Reflections Art Program

Now is the chance for your student to participate in the annual National PTA Reflections Arts Program for 2025-2026!

The theme for this year's submission is "I Belong!"

Students can submit entries in 6 categories: dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts.

Submissions are due by Friday, October 24, 2025

To participate in this incredible program, please read through everything below PRIOR to creating your work to ensure your submission meets all requirements.

Reflections Rules: Please note that only new pieces of artwork inspired by the current year’s theme may be submitted. Read the Reflections rules and general information available at this link.  

Category Guidelines: Read through the Guidelines for each category or categories you are entering your work in carefully. Any entries that do NOT follow the rules will be sent back to you for corrections. 

Category Rules

Dance Choreography

Film Production

Literature

Music Composition

Photography

Visual Arts 

Artist Statement: An Artist Statement must be submitted as part of your entry using the form linked below.  Often this is looked at as an after thought.  However, this section IS VERY IMPORTANT.  It makes up a large portion of your score, especially at the upper levels of judging. Please be thoughtful and take care filling out your statement. The better a student can articulate the relationship between the theme and their work, the higher likelihood the submission may advance from the district level, and from there on up. This year’s theme is “I Belong!” 

Categories - Click to Read Individual Category Guidelines

Artworks are submitted first to AOMS PTSA Unit level, where they are recognized, celebrated, and judged by objective professionals from the community. Non-judged Special Artists Division celebrates student artists with special needs. A maximum of 24 entries from each school are sent on to the Carlsbad Unified Council PTA. The entries are judged once more, and those that move on are forwarded to the Ninth District PTA to be considered for state recognition. The Ninth District PTA celebrates these artists with a reception in spring. Art sent to the California State PTA is then considered for the Awards of Excellence and Awards of Merit. Awards of Excellence recipients will represent California in the finals at the National PTA level.