Reflections Program Overview

Reflections has been bringing the arts to life for over 10 million students since 1969. The program enhances community awareness of the importance of arts in education and encourages students of all ages to:

• Unleash creative talents and be inspired

• Express themselves imaginatively in their artwork

• Experience the fun and joy of making art

• Tap into critical thinking skills to create art inspired by the annual theme

• Receive positive recognition for their original works of art

Submission Process

Artworks are submitted first to school-level PTAs, where they are:

• Recognized and celebrated

• Judged by five grade-level divisions

The Accessible Artists Division celebrates student artists with special needs.

Selected entries are then forwarded to local PTA units for further judging, and from there to councils and districts for consideration. Final artworks submitted to California State PTA by districts are evaluated for:

• Outstanding Interpretation

• Awards of Excellence

• Awards of Merit

Outstanding Interpretation and Award of Excellence entries may go on to represent California in the final National PTA judging round.

Categories

There are six arts categories:

• Dance Choreography

• Film Production

• Literature

• Music Composition

• Photography

• Visual Arts

State-Level Recognition

Outstanding Interpretation Honorees Receive:

• Onstage recognition at the California State PTA Annual Convention

• The opportunity to showcase their artwork at the California State PTA Convention Reflections Gallery

• Prizes including an Outstanding Interpretation plaque, award, and certificate

Award of Excellence Honorees Receive:

• The opportunity to showcase their artwork at the California State PTA Convention Reflections Gallery

• Prizes including an Award of Excellence medallion, award, and certificate

Award of Merit Honorees Receive:

• The opportunity to showcase their artwork at the California State PTA Convention Reflections Gallery

• Prizes including an Award of Merit medallion and certificate

National-Level Recognition

Outstanding Interpretation Honorees are recognized at the National PTA Convention. Additionally, their artwork, along with any National Award of Excellence and Merit winners, is featured in Reflections’ popular traveling national exhibit.

For More Information

You can find more details about the Reflections Art Program at the California State PTA website:
https://capta.org/programs-events/reflections/