YAM FAQs

Info to help you get started with the show!

Somerset County Youth Art Month

More about AENJ's Youth Art Month Program

PHOTOGRAPHING ARTWORK

  • Please use extreme care when photographing the artwork.

  • Artwork needs to be cropped so that only the piece is visible in the picture.

  • Try to take an overhead shot, without shadows.

  • Photographing work on a neutral background is recommended.

  • Please hold the camera still to avoid blurry images.

Photographs of work that do not follow the above guidelines may be omitted from the State Exhibit

  • SUBMITTING IMAGES & STUDENT INFO VIA GOOGLE FORM

  • OR EMAILING HIGH QUALITY IMAGES

    • Teachers must label the artwork file or email with the students name and provide student information (rename)

      • ex. Or at the very least The image with a cupcake in it belongs to Jane, the image with a turtle belongs to John. Or by Image name (Image 23234 - Belongs to Jane Doe).

  • PHOTOGRAPHING ARTWORK PRESENTATION

    • This slideshow can be shared with families if you’d like. There are 4 videos linked to assist Elementary & Secondary students in taking good quality photos of their work at home.

    • LINKED HERE


All information is available in the Teacher Files you will need to download if participating located HERE

WHAT IS YAM?

Council for Art Education (CFAE) administers Youth Art Month at the national level. Festivities take place annually, traditionally culminating each March, to celebrate visual arts for grades K – 12. The Youth Art Month Program emphasizes the value of art education for all children, encourages support for quality school art programs, and promotes art material safety.Youth Art Month also provides a forum for recognizing skills developed through visual arts experiences that are not possible in other curriculum subjects.Started in 1961 through The Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc. (ACMI) and in cooperation with the National Art Education Association (NAEA), Youth Art Month exists to:1. Recognize art education as a viable factor in the total education curricula that develops citizens of a global society.2. Recognize art is a necessity for the full development of better quality of life for all.3. Direct attention to the value of art education for divergent and critical thinking.4. Expand art programs in schools and stimulate new art programs.5. Encourage commitment to the arts by students, community organizations, and individuals everywhere.6. Provide additional opportunities for individuals of all ages to participate in creative art learning.7. Increase community, business and governmental support for art education.8. Increase community understanding and interest in art and art education through involvement in art exhibits, workshops, and other creative ventures.9. Reflect and demonstrate the goals of the National Art Education Association that work toward the improvement of art education at all levels.
For more about YAM, visit the AENJ site!https://aenj.org/yam-youth-art-month/

HOW DO I SIGN-UP?

If you're currently a member of the AENJ, all you have to do is complete the interest form HERE and you're in! Not a member of AENJ yet? Sign up HERE!

WHAT KIND OF ARTWORK CAN I SUBMIT?

Currently we can only accept 2D artwork no larger than 18x24 but if you have a student who created an amazing piece of 3D work, photograph it and mount it! Artwork preparation detailed below.

HOW MANY PIECES OF ART CAN I SUBMIT?

Once we know how many teachers are participating in each show, plan for about 8-10 and hope for more!

HOW SHOULD THE ARTWORK BE PREPARED FOR DISPLAY?

ONLY 2-D artwork will be accepted. ALL 2-D Artwork MUST BE mounted on FOAM CORE, NO ACETATE - NO FRAMES. NO MATTE BOARD -- it does NOT hang well and bows easily!ZIG ZAG HANGERS – please attach ONE ZIG ZAG HANGER, in the middle of the back of each piece, 3 – 4 inches from the top.If you do not have ZIG-ZAG Hangers, we will have them at the drop-off and YOU will attach them to your artwork, at CCA, the afternoon you drop-off the artwork.The Foam Core should be NO MORE than 2” on each side of the original artworkArtwork should not exceed 18X24 inchesPlease use fixative on pastel piecesCanvas should be wired, securely. NO FRAMES!

Zig-Zag hangers and example mounting images below

LABELING:

Each piece of artwork MUST have an AENJ BACK Label/Student Release Form (download) attached to the back. There are ARROWS at the TOP of the form, please put the ARROWS facing UP so we know what direction to hang it.PLEASE PRINT the information on the AENJ BACK LABEL – so we can READ it! DO NOT label the artwork on the FRONT – CCA will make labels for us!Labels – You will submit your label information online, go to the Somerset YAM Website, then go to the page labeled YAM Labels Form.https://sites.google.com/view/scyam/yam-labels-form
For each artwork you will need the following information: Student First & Last NameStudent GradeTitle of Name of LessonMedium, School NameTeacher NameWhich exhibit it should be included in: K – 5 or 6 – 12

WHEN/WHERE IS THE EXHIBIT?

The Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster

A LITTLE ABOUT THE EXHIBIT...


WHAT IF MY STUDENT'S ARTWORK GETS CHOSEN FOR THE STATE YAM SHOW?

6 pieces of artwork – AENJ MEMBERS ONLY, will be selected to move on to the State Youth Art Month Exhibit. These works will be returned to the teachers at the end of the State Exhibit in March.
For more information on the State YAM Exhibit go to:https://aenj.org/yam-youth-art-month/STATE YAM CLOSING RECEPTION: Friday, March 6, 2020NJ StatehouseCapitol Building - 125 West State Street -Trenton, NJ
Grades 9-12 12:00pm to 2:00pm HS Awards Ceremony, 12:30pm with guest speaker
Grades PK-8 5:30pm to 7:45pmPK-8 Awards Ceremony, 6:30pm
Awards Ceremony location: Committee Rooms 4 & 5The YAM Exhibit will be in the Annex Tunnel. If you/your student has artwork selected for the State YAM Exhibit, please bring photo ID with you to enter State House! Please share this information with your students!


All information is available in the Teacher Files you will need to download if participating located HERE