Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the process to participate in the Reflections Art Program?

1. Choose your category

2. Follow category guidelines

3. Create your Artwork

4. Download Student Entry form here and fill all required fields.

5. Submit your Entry to school using google form. Attach student Entry form and Artwork to google form.

Q. Can I submit multiple Artwork entries?

Yes, Students can submit entries for multiple categories but only 1 entry per category. 

For example: students can submit 1 entry in literature, 1 in Music composition and 1 in film production.

Q. Are there any Entry Requirements?

• All participants must also follow arts category and if applicable, Accessible Arts division rules.Only new pieces of artwork inspired by the current year’s theme may be submitted.

• Each entry must be the original work of one student only.  An adult may not alter the creative integrity of a student’s work. Because the program is designed to encourage and recognize each student’s individual creativity, help from an adult or collaboration with other students is not allowed except in the Accessible Arts division. Other individuals may appear in or perform a student’s work, but the work itself must be the creative product of one student only. Only one student may be recognized as the award recipient for each entry. 

• Each entry must contain a title and all entries must include an artist statement. The artist statement communicates what inspired the work, how it relates to the theme, and the content of the work. The statement must include at least 10 words and not exceed 100 words.

• Digital technology and/or software can be used to develop, enhance and/or present an entry but may not provide the primary design and/or concept. Entrants must provide a brief description of the tools and method, including any generative elements.

Q. Can you simplify Division Arts Category Rules to be followed?

Accessible Arts Division: Artists follow the general rules and relevant arts category guidelines, modified only by accommodations for their disability. The accommodations, in general, should be both specific and limited to the student’s disability. Use of adaptive technology is allowed. Individuals providing support may assist with typing, holding a camera, etc. but may not be involved in the artistic process. The division will not be divided by age or traditional school grade level.

Dance Choreography: Solo and ensemble works of all dance styles are accepted. Entrants must be the choreographer and may also be the performer, or one of the performers. If background music is used, cite it on the entry form. See Official Rules for copyright details. Video files must not exceed 5 minutes in length and 1,000 MB (1,000 megabyte) in file size and be in MP4, MOV, or AVI format.

Film Production: Accepted short film styles include: Animation, narrative, documentary, experimental or media presentation. Use of PowerPoint is prohibited. Entrants must be the screenwriter, cinematographer, editor and producer. If background music is used, cite it on the entry form. See Official Rules for copyright details. Video files must not exceed 5 minutes in length and 1,000 MB (1,000 megabyte) in file size and be in MP4, MOV, or AVI format.

Literature: Accepted forms of fiction and nonfiction include prose, poetry, reflective essay, screenplay and play script, narrative, and short story. Entrants may write in their primary language as long as an interpretive English translation is also attached. Use of copyrighted material is prohibited. Writing must not exceed 2,000 words and may be handwritten or typed. Accepted formats: Single-sided print on 8 ½x11” paper, PDF file.

Music Composition: All music styles and combinations of instrumentation are accepted. Entrant must be the composer and may also be the performer, or one of the performers. Software may be used to produce an audio recording. Entries containing algorithmic composition techniques are not accepted. Use of copyrighted material is prohibited. An audio recording of the composition must be included and must not exceed 5 minutes in length and 1,000 MB (1,000 megabyte) in file size. Accepted audio file formats include: MP3 and WAV. Notation (score/tablature) in PDF format is only required for middle and high school divisions. In place of a notated score entrant may include a written reflective statement that provides a musically technical explanation of how you wrote the music (100 words or less).

Photography: Photo must be a single print/digital image. Collages and collections of photos are not accepted. Entrants must be the photographer and may use a variety of digital editing techniques including but not limited to, multiple exposure, negative sandwich and photogram. See Official Rules for copyright details. Print image dimensions must be no smaller than 3x5 inches and no larger than 8x10 inches. Framed prints are not accepted. Digital image dimensions must be at least 640x960 (pixels) and 300 dpi (resolution). Accepted file formats: JPEG, JPG, and PNG.

Visual Arts: Works of both fine and design arts are accepted, including but not limited to: architectural drawing and models, ceramics, collage, digital art  and graphics (drawings/paintings/illustration), crafts, drawing, fashion clothes and jewelry, fiber work, mixed media, painting, printmaking and sculpture. See Official Rules for copyright details. 2D artworks must be no larger than 24x30 inches with matting. Framed entries are not accepted. Include one digital image of artwork with your submission. 3D artwork submissions must contain 3 digital images of artwork at different angles. Image(s) are used for artwork identification, judging and exhibition purposes. Accepted file formats: JPEG, JPG, and PNG.

Q. What is the Criteria for Artwork Review & Judging?

National PTA provides the following criteria for reviewing Reflections submissions: 

• Interpretation of Theme (40 pts.) How closely the piece relates to the theme, based on the artwork itself and the artist statement.

• Creativity (30 pts.) How creative and original the piece is in its conception of the theme and its presentation. 

• Technical Skill (30 pts.) The level of skill demonstrated in the basic principles/techniques of the arts area. 

Notice that “interpretation of theme” is weighed more heavily than the other considerations. A well-developed concept is more important than technique. Entries should be judged primarily on how well the student uses their artistic vision to portray the theme, rather than their technical skill or creative process. 

Q. How are winners Decided?

• Judging panel is recruited to review the Artwork for each category

• "Blind Judging" is standard practice used to review each Artwork

Q. What happens after School judging is complete?

*School winners will be announced announced for each category in January 2025

*School winners advances to County Level

*County Level winners advances to State Level

*State level winner advance to National Level

State-level Award of Excellence honorees receive:

Prizes include a $50 Award, Award of Excellence trophy, medal, and certificate. Original submission of artwork will be displayed at the Florida PTA State Office for one year.

State-level Award of Merit honorees receive:

Prizes include: Award of Merit trophy and certificate.  Artwork will be showcased at the Florida PTA Leadership Convention Reflections Gallery.

State-level Honorable Mentions honorees receive:

Prizes include: Honorable Mention certificate.  Artwork will be showcased at the Florida PTA Leadership Convention Reflections Gallery.

Q. I am ready to submit my ArtWork but getting an error while trying to access google submission form. What should I do?

You will have to login into your google/Gmail account to submit your entry or create a new account. Still facing an access issue? 

Reach out to us at reflections@gemspta.org 

Q. What are Common Reasons for ArtWork disqualification?

Film Production

• • Film is NOT should be recorded by the student

  • If equipment and software used for film production are NOT mentioned on student form

  • If other artists in the film/video are not mentioned in student form

Literature

• • If Artwork is NOT student's original work

  • If word is NOT mentioned in student form

  • Writing must NOT exceed 2,000 words and may be handwritten or typed 

Music Composition

• • If Entrant is NOT the composer 

  • If duration of music is not mentioned

  • Entries containing algorithmic composition techniques are not accepted. Use of copyrighted material is prohibited. An audio recording of the composition must be included and must not exceed 5 minutes in length and 1,000 MB (1,000 megabyte) in file size.

  • Musical instrument used in NOT mentioned on student Entry form

Photography

• • Collages and collections of photos are NOT accepted

  • Print image dimensions must be no smaller than 3x5 inches and no larger than 8x10 inches. Framed prints are not accepted. Digital image dimensions must be at least 640x960 (pixels) and 300 dpi (resolution). Accepted file formats: JPEG, JPG, and PNG.

  • Print Image size NOT mentioned on student Entry Form

Visual Arts

• • 2D artworks must be no larger than 24x30 inches with matting. Framed entries are not accepted. Include one digital image of artwork with your submission. 

  • 3D artwork submissions must contain 3 digital images of artwork at different angles. Image(s) are used for artwork identification, judging and exhibition purposes. 

  • If digital Artwork submitted is not in these formats: JPEG, JPG, and PNG.

  • If size of Artwork is NOT mentioned on the student entry form.

Dance Choreography

• If the choreography is not student’s original work

• If other performers names are not mentioned

• If details about music used is not provided in student form

• Duration of performance not mentioned. 

Generic reason for disqualification

• If Student Entry Form is not submitted along with Artwork

• If the student form is not signed by both parents and student.

*Updated Guidelines for 2024:

Materials were updated to provide consistent and clearer guidance around the use of technology and copyright materials in entries:

• Use of Copyright Materials: Guidelines were clarified to explain that, while permitted in certain categories, copyrighted material in an entry must be incidental and/or is a smaller element of a while and used to create a completely new and different work of art.

• Use of Technology: Guidelines were clarified to emphasize that digital technology may not provide the primary design and/or concept for an entry and to indicate that entrants must provide a brief description how they used the technology/software, including any generative elements (e.g., algorithmic techniques, artificial intelligence).

The category-specific guidelines and student entry packet/form reflect these changes.  In addition, the category-specific guidelines also reflect language adjustments, especially the following:

• Visual Arts: Category-specific guidelines now specify “digital art and graphics (drawings/paintings/illustration)” rather than “computer-generated images”.

• Literature: Category-specific guidelines now specify dictation is permissible based on the student being able, rather than their age.