMI), in cooperation with the National Art Education Association, in 1961 and was initially called Children's Art Month. Its goal was to "emphasize the value of participating in art for all children." It was renamed Youth Art Month in 1969, to include secondary school students.
The main nationwide component of Youth Art Month is a competition called School Flags Across America . . . Flying High. As part of the competition, each state Youth Art Month Chairperson selects a theme that is representative of that state and of the spirit of Youth Art Month, and students design flags around that theme. The winning design from each state is then made into an actual flag, and the 50 student-designed flags are then displayed throughout Washington, D.C. following an opening ceremony held the first week of March to commemorate the start of Youth Art Month. The winning students and their families are invited to attend this opening ceremony in Washington, D.C. and the flags are displayed throughout the city for March, and then displayed at the Youth Art Month booth at the annual convention of the National Art Education Association.
Be an Advocate
Youth Art Month is carried out entirely by volunteers. TAEA is proud to be a part of the call to advocate for the Arts in TN. Our Youth Art Month Chair, Shatara Ferguson Brooks, organizes and leads our state's efforts to recognize the importance of the Arts in our schools.
We know that everyday as art educators, you advocate for the Arts in your schools. Youth Art Month may only be during the month of March, but the need for the Arts is year-long.
Contact your local officials to let them know the importance of Art in our schools and the lives of our students.
https://www.tn.gov/main/section/elected-officials
WHy YAM matters…
● Recognize art education as a viable factor in the total education curriculum 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.
