Walker Elementary in Clarendon Hills Announces Youth Art Month!

A 24' bulletin board announcing Youth Art Month is displayed at Walker Elementary in Clarendon Hills. Art teacher, Hillary Andrlik encourages her students to create, view, share and learn about ART! March 15th is the deadline for Illinois' bulletin board contest. What are you displaying for Youth Art Month? We look forward to seeing your entries. Tell us about all of your Youth Art Month activities.

Valley View Elementary celebrates Youth Art Month with Artwork Display

Fourth Graders at Valley View Elementary in McHenry emphasize their creative ability by studying and drawing Birds of the Past and Present. Art teacher Tina Wagner taught the students about the artwork of J J Audubon.  The display is located in the Art Hallway.

Sandburg Middle School in Elmhurst Encourages Creativity

Jennifer Leban, art teacher at Sandburg Middle School in Elmhurst is encouraging her students to do something creative every day during Youth Art Month. Students write down what they did and may enter a contest for prizes. What a great idea! Maybe you want to jump on board and challenge your students' creativity as well.

Check out her introductory video and bulletin board presenting this challenge. The students may submit using QR codes which deliver their entries to her email and webpage.

Thank you for sharing Jennifer! Email us your Youth Art Month activities at IllinoisYAM@gmail.com.

Win a $100 gift card!

Announcing the ILLINOIS YOUTH ART MONTH Bulletin Board/Window Display Contest!    Governor Quinn has proclaimed March 2014 is Youth Art Month in Illinois.  Now, here is a challenge for YOU, our VERY CREATIVE IAEA members! Send us a digital photo of a bulletin board and/or a wall or window display you decorate by March 15th that promotes Youth Art Month and we will send you a prize. The top winner will receive a $100 gift card to purchase items for their classroom. Rules: -The bulletin board/window display must say March is Youth Art Month somewhere in the design and YOUTH ART MONTH should be emphasized. It would be great if you also could tie in this year's theme: Illinois Illusions--Past, Present & Future. -You must send your digital photo(s) of your display by March 15th, via email to IllinoisYAM@gmail.com.  -The bulletin board or window display may be located in a school, library, place of business, community center, place of worship or perhaps other locations. Let me know where your display is located! -You may enter more than once if you have more than one display. -If you don't have time...your bulletin board/window display can be created by ANYONE...parent volunteers, a professional, a store owner or students! -If you don't make the deadline, you won't have a chance to win the big prize but you will still receive a smaller prize. We will accept your photos all month long! Email entries with location of display and your address to IllinoisYAM@gmail.com Let's show our state how important art is for every child in Illinois.  ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE AND YOU COULD WIN $100! We look forward to seeing some AWESOME displays! Contact Judy Krueger at IllinoisYAM@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Flyers for the Community

Print out copies and share this flyer with parents and community members during Youth Art Month.

We need Senators, Representatives, Superintendents, Principals, etc.....to endorse Youth Art Month!

Print out this endorsement or email a copy to your legislators and school administrators and ask them to sign it. Email us at IllinoisYAM@gmail.com and let us know the names of those who are endorsing Youth Art Month in Illinois. We will post the names of all those who sign endorsements on this blog. If you get an email back from an official, forward it to IllinoisYAM@gmail.com.

To easily email this endorsement's text through an email form, copy and paste the text below. Most officials have emails these days and many have online email forms on their websites. We have had great responses from those we have emailed.


Governor Quinn has proclaimed March 2014 is Youth Art Month.  I would be honored if you would endorse the ideals listed below. If you can agree with the following, please email me back with your support, and you will be listed on the Illinois Art Education Association Youth Art Month blog along with other mayors, village presidents (etc.) who endorse March as Youth Art Month. Thank you in advance for your time and support.

YOUTH ART MONTH ENDORSEMENT
Whereas, art  education is a viable academic endeavor and contributes educational benefits to all elementary and secondary students including the following:
Art education develops students’ creative problem-­solving and critical thinking abilities;
Art education teaches sensitivity to beauty, order, and other
expressive qualities;
Art education gives students a deeper understanding
of multicultural values and beliefs;
Art education reinforces and brings to life what students learn in other subjects;
Art education interrelates student learning in art production, art  history,  art  criticism and aesthetics and
Whereas our  national leaders have acknowledged the necessity of including arts experiences in all student’s education,

And, whereas MARCH is officially recognized as
Youth Art Month, I endorse the observance of Youth
Art Month and encourage the support of quality school art programs for children and youth.


Signed ________________________________________________
Position ___________________________________________________
Date ______________________________________


Look who is endorsing Youth Art Month in Illinois...

Anne Sautman, Director of Education at Krannert Art Museum at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Has your Mayor or Village President signed a Youth Art Month proclamation? Just ask!

Governor Pat Quinn proclaims March is Youth Art Month in Illinois.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel proclaims March is Youth Art Month in Chicago.  Ask your mayor or village president to sign a proclamation. Then send us a copy at IllinoisYAM@gmail.com so it can be posted here. Here is the copy you can email your mayor with your request. 

Youth Art Month Proclamation

WHEREAS, art education contributes powerful educational benefits to all elementary, middle, and secondary students including the following;

Art education develops students' creative problem-solving and

critical thinking abilities;

Art education teaches sensitivity to beauty, order,

and other expressive qualities; Art education gives students a deeper understanding of multi-cultural values and beliefs; Art education reinforces and brings to life what students learn in other subjects; and Art education interrelates student learning in art productions, art history,

art criticism, and aesthetics, and

WHEREAS our national leaders have acknowledged the necessity of including arts experiences in all students’ education,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that support should be given to

art teachers as they attempt to strengthen art education

in their schools and communities,

NOW, THEREFORE, it is proclaimed that March be observed as

YOUTH ART MONTH.

All citizens are urged to take interest in and give full support to quality school art programs for children and youth.

NOW, THEREFORE, I __________________________,

Mayor of _______________________________

do hereby proclaim March 2014 as

YOUTH ART MONTH.