Youth Art Month Celebrate Art in New Jersey Schools

This web site is dedicated to art teachers and art students in New Jersey. They were willing to celebrate and publicize the learning and hard work that takes place in art classes by sharing lesson plans and examples of student work for publication on this site. This site is also intended to be a source of information that may expand and improve the practices of art educators and their students.

During the month of March, the Art Educators of New Jersey celebrate our state's talented youngsters in a venue called Youth Art Month. The purpose is to emphasize the value of art education for all students and to encourage support for quality art education programs. Youth Art Month provides a forum for acknowledging skills that are fostered through experience in the visual arts that are not possible in other subjects offered in the curriculum.

In New Jersey there were many activities planned in celebration of Youth Art Month 2001. Art students have already participated in the annual flag/poster competition. One student design was made into a flag that was flown in Washington D.C. during the month of March in a celebration called "Flags Across America." A second student design was made into buttons, billboards, and printed onto posters that were sent to art teachers throughout New Jersey. Acting Governor Donald DiFrancesco proclaimed March 2001 to be Youth Art Month. Exhibits of student artwork were planned for students in 14 counties and a state exhibit of student artwork was held in the State House Annex in Trenton from noon on March 26 through noon on March 30. In May, there was a ceremony for the New Jersey Governor's Awards to honor New Jersey students and educators for their outstanding achievement in the arts. To learn more about NJ Youth Art Month 2001, click on one of the links below or contact New Jersey's Youth Art Month Chair.

1. See photos of student work displayed in state/county/local 2001 Youth Art Month exhibits
2. Click here to access the Lesson Plan Index
3. Design the Youth Art Month Poster or Flag
4. Use these Poster Design Tips
5. Web Site Links for Art Teachers and Students
6. Winning 2001 YAM Poster and Flag Designs
7. 2001 Flags Across America Ceremony
8. Governor Proclaims March 2001 Youth Art Month
9. New Jersey Student Artwork on the Astrovision Screen in Times Square
10. New Jersey 2001 Governor's Awards in Arts Education

All art teachers are invited to celebrate New Jersey Youth Art Month. Click on the address at the bottom of this page to share your ideas, lesson plans, pictures of student artwork, and information about your own YAM celebrations with other art teachers in New Jersey. In your message include as much information as you can.

Don't forget, you can attach digital photos of student artwork to your message. Photos should be sent as email attachments in .gif or .jpg format. Once information has been submitted, participation will be noted on this web site. You can submit at any time, it doesn't have to be March. Have fun and thank you for celebrating art learning in your classes, as well as your school, community, county, and state!

This web project started in March 2000. Elementary art teachers in Toms River, New Jersey celebrated Youth Art Month by meeting and sharing lesson ideas. Visit the YAM 2000 web site to view examples of student artwork they shared. Perhaps it will encourage you to participate this year!

Send Youth Art Month submissions or questions to: Kim L. Defibaugh, Ed.D.