Youth Art Month
Youth Art Month is celebrated every March to highlight the remarkable talent of our student artists and the importance of strong art education programs. Each year the MAEA teams up with several creative organizations to celebrate young artists throughout the state with exhibits and award ceremonies. MAEA members from all districts are encouraged to participate.
Please see below for more information on the events around the state. And let us know if you’d like to start an event in your area!
Interested in helping with Youth art month?
We are looking for someone to lead the state program and PMA event. Please email Matt Johnson for more info about the role.
Belfast
Maine YAM Flags
Each year the MAEA Art Educator of the Year works with students to create a flag to represent Maine at the NAEA National Convention. Below are flag examples from recent years:
2025 MAEA Art Educator of the Year Elise Pelletier nominated her student Sophie Maillet of Portland High School to create the 2025 flag. Sophie chose the symbol of the human heart surrounded by nature with vivid colors to represent the 2025 theme “Healing Through Art.”
2024 MAEA Art Educator of the Year Iva Damon created this flag with students at Leavitt Area High School to represent Maine at the 2023 NAEA Convention in Minneapolis.
2023 MAEA Art Educator of the Year Matt Johnson worked with his yearbook students to come up with the design above. The design was not the idea of one student but the idea of nine — which is why they chose to change the slogan to "Our Art Our Voice" instead of the singular of "My." The proud hung at the NAEA Convention in San Antonio.