2020 is the 60th Year that New Jersey has observed Youth Art Month. To celebrate this milestone, AENJ will be hosting two state-wide Youth Art Month Events!  To participate in any of AENJ’s 2020 YAM Events, please contact your County YAM Chair(s).

If you are doing anything special to celebrate YAM’s 60th Year, we would love to share your event and thank you for your hard work.  To share, please email us at yam@aenj.org or share with with us on Instagram with the hashtag #60YearsofYAM. 

New Jersey has been named the Claire Flanigan Award Winner for their contributions to Youth Art Month during the 2018-2019 School Year.  We are hoping to continue to lead the nation in our Youth Art Month celebrations! Get involved in your county exhibits and advocate for the arts in our schools! View the county lists below to learn how to get involved. Check back if your county information is not listed yet, or contact your county’s YAM chair with questions.

CHAIRS BY COUNTY

ATLANTIC / CAPE MAY

• Jennifer Burke – JBurkeSCA@aol.com

BERGEN

• Jen O’Brien – jobrien@rochellepark.org
• Teneley Escoffery – tescoffery@montvalek8.org

BURLINGTON/CAMDEN

• Lisa Leonelli – lisaleonelli@gmail.com
• Niki Williams – nikilynnwilliams@gmail.com

CUMBERLAND, GLOUCESTER & SALEM  

• Yamtricounty@gmail.com
• Katina Lampropoulos – klampropoulos@franklintwpschools.org
• Patty Nehrbauer – pnehrbauer@mrtes.com
• Aaron Weber – aweber@gatewayhs.com

ESSEX

• Amanda Palumbo – APalumbo@nps.k12.nj.us
• Marion Resciniti – res150@optonline.net

HUDSON

• Martha Garcia – mgarcia1@jcboe.org
• Kelly Wenz – kellywenz@yahoo.com

HUNTERDON & WARREN

• Leigh Kermizian – lkermizi@frsd.k12.nj.us
• Barbara Weinstein – bweinstein@franklinschool.org

MERCER

• Danielle Davis – DADavis@ewingboe.org
• Barbara Russo – brusso@ewrsd.k12.nj.us
• Facebook and Twitter @mercer_nj_yam

MIDDLESEX

• middlesexyam@hotmail.com
• Susan Catrone – scatrone @aenj.org
• Kristen Barth – kristen.barth@woodbridge.k12.nj.us

MONMOUTH

• Colleen Ford – CollFord14@gmail.com
• Alison Farrington – atwallace@gmail.com

MORRIS

• Elizabeth Wassel – Ewassel@hamburgschool.com

OCEAN

• Stephanie Kitzmiller – Skitzmiller@stjoeschooltr.org
• Jenna Beverly: jbeverly@trschools.com

PASSAIC

• Lisa Miller – lmiller@passaiccharter.org

SOMERSET

• Aleksandra Drobik – adrobik@bernardsboe.com
• Whitney Ehnert – wehnert@mtsd.us
• WEBSITE: https://sites.google.com/view/scyam/home

Somerset County YAM Events:

• • Exhibit I (K – 5): March 11 – 15, 2020
    Reception: March 15: 2:30-3:30
    Exhibit II (6 – 12): March 18 – 22, 2020
    Reception: March 22: 2:30-3:30
    Location: 

The Center for Contemporary Art

2020 Burnt Mills Rd, Bedminster, NJ 07921

SUSSEX

• Pamela Dean – pdean@hamburgschool.com

UNION

• Charlotte Banks – charlottebnks1@gmail.com
• Joanna Netta – joannanetta80@gmail.com
• Carrie Russoniello – barbie0414@comcast.net
• https://sites.google.com/site/njunioncountyyam/home
  • Exhibit:  Feb. 25th to March 20th
    Reception: March 20 from  5pm to 7pm (Awards at 6pm)
    Location:
    The Plaza @ Liberty Hall Center
    1085 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083

STATE YAM CHAIRS 2018-2019

yam@aenj.org

Karen Maninno and Kristy Lopez

New Jersey leads the nation in its Youth Art Month celebrations! Get involved in your county exhibits and advocate for the arts in our schools! View the county lists below to learn how to get involved. Check back if your county information is not listed yet, or contact your county’s YAM chair with questions.

CHAIRS BY COUNTY

• ATLANTIC / CAPE MAY
  • CO-CHAIRS
    • Lisa Confora – starfelter@yahoo.com
    • Kathy Nichols – ptak1114@msn.com
  • EXHIBIT: March 1 – March 30
  • LOCATION: Noyes Art Garage in Atlantic City
  • RECEPTION: Sat. March 30 – 11:30-1

• BERGEN
  • CO-CHAIRS
    • Jen O’Brien – jobrien@rochellepark.org
    • Teneley Escoffery –
  • EXHIBIT: Set – Up Monday March 18 2019 Take Down Monday March 25 2019
  • LOCATION: Bergen County Plaza Offices, 1st Floor Lobby/Conference Room, One Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack, NJ
  • RECEPTION: ‘Thursday March 21 5PM

• BURLINGTON
  • CO-CHAIRS
    • Ellen Hargrove – ehargrove@aenj.org
    • Lisa Leonelli – lisaleonelli@gmail.com
  • EXHIBIT: March 1 through March 9, 2019
  • LOCATION: Wm. G. Rohrer Library, 15 MacArthur Blvd, Westmont, NJ 08108
  • RECEPTION: Saturday March 9, 2:30-4:30pm

• CAMDEN
  • Niki Williams – williams@mastercharter.org
  • EXHIBIT: March 1 through March 9, 2019
  • LOCATION: Wm. G. Rohrer Library, 15 MacArthur Blvd, Westmont, NJ 08108
  • RECEPTION: Saturday March 9, 2:30-4:30pm

• CUMBERLAND, GLOUCESTER & SALEM  Yamtricounty@gmail.com
  • CO-CHAIRS
    • Katina Lampropoulos – klampropoulos@franklintwpschools.org
    • Patty Nehrbauer – pnehrbauer@mrtes.com
    • Aaron Weber – aweber@gatewayhs.com
  • EXHIBIT: March 18 – 22
  • LOCATION: Rowan University Art Gallery 301 High St W, Glassboro, NJ 08028
  • RECEPTION: March 22, 2019 Snow Date- March 23, 2019  Time TBD

• ESSEX
  • Cathy Kondreck – ckondreck@mpsdnj.us
  • EXHIBIT: March 1 – March 21, 2019
  • LOCATION: Essex County Hall of Records, 465 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Newark, NJ
  • RECEPTION: March 21, 2019 @ 12 noon

• HUDSON
  • CO-CHAIRS
    • Martha Garcia- mgarcia1@jcboe.org
    • Kelly Wenz – kellywenz@yahoo.com
  • EXHIBIT: March 6-20
  • LOCATION: The Bethune Center
    140 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
    Jersey City 07305
  • RECEPTION: Wednesday March 20, 6:30-8:00 PM

• HUNTERDON & WARREN
  • CO-CHAIRS
    • Leigh Kermizian – lkermizi@frsd.k12.nj.us
    • Barbara Weinstein – bweinstein@franklinschool.org
  • EXHIBIT: March 9 – March 23
  • LOCATION: Hunterdon Health and Wellness Center, Clinton, NJ
  • RECEPTION: March 23rd, 1:00 – 2:30

• MERCER Facebook and Twitter @mercer_nj_yam
  • CO-CHAIRS
    • Danielle Davis – DADavis@ewingboe.org
    • Barbara Russo – brusso@ewrsd.k12.nj.us
  • EXHIBIT: March 12 – April 13
  • LOCATION: Artworks Trenton, 19 Everett Alley, Trenton,  NJ   (http://artworkstrenton.org/)
  • RECEPTION: March 30th, 12pm to 3pm

• MIDDLESEX  middlesexyam@hotmail.com
  • Susan Catrone and Kristen Barth, Chairs – scatrone @aenj.org
  • EXHIBIT: February 23-March 5, 2019
  • LOCATION: George Street Play House, 103 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, NJ
  • RECEPTION: March 5, 2019 7:00 – 8:00 pm

• MONMOUTH
  • CO-CHAIRS
    • Colleen Ford – CollFord14@gmail.com
    • Alison Wallace – atwallace@gmail.com
  • EXHIBIT: March 30
  • LOCATION: ChaShaMa Gallery Matawan,  58-60 Main Street, Matawan, NJ 07747
  • RECEPTION: March 30 11-2:00

• OCEAN
  • Stephanie Kitzmiller – Skitzmiller@stjoeschooltr.org
  • CO-CHAIRS
    • Dawn Wagner: dwagner@pointpleasant.k12.nj.us
    • Jenna Beverly: jbeverly@trschools.com
  • EXHIBIT: March 1 – March 29
  • LOCATION: Ocean County Library, Brick Branch, Chambersbridge Road
  • RECEPTION: March 23 at 2pm

• PASSAIC
  • CO-CHAIRS
    • Nicole Jackson – nixjard@gmail.com
    • Lisa Miller – lmiller@passaiccharter.org
  • EXHIBIT: March 15th – March 28th
  • LOCATION: Louis Bay 2nd Library, 345 Lafayette Avenue, Hawthorne, NJ 07506
  • RECEPTION: March 28 Time TBD

• SOMERSET https://sites.google.com/site/somersetyouthartmonth/ 
  • CO-CHAIRS
    • Susan Bivona – spbivona@me.com
    • Lisa Conklin – artzechick@comcast.net
  • EXHIBIT: Two Dates: Exhibit I (K – 5) March 18 – 24, 2019  Exhibit II (6 – 12) March 26 – 31, 2019
  • LOCATION: The Center for Contemporary Art – 2020 Burnt Mills Rd, Bedminster Township, NJ 07921
  • RECEPTION: The Closing Exhibit for the K-5 Exhibit will be, Sunday, March 24, 2019, The Closing Exhibit for the 6 – 12 Exhibit will be, Sunday, March 31, 2019

• SUSSEX & MORRIS COUNTY
  • CO-CHAIRS
    • Pamela Dean – pdean@hamburgschool.com
    • Elizabeth Wassel – Ewassel@hamburgschool.com
  • EXHIBIT: March 11 – 22, 2019
  • LOCATION: Sussex County Judicial Center, 43-47 High Street, Newton, NJ 07860
  • RECEPTION: ‘Thursday, March 21, 2019 6:00 pm

• UNION  https://sites.google.com/site/njunioncountyyam/home   
  • CO-CHAIRS
    • Charlotte Banks – charlottebnks1@gmail.com
    • Joanna Netta – joannanetta80@gmail.com
    • Carrie Russoniello – barbie0414@comcast.net  
  • EXHIBIT: February 15th to March 1st
  • LOCATION: 1085 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ
  • RECEPTION: March 1st, 5pm

2019 YAM DESIGN CONTEST WINNERS

Billboard and Overall Winner:
Katherine Updegrove, Grade 10, Somerset County

Flag:

Alexandra Lipshutz, Grade 8, Middlesex County

Invitation:
Emma Engle, Grade 8th, Ocean County

Invitation:
Ashley Rodriguez, Grade 8, Hudson

Button:
Adriana Maranhao- Neto, Grade 4, UNION County

Poster:
Hope Amoroso, Grade 11, Ocean County

---

2018-2019

YOUTH ART MONTH State Exhibit & Reception

Save the Date: Friday,March 8, 2019

Exhibit: Annex

Receptions: Committee Rooms 4 & 5

High School Reception (Grades 9-12): 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm

Guest Speaker:  TBD

Awards Ceremony: 1:00 pm

Elementary Reception (K-8): 5:30 pm to 7:45 pm

Awards Ceremony: 6:30 pm

Location: NJ Statehouse

Capitol Building

125 West State Street

Trenton, NJ

How do I get involved in Youth Art Month?

To find out what is happening in your county, please contact your county’s YAM chairperson.  Deadlines for entries in most county YAM exhibits is late January/early February.  Email your county YAM chair for more detailed information.

To complete a YAM endorsement/proclamation in your town, county or legislative district, please click here: 2019 YAM Endorsement Form

To sponsor YAM, please click here: 2019-YAM-Sponsor-Form

2019 YAM DESIGN CONTEST WINNERS

For more information on the following, please click on the links below:

2018 YAM Chairs

Click below to view the front label for the YAM Sponsored Exhibit in:

Front Label NEW

Click below to view the permission slip (back label) for the YAM Sponsored Exhibit in:

AENJ YAM Back Label (Permission Form)

AENJ YAM Back Label in Spanish (Permission Form)

What is Youth Art Month?

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.

The Council for Art Education is the national sponsor of Youth Art Month.

Click here for GUIDELINES and list of prizes provided by Sargent Art!

Thank you Sargent Art for your generous donations in support of YAM!

The NJ State YAM Exhibition is a once in a lifetime opportunity for your art students.  Each county in the state is asked to submit 6 pieces of artwork to represent the county.  This artwork is selected by a panel of art teachers in each county and must be created by students of current AENJ members.

How do I get involved in Youth Art Month?

To find out what is happening in your county, please contact your county’s YAM chairperson.  Deadlines for entries in most county YAM exhibits is late January/early February.  Email your county YAM chair for more detailed information.

To complete a YAM endorsement/proclamation in your town, county or legislative district, please click here: 2018 YAM Endorsement Form

To sponsor YAM, please click here: 2018 YAM Sponsor Form

2019 YAM DESIGN CONTEST WINNERS

For more information on the following, please click on the links below:

2018 YAM Chairs

Click below to view the front label for the YAM Sponsored Exhibit in:

Front Label NEW

Click below to view the permission slip (back label) for the YAM Sponsored Exhibit in:

AENJ YAM Back Label (Permission Form)

AENJ YAM Back Label in Spanish (Permission Form)

What is Youth Art Month?

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.

The Council for Art Education is the national sponsor of Youth Art Month.

For the 2018 YAM Design Contest Sargent Art is generously giving:

$100 worth of art supplies to five (5) contest design winners and; $300 in art supplies to the student’s art teacher.

A check for cash, $1,500 to one (1) design winner, awarded at the Youth Art Month Reception at the statehouse in Trenton. The student’s art teacher will receive an assortment of Art Supplies worth $2000 (this will be shipped directly to the teacher’s school address).

Click here for GUIDELINES and list of prizes provided by Sargent Art!

Thank you Sargent Art for your generous donations in support of YAM!