A huge thank you to our YAM prize sponsor:

Click HERE for important YAM dates! 

Chair ContactMichelle Barnes

What is Youth Art Month?

The Council for Art Education (CFAE) oversees Youth Art Month at the national level. Festivities take place each March to celebrate visual arts for grades PreK-12. OAEA helps sponsor multiple opportunities for you and your students including: Youth Arts Day at the State Capital, Youth Arts Month Flag Contest, Door Hangers for Advocacy, The Young People’s Art Exhibit, The State Superintendent Arts Showcase, and Awards Ceremonies.

The YAM program emphasizes the value of art education for all children, encourages support for quality school art programs, and promotes art material safety. YAM also provides a forum for recognizing skills developed through visual arts experiences that are not possible in other curriculum subjects.

Please download the YAM proclamation and ask a Mayor, Principal, Superintendent, City Counselor, or any other appropriate person in your community to proclaim Youth Art Month!  And don’t forget to let your YAM chair people know about it.

OAEA would like to recognize Blick as the official prize sponsor of Youth Art Month. Be sure to check out all the great deals and variety of products that Blick has to offer!

Door Hangers

Students can illustrate ways to express themselves.  Mail entries to Michelle Barnes: 4829 Elk Run Yukon, OK 73099. Email michellebarnes@cox.net.

Collected door hangers are used as arts advocacy tools at Youth Arts Day.

Please use CARDSTOCK if possible. Please have your Door Hangers delivered or mailed by Sunday, February 16th. If mailing, please make sure to send the package 3 or more days before the 16th. 

2025 Door Hanger Template

State Superintendent Art Showcase

PreK-6th Grade

Google form and name tag details to follow.

Elementary teachers please send or deliver 2 pieces from each elementary school you teach to:

Holly Proctor, Kwantu Cammon and 

Brandy Musgrave 405-495-5200;1213 email-bmusgrave@putnamcityschools.org.  5401 NW 40th St, Warr Acres, OK 73122 

Details about the exhibit and award ceremony to follow.

Passed 2024 YAM Events:

Young People’s Art Exhibit

Set aside 5 pieces of your best art work and enter into the Oklahoma Art Education Association Young People’s Art Exhibit. OAEA Members Only.

Saturday January 18, 2025

  • The exhibit hangs at the Prairie Art Center in Stillwater. Get your art to a board member or bring your art to the Prairie Art Center at the very latest 12:00 pm on January 18th.

  • 5 pieces from OAEA members who enter, PreK-12, mounted or matted on black tag board or black mat board.

  • Closing Ceremony on Saturday February 8th, at 12:00 pm.

  • The board will select 5 works from this show to go to the National Convention YAM display.

YAM 2024 : Ways You Can Participate 

Youth Arts Month Flag Design

As a member of OAEA, you and your students are encouraged to participate in YAM and do your part to further Art Education! Each state’s winning design is made into a 3’x5’ flag and showcased at the upcoming NAEA National Convention. This year’s flag contest is open for all students, with 1st place winners in elementary, middle, and high levels who each receive a small printed flag of their design. This year the overall winner to hang at National is Elementary.

Entries should use the template below, be intense in color, and can include the phrase “Dream in Art” and represent Oklahoma in content or imagery.  This contest is for OAEA Members only. All Completed entries are due by Friday January 24th, 2025.

Mail entries to Michelle Barnes 4829 Elk Run Yukon, OK 73099. Email me at michellebarnes@cox.net

2025 Flag Template