Youth Art Month was started in 1961. It is an annual observance each March to emphasize the value of art and art education for all children and to encourage public support for quality school arts programs.  The National Art Education Association, as a national sponsor through the Council for Art Education, administers the program at a national level, and the Idaho Art Education Association administers the program at the state level. The program provides a medium for recognizing skills developed through visual arts experiences unlike any other curriculum subjects, including: Problem Solving, Creativity, Observation, and Communication.

• The artwork must address the theme. The 2025-2026 contest theme is “The World Needs Art."

• The artwork must have the word “Idaho” in the design

• The artwork must address not only the national theme, but should also communicate a theme or representation of Idaho in some way

• The artwork must have “YAM”, “Youth Art Month,” or the Youth Art Month logo in the design or digitally added to the artwork

• Artworks may be horizontal or vertical in format

• Designs can either be completed using the box on the national submission form found on the IAEA website, or created using a similar 3:5 ratio (Examples of sizes with correct ratios: 6” x 10” or 12” x 20”)

• The contest is open to all grade levels and all 2-D media; digital media is acceptable, but AI-generated content or artwork which violates copyright law is not.

• Each Idaho school/program may submit one entry for jurying; please create a system for selecting your entry for the YAM competition

• Download the National Flag Entry Form (pdf)

• Design your entry submission using the appropriate ratio

• Take a high-quality, well-lit photograph of the entry for your school/program

• Use the submission form below to upload your artwork image

• Deadline Extended - All entries are due by 1/9!