Youth Art Month was celebrated  in March around the state. Up with Art in Fairbanks, the annual k-12 student art show was held at the Bear Gallery, Pioneer Park. The Anchorage School District Annual Student Art Show was held at the Anchorage Museum during the month of March.

The Youth Art Month Flag for this year was designed by 5th and 6th Graders from Woodriver Elementary in Fairbanks. The students, with Elementary Art Specialists Heidi Atkinson and Ben Bragonier, (top) worked on black and white graphic designs and lettering to communicate ideas. Heidi says that “although there were many nice designs a clear winner emerged”: Jennifer Hannah, a 6th grader. With help from RoseMarie Atkinson (Heidi’s mom), as seamstress, the flag was ready to be sent to the national office of the Council of the Arts to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol with flags from the other 49 states, and then on to the NAEA convention in Minneapolis.

Youth Art Month (YAM) is an annual observance each March to emphasize the value of art and art education for all children and to encourage support for quality school art programs.

The purposes of YAM are:

• To direct attention to the value of art education which develops divergent and critical thinking; multi-cultural awareness; and technical, communication and expressive skills.
• To increase community, business and governmental support for art education.
• To recognize art as a necessity for the full development of better quality life for all people.
• To expand art programs in schools and stimulate new ones.
• To increase community understanding and interest in art and art education through involvement in art exhibits, workshops and other creative ventures.
• To provide additional opportunities for individuals of all ages to participate in creative art learning.
• To encourage commitment to the arts by students, community organizations and individuals everywhere.
• To recognize art education as a viable component of the total education curriculum that develops citizens of a global society.