Youth Art Month Exhibition

Youth Art Month is an annual observance each March to emphasize the value of art education for all children and to encourage support for quality school art programs.

Youth Art Month was created in 1961 by Art and Creative Materials Institute, a non-profit association of art and craft materials manufacturers, in cooperation with the National Art Educators Association. In 1984, ACMI created Council for Art Educators, Inc. to administer the national Youth Art Month program and encourage funding for the program. Current members of the Council include: ACMI, which provides all administrative support and the majority of funding for national Youth Art Month; NAEA, whose members carry out local Youth Art Month activities and whose state affiliates help fund state Youth Art Month programs; The SHIP, a group of art materials exhibitors at the annual NAEA Convention; and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, a volunteer women’s organization dedicated to community improvement through volunteer service. Other involved organizations include the Association of Crafts & Creative Industries, Hobby Industries Association, and National Art Materials Trade Association.