Youth Art Month 2026

[Youth Art Month]

Hello again everyone,

  Sorry for the double email- but I wanted to share a couple things regarding Youth Art Month 2026 separate from the flag design contest. 

  The first is that our annual Youth Art Month Opening Event is planned for Sunday March 1, 2026. Setup/hanging of artwork will be from 10-12, judging will happen during 12-3 (if that long is needed), and the opening ceremony will start at 3:30pm, with speakers and awards, and then the art will be open for viewing along with refreshments too! Teachers will be allowed to enter 10 pieces of student art to the display! More specific info about registration, etc. will come closer to the actual event.

 But something new and exciting is happening for YAM 2026 (and 2027) is that the Art Education Association of Indiana is proud to be joining forces with the Indiana Wildlife Artists to further recognize young artists in our state! 

  This partnership is available to students in grades 6th-12th, and there are cash prizes available for winners totaling $1,000 in prizes: 2- $100 prizes for middle school students, and 4- $200 prizes for high school students! As you are planning your projects for the year, keep this in mind if you would like to have artwork submitted from your students for this contest. This artwork would be seperate from your YAM art and would not count towards your 10 piece entry total allowed for YAM. 

  This partnership is to help promote the creation of animal artwork among our youth artists across the state, as well as the chance to celebrate more artists to be recognized at our YAM opening awards ceremony. Specific rules are included in the attached flyer. But if anyone has any specific questions regarding the artwork requirements, please reach out to the IWA contacts on the flyer. 

  I am very excited for this joint venture for YAM 2026, and for having the opportunity to celebrate even more of our young Indiana artists! :)

  I hope you all have a wonderful start/beginning of the school year, and be on the lookout for more YAM updates to come, and I am hoping to see lots of you at the AEAI Convention in November at Herron! Please don't forget to stop by the YAM table for flyers and goodies, and don't forget to bring or mail your students flag submissions as well! :) 

-Elyse