Youth Art Month (YAM), is celebrated nationally each March since 1961 to highlight some of the amazing teaching and learning happening in visual arts education across the United States and to promote the understanding of visual arts as a critical factor in the total education curriculum that develops citizens of a global society.
In Massachusetts during the month of March, MAEA annually sponsors a Statewide preK-12 YAM Exhibit of student artworks submitted by art educators in public, private, and independent schools from across the state. There are also regional and district wide YAM exhibits, as well as school-based exhibits and events throughout the year celebrating Art Education.
We hope you enjoy the exhibit. Please view the exhibit ceremony video below.
While you are enjoying the galleries, use the paper and pencil icon located on each gallery wall to complete a fan letter to artists whose work you particularly enjoyed.
Print this SCAVENGER HUNT and see how many items you can find while you visit the galleries. Enjoy!
2026 Youth Art Month Exhibit Galleries
Schools can be found under the city/town where the school is physically located.
Be sure to view the galleries in FULL SCREEN by clicking on the Slideshow button under the address bar (top right).
GALLERY 2
Chelmsford
Deerfield
Dudley
Fairhaven
Falmouth
Groton-Dunstable
Holden
Hubbardston
Hudson
Kingston
Lexington
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2026 PRESIDENT’S CHOICE WINNERS
Congratulations to all the President’s Choice Award winners. Many of these works will be displayed in the student exhibit at the National Art Education Association Convention hosted in Chicago, Illinois, March 5-7, 2026.
Thank you to Blick Art Materials for providing gift certificates to those students whose work was selected.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2026 POSTER/FLAG CONTEST WINNERS
We are also excited to host the Youth Art Month Flag Contest, generously sponsored by Blick Art Materials, an industry leader in quality art supplies.
Congratulations to our Grand Prize Winner
Arrya Manikandan, Grade 6
North Street Elementary School, Grafton
Art Teacher: Sara Camyre
Thank you to the YAM Poster Contest judges: Helen Downey- formerly Marlborough Public Schools and current MAEA Awards Chair, Amy Hussey- Reading Public Schools and MAEA YAM Committee Co-Chair, Rebecca Kostich- Groton-Dunstable Regional High School and MAEA Recognitions Committee Chair and National Art Honor Society Representative, Elizabeth Mullaney- Norwood High School and current MAEA YAM Committee Co-Chair, Claire Munley- Uxbridge High School, Maria Pettrovsky-Center for Applied Behavioral Instruction.
MAEA would like to thank:
MAEA’s 2026 Statewide Youth Art Month Committee
Amy Hussey, J.W. Killam School, Reading, and Elizabeth Mullaney, Norwood High School, Norwood, YAM Committee Co-Chairs
Committee Members: Sarah Aliberti, Milton Public Schools; Helen Downey, Awards Committee Chair; Rebecca Kostich, Groton Dunstable High School and MAEA Recognitions Committee Chair; Claire Munley, Uxbridge High School, Laura Petrovich-Cheney, and Maria Pettrovsky, Center for Applied Behavioral Instruction.
With Special Thanks to:
Our Gallery Assembly Team: Rebecca Kostich, Elizabeth Mullany, Claire Munley, and Maria Pettrovsky. Thank you for your donation of many hours to organize slides and create the galleries.
Cari DiCicco, President, Massachusetts Art Education Association – For her continuing guidance, and support.
Melissa Mastolia, Past Past President & Interim Webmaster, Massachusetts Art Education Association – For all her extra work supporting our tech needs and putting this exhibit online.
All the Art Teachers – For inspiring, instructing, encouraging and caring.
All the Young Artists – For creating and sharing.
And All the Parents, Families and Friends – For supporting their young artist and quality art education for all!
This exhibit is sponsored by The Massachusetts Art Education Association
The Massachusetts Art Education Association (MAEA) advances high quality visual arts education for ALL by empowering art educators to excel in the practice, instruction, promotion, and celebration of visual art. As a state affiliate, we support the mission, vision, and core values of the National Art Education Association (NAEA).