Monthly To Do List

Youth Art Month Chairpersons,
Regional Chairs,
 Teachers
and other Coordinators:

It’s time to prep for the 2023/2024 CFAE Youth Art Month Program!

The information below will be updated soon.  Check back for updates.

Youth Art Month celebrations typically occur in March, with the national celebration in the Youth Art Month Museum at the National Art Education Association Convention on April 4 – 6 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

It’s never too early to start planning.  We encourage you to get a jump start if you are involved with your state Youth Art Month Program.  Click here to see our full-year monthly calendars.

August/September To-Dos:

Set Goals

  • Fundraising and Sponsorship
  • Artwork and Exhibits
  • Student/School Participation in Flag Contest
  • Media/Social Media
  • Technology (electronic forms/image/artwork submissions and registration)

Select Coordinators

  • Select district or regional Youth Art Month coordinators.  They can assist with making sure you reach your goals and report Youth Art Month events for your statewide report.

Update State Art Education Association Website

  • Review your State Art Education Association website and begin to identify and implement any needed updates.

Plan Events for Statewide Art Education Association Meeting

  • Begin plans to communicate the 2023/2024 Youth Art Month theme and program at your State Art Education Association Meeting.  The theme is “Dream in Art”.   Here are some ideas of what you can do:
    • Create a Youth Art Month Information Packet that teachers can access on your State Art Education Association website.  Email the information packet to teachers also.
    • Plan a workshop on how to participate in Youth Art Month at the local level.

Communicate to Teachers

  • Distribute printed postcards to teachers with important Youth Art Month planning dates.
  • Create your flag entry form (or use ours) and instructions.  Distribute the form to teachers via email and electronic media, and post it on your State Art Education Association website.  (State winner should be selected no later than December 31, 2023, if possible)

State Art Exhibit Planning

  • If you plan a statewide exhibit at your State Capitol, reserve this space now.
  • If you plan on having a special speaker at your statewide exhibit at your State Capitol, begin the search process now.

October To-Dos:

Secure Sponsorships

  • Plan early!  Depending on the size of your committee, it may take several months to secure sponsorships, especially if you are reaching out to businesses for the first time.
  • Be organized – first, identify how to use donations (financial, in-kind) and sponsorships for your events.  Think about
    • Student awards – awards, participation certificates
    • Teacher awards – certificates, participation awards, YAM teacher of the year
    • Swag bags
    • Giveaways to attendees
    • Scholarships
    • Receptions (Food/drink, party supplies, music, audio/visual)
  • Once you’ve put together a target list of needs, reach out to art supply companies, catalog companies, local businesses, art centers, museums, etc., to solicit financial and/or in-kind donations for your state exhibit and celebration.  This may include an email campaign, in-person visits, phone calls, etc.
  • Think outside the box!  Last year, one state’s primary sponsor was a financial company.

Plan Events for Statewide Art Education Association Meeting

  • Begin plans to communicate the 2023/2024 Youth Art Month theme and program at your State Art Education Association Meeting.  The theme is “Dream in Art”.   Here are some ideas of what you can do:
    • Survey teachers about Youth Art Month.  Have teachers complete it at the meeting or provide a link to an online form (which will help summarize the data).
    • Plan a workshop on participating in Youth Art Month at the local level.
    • Continue plans to communicate the 2023/2024 Youth Art Month theme and program at your State Art Education Association Meeting.  The theme is “Dream in Art”.

Plan Fundraising Events

  • Consider a variety of events.  Those that have proven successful in the past include selling student art, chile or soup bowl dinners, and 5K runs.
  • Consider asking for a small fee for each state art exhibit entry.  This would need to be communicated early so that teachers are aware prior to submitting entries.

Manage Endorsements and Proclamations

  • More states are doing this electronically to save time and increase participation.
  • Create a target list – include the Governor, local and state politicians, school superintendents and principals, and other important state dignitaries.
  • Send your target list a Google Form/survey for the requested document.  The document will ask that the participant check or respond yes to the comments in the document.  An endorsement or proclamation will be considered complete once the survey is completed.

State Art Exhibit Planning

  • Communicate the date and time for your state exhibit – use your state art education website, email, social media, regional coordinators, etc., to spread the word.
  • If you haven’t already, create an artwork entry form for state and local events.  (As an example, Wisconsin last year had teachers submit info through Google Forms, then used AutoCrat to create labels and certificates in PDF form that were emailed to participating teachers.  This online automated process made it quick and easy for teachers to submit entries.  Art labels for the state exhibition were consistent.)
  • Begin to think about signage needs for the state exhibit (some states divide the student work by region with color-coded regional signage).

Flag and Banner Contest

  • Email the Lesson Plan for the Flag Contest to all teachers.  Also, make the Lesson Plan available on your state art education website.  Include important due dates and a scoring rubric.
  • If you have awards for the Flag Contest, also communicate this information.
  • Identify local “YAMbassadors” (good idea, New York!) that can help communicate Youth Art Month information and schedules.
  • Accept flag entries electronically using Google Forms or Drive.  Make sure to communicate how this process will work.

November To-Dos:

Flag Design Contest

  • By this point, you should have communicated the Flag Design Contest to all Teachers/Schools, and designs should be in progress.
  • Make sure you communicate the submission deadline.
  • If Teachers are mailing the designs for future judging, be sure to communicate when and where the designs should be mailed.
  • If Teachers digitally submit flag entries, communicate that information with detailed instructions.  Don’t forget to post this information to your art education association website.  (Deadlines vary by state.  Check your state art education association website for more info here)
  • It will take about 6 weeks to create your state’s winning flag design into a flag.  Please plan accordingly.  Winning flag designs must be submitted to Council for Art Education for the Youth Art Month Museum by March 1, 2024.

Fundraising/Endorsements

  • Continue scheduling local, district, and regional fundraising events around or during March.
  • Determine how events will be documented for your state.  Activities can be documented through photos, newspaper articles, web articles, videos, radio/TV, and other local publications.
  • Consider creating an online Google Survey Form that can be distributed to local coordinators to track events, media coverage, and other fundraising activities.

Artwork and Exhibits

  • Check in with local coordinators and media to identify timing and requirements for Public Service Announcements, articles, and press coverage for planned local events.
  • Consider creating an online Google Survey Form to be distributed to local coordinators to track exhibits.

November/December To-Dos:

Fundraising/Endorsements
  • This is the time to schedule local, district, and regional fundraisers and events for Youth Art Month.  You can find all types of ideas on our website here.  Your local coordinators (make sure you have local coordinators!) can assist with this process.  Plan to document and track these activities using online forms like a Google Survey Form.
Artwork and Exhibits
  • If you’ve already set a date/location for your state art exhibit, communicate artwork requirements and due dates to teachers.  Be sure to post this information on your website.  If you have a state art exhibit, consider the agenda, speakers, awards, certificates, and entertainment and plan these items now.

Flag and Banner

  • We’d love to see every state participating in this program, with your state’s winning flag design on display at your state art exhibit and in the Youth Art Month Museum at NAEA in March.  Be sure to communicate your guidelines and deadline (most states have a deadline no later than mid-January).  Please allow 4-6 to have your state’s design made into a flag or banner.  For additional guidelines, check our website here.

Media and Promotion

  • Ensure local coordinators identify the timing and requirements for any Public Service Announcements, articles, press coverage, or promotion of planned exhibits. Provide them with a tracking form (Google Forms works great!) so you can keep track of these activities.

January To-Dos:

Youth Art Month Logos

  • Please ensure you use our most current logos on your website and social media.  The logos are now registered trademarks of CFAE, so it’s essential for you to use the appropriate marks.  Contact us to receive the logos.

Theme Logo

  • Please ensure you use the correct theme and logo on your website and social media.  The theme for this year is “Dream in Art”.  Contact us to receive the logos.

Flag and Banner

  • Select a student flag or banner design to represent your state.  Students can submit entries using our template.  Your state’s winning design can be selected in various ways, including by committee vote or perhaps by your state art education association board.
  • Obtain a signed student release form to keep on file, as the student and flag may be featured in media over the coming weeks and months.
  • Create an electronic image of the winning design.
  • SUBMIT THE ELECTRONIC IMAGE TO CFAE using the email youthartmonthcfae@gmail.com.  CFAE will use the electronic image on social media and to keep track of states submitting designs.
  • Create a 3′ x 5′ flag or banner from the winning design.  Refer to our list of vendors here.  This process can take several weeks!  The flag or banner should be submitted to CFAE by March 1, 2024 to be featured in the Youth Art Month Museum at NAEA.  Please submit entries to

NASCO

Attn: Youth Art Month/Jordan Nelson

901 Janesville Ave.

Fort Atkinson, WI 53538

Artwork and Exhibits

  • Continue to check in with local coordinators and media to identify timing and requirements for Public Service Announcements, articles, and press coverage for planned local events.
  • Distribute Activity Tracking and Report Forms/Surveys to local coordinators (Tip:  Create using Google Forms – information will automatically be summarized in a spreadsheet).
  • Your state Youth Art Month Chairperson should begin to communicate how the artwork will be selected for display at statewide exhibits.  Check your state art education association website for deadlines and additional information.
  • Student artwork that will be displayed in the CFAE Youth Art Month Showcase at NAEA can be digital or physical artwork.
    • Please send 8 digital images as soon as possible and no later than March 1, 2024 to youthartmonthCFAE@gmail.com.
    • These will be printed 8×10″ and matted by CFAE.
    • Physical artwork needs to be delivered to the Youth Art Month Museum.
  • Artworks will be featured in the slideshow video.

NOTE: It would be helpful to name the digital file with the art title or student name to match the tag easily.

Below is a link to labels to fill out and return. They will be printed to hang with the art.  Please also submit the completed labels to youthartmonthCFAE@gmail.com

Youth Art Month art labels

Fundraising/Endorsements

  • Continue scheduling local, district, and regional fundraising events.
  • Document activities through photos, newspaper articles, web articles, videos, radio/TV, and other local publications.

For simpler tracking of Activities and Media, create an online Google Survey Form that can be distributed to local coordinators to track events, media coverage, and funding.

Marketing/Promotion

  • Begin to promote information and events using traditional media and social media.
  • Information that can be communicated includes the date/time/location of state and local exhibits, your flag winner and the winning design, and event ideas during Youth Art Month.

February To-Dos:

Flag and Banner

  • Select a student flag or banner design to represent your state.  Your state’s winning design can be selected in various ways, including by committee vote or perhaps by your state art education association board.
  • Obtain a signed student release form to keep on file, as the student and flag may be featured in media over the coming weeks and months.
  • Create an electronic image of the winning design.
  • SUBMIT THE ELECTRONIC IMAGE TO CFAE using the email youthartmonthcfae@gmail.com.  CFAE will use the electronic image on social media to keep track of states submitting designs.
  • Create a 3′ x 5′ flag or banner from the winning design.  Refer to our list of vendors here.  This process can take several weeks!  The flag or banner should be submitted to CFAE by March 1, 2024, to be featured in the Youth Art Month Museum at NAEA.  Please submit entries to

NASCO

Attn: Youth Art Month/Jordan Nelson

901 Janesville Ave.

Fort Atkinson, WI 53538

Artwork and Exhibits

  • Promote exhibits and events via posters, your state art ed website, local websites, news media, social media, and word of mouth.  Send press releases to all media outlets.
  • Local schools and districts should select artwork to display at local, district, and regional exhibits.
  • Start selecting artwork for your state Youth Art Month March exhibit.  Your state Youth Art Month Chairperson should begin communicating how the artwork will be selected.  Check your state art education association website for deadlines and additional information.
  • Send invitations for state and other important Youth Art Month events.
  • Student artwork that will be displayed in the CFAE Youth Art Month Museum at NAEA can be digital or physical artwork.
    • Digital Artwork:  State Chairperson – Please send 8 digital images for your state as soon as possible and no later than March 1, 2024 to youthartmonthCFAE@gmail.com.  These will be printed 8×10″ and matted by CFAE for display in the Museum.
    • Physical artwork: Deliver to the Youth Art Month Museum prior to the start of NAEA.  Artwork or copies of artwork can also be mailed no later than March 1, 2024 to

      NASCO

      Attn: Youth Art Month/Jordan Nelson

      901 Janesville Ave.

      Fort Atkinson, WI 53538

Fundraising/Endorsements

  • Continue scheduling local, district, and regional fundraising events.
  • Document activities through photos, newspaper articles, web articles, videos, radio/TV, and other local publications.

For simpler tracking of Activities and Media, create an online Google Survey Form that can be distributed to local coordinators to track events, media coverage, and funding.

Marketing/Promotion

  • Begin to promote information and events using traditional media and social media.
  • Information that can be communicated includes the date/time/location of state and local exhibits, your flag winner and the winning design, images of students/schools preparing for Youth Art Month, and event ideas during Youth Art Month.