Here's your weekly Fab Five YAM ideas!

Here are some Fab Five Ideas for the second week of the New Year!  Work those community connections...

1
Approach area medical offices/facilities about displaying student work in their waiting rooms etc.  Most will be thrilled to have their space used for a gallery.  Be sure to acknowledge them with a thank you letter, or arrange for the local media to do some photos.  Art and the healing arts are a natural combination.

2
Invite parents of art students, who own local businesses, to hang student art work at their place of business.  Create a sign that says "XYZ Supports Youth Art Month!"  Promote on social media and local print media.

3
Have students design placemats and table tents that can be used by local restaurants.

4
Got empty storefronts?  See if you can display student artwork in the windows.  Hold a community vote for their favorite piece.

5
Approach your village, town, or city hall, or county offices to see if you can display artwork there.  While you are inquiring, ask for a proclamation or endorsement of YAM!  (See the how-to's at https://www.nysata.org/youth-art-month.   Small town politicians especially love this kind of attention!

How about another Art Advocacy 'Fab Five'?

YES!  Here's another set of five great ideas for you, and a bonus, too!

1
Plan a statewide postcard exchange with another school, or create artist trading cards to swap.  Consider too... a postcard campaign to state legislators about the value of art education, and combine that with a lesson on the First Amendment!
2
Have students design placemats and table tents that can be used by local restaurants.  Challenge older students in Graphic Design classes to choose an area establishment in need of a 'makeover' and design a new logo/menu/etc.  Invite the owners and any contacts you have in advertising, to choose the strongest design and discuss importance of branding to create market awareness. 
3
Start to hang student work of the week in the principal's office/main office area of your building, and in the administrative offices (superintendent, etc).  Add in the NEW Visual Art Standards, your Essential Question and student reflection, for a reminder of the importance of the art program to the school curriculum that cannot be ignored. 
4
Planning a YAM show?  Select an 'honorary  chairperson' from local, well-known artists or 'local celebrities' who support the arts.  Give them an honorary certificate and invite them to your show opening. 
5
Be sure your Media Advisories are out this week for any show in March, and that info is up on you school website, and community calendars at your local TV and radio stations.

BONUS IDEA!
Approach local doctor's offices and medical facilities to hang student artwork in waiting rooms and public areas.  Many are more than happy to give you space, and welcome student work as a point of conversation for staff and patients!

'Art Advocacy Fab Five' is back!

It is never too early to get started on your March YAM (Youth Art Month) plans... and these are guaranteed success stories ready for you to use in your school!

1
Make prints of student artwork, frame and present to local officials.  Walmart or Walgreen's make cost efficient 5x7's or 8x10's.  Use this as a photo opp for YAM during our first week in March.
2
Ask your BOE for an endorsement of Youth Art Month now.  Approach your local elected officials as well.
3
How about a school-wide mural project? - Use the Youth Art Month theme Your Art: Your Story.  Everyone creates a panel to add.  Or use the Post It Challenge.  Plan colors of Post It notes to spell out school mascot or initials.  (ex - Liverpool Middle School = LMS).

4
Have a 10x10 (or 12x12) art challenge for students and staff using any media.  Install in school foyer.
5
In cold climates... YAM Snow Sculpture Challenge!  Bundle up and brave the cold to create a temporary sculptural piece!  Compete in teams or classes.  In warm climates, go outside and create Andy Goldsworthy temporary installations; photograph and enlarge to display indoors.

And don't forget our bonus...
6
Plan ahead for Make Art Monday - which will be every Monday in March - share with us what you are doing in your classroom/school/community for the visual arts.  Use the hashtag #MakeArtMonday and share on Facebook, on Twitter, or if you're in NY state, at our YAM NYS page. 

Feb 26-March 2 Fab 5: YAM Kick-Off Week!

It's just a couple of days till YAM (Youth Art Month) kick-off time!  Here are some great ideas for you to use.  You might want to take particular note of bonus tip #6, about Make Art Monday, which is something you can do every week. 

#1
Make prints of student artwork, frame and present to local officials.  Walmart or Walgreen's make cost efficient 5x7's or 8x10's.  Use this as a photo op for YAM during our first week in March.
#2
Ask  your BOE for an endorsement of Youth Art Month.
#3
School-wide mural project - Collaboration/Unity them. Everyone creates a panel to add.  Or use the Post-It Challenge.  Plan colors of Post-It notes to spell out school mascot or initials.  (ex: Liverpool Middle School = LMS.)
#4 
10x10 (or 12x12) art challenge for students and staff using any media.  Install in school foyer. 
#5
In cold climates - YAM Snow Sculpture Challenge! Bundle up and brave the cold to create a temporary sculptural piece!  Complete in teams or classes!  In warmer climates, go outside and create Andy Goldsworthy temporary installations.  Photograph and enlarge to display indoors.

And don't forget...
#6
Make Art Monday - every Monday in March, and share with us what you are doing in your classroom/school/community for the visual arts.  Use the hashtag #MakeArtMonday and share on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and at our YAM NYS page!

Art Advocacy Fab Five plus a BONUS!

Here's this week's Fab Five Art Advocacy ideas, plus a bonus, all courtesy of our regular contributor, Donnalyn Schuster.  Thank you, Donnalyn, for the SIX wonderful ideas this week!

1
Plan a statewide postcard exchange with another school, or create artist trading cards to swap.  Consider, too, a postcard campaign - to state legislators - about the value of art education, and combine that with a lesson on the First Amendment.
2
Have students design placemats and table tents that can be used by local restaurants.  Challenge older students in Graphic Design to choose an area establishment in need of a 'makeover' and design new logo/menu/etc.  Invite the owners and any contacts you have in advertising, to choose the strongest design and discuss the importance of branding to create market awareness.
3
Start to hang student work of the week in the principal's office/main office area of your building and in the administrative offices (superintendent etc).  Add in the NEW Visual Arts Standards, your Essential Question and student reflection for a reminder of the importance of the art program to the school curriculum that cannot be ignored!
4
 Planning a YAM show?  Select an 'honorary chairperson' from local, well-known artists or 'local celebrities' who support the arts.  Give them an honorary certificate and invite them to your show opening.

5
Be sure your Media Advisories are out this week for any show in March - and that info is up on your school website and community calendars at your local TV and radio stations.

*BONUS Idea!
Approach local doctors' offices and medical facilities to hang student art work in waiting grooms and public areas.  Many are more than happy to give you space and welcome student work as a point of conversation for staff and patients!

Begin February with an Art Advocacy Fab Five!

2018 is one month old!  Here are some ways to liven up February as we move closer to Youth Art Month.  Many high schools have a Senior Night/Spirit Week during this time, and there are some GREAT ideas here guaranteed to energize the celebrations!  These ideas are also great for elementary and middle schools, almost any time of the year!

1

Do a Stop Drop and Draw - everyone in the school - for 15 minutes.  Have the entire school (and staff) display their work!

2

So You Think You Can Draw Challenge - do this challenge by grade level/class, or hold a faculty and staff challenge

3

Invite local artists to YAM openings; make them honorary chairpersons. (Line these folks up now!)

4

If your community has an electronic billboard for community events, see if they can scan in an piece of student work to promote YAM as it approaches, or to promote one of the school-wide arts events listed here.

5

Create a cutout in a famous work of art: for example, The Scream, Mona Lisa, or America Gothic:  Have photos taken of kids in the cutout for $1, and donate the proceeds to a local charity.  Be sure the cutout has the YAM logo on it!  Do this at school events.  Better yet, bring it out into the community!

Another Week, and More Easy Advocacy Ideas!

This is a short week, and I'm a little late posting this, put still, here's some more great ideas ("Fab 4" for this week!), courtesy of frequent blog contributor Donnalyn Schuster, to move you closer to Youth Art Month! 

1

Create a virtual gallery for you school website.

 2

Love the work of George Rodrigue and his "Blue Dog"?  

Take a virtual trip to New Orleans via Google and step foot in his gallery on Royal Street.  Here's a link: https://georgerodrigue.com/  For elementary students, read Why is Blue Dog Blue? and create some mini Blue Dogs for the local humane society.  Here's a video link on YouTube: Why is Blue Dog Blue?

3

Create a Photo Story of a collection of work by an artist.

Include some biographical material, title slides, and music. Display on your school web page.

4

Cannot get to a museum? 

Build a "Gallery Walk" - 5 famous works of art and gallery tags.  Challenge students to visit the gallery, observe quietly, and write a "Twitter" style short critique/statement on Post-it notes as they choose their favorite work.  Post the notes and use different color Post-its for classes or grades.  Do a informal poll to see what the top artwork is and announce to the school (this works best at the elementary level).  It's a great way to teach gallery manners, too!   Added benefit - have the staff and teachers choose their favorites to write about as well! 

Art Advocacy Fab Five for January 8-12!

It's never too early to get started on your March YAM plans, and these are guaranteed success stories ready for you to use in your school!

1  Make prints of student  artwork, frame and present to local officials.  Places like Walmart and Walgreen's make cost-efficient 5x7's or 8x10's.  Use this as a photo op for YAM during the first week in March.

2  Ask your BOE for an endorsement of Youth Art Month.

3  School-wide mural project - Collaboration/Unity theme.  Everyone creates a panel to add.  Or use the Post-It Challenge. Plan colors of Post-It notes to spell out school mascot or initials. 

4  10x10 (or 12x12) art challenge for students and staff using any media.  Install in school foyer. 

5  In cold climates - YAM Snow Sculpture Challenge!  Bundle up and brave the cold to create a temporary sculptural piece!  Compete in teams or classes!  In warmer climates, go outside and create Any Goldsworthy temporary installations; photograph and enlarge to display indoors. 

And don't forget....

6  Make Art Monday - every Monday in March, share what you are doing in you classroom/school/community for the visual arts.  Use the hashtag #MakeArtMonday and share on Facebook, at our YAM NYS page, or on Twitter!

Cure the Winter Blues with an Artful Advocate Fab Five!

Here's a sure cure for Cabin Fever from this past week's bitterly cold temps and snow, especially for those not able to get away to a warm place for break!  Beat the  mid-winter blues with these 'Fab Five' ideas as a prep for YAM.  Start now, and build momentum for March 21st!

1  Organize an Urban Sketching event in your community for students - particularly good to tie-in with a study of local history.  Think about a historic place - with indoor space to sketch.  Or, do it virtually, with Google Street view on a Smart Board, if you cannot travel!

2  Make an in-house video of what art means.  Have student releases signed, and have 'interviewers', volunteers to speak, and 'videographers'.  Edit and play in-house or on your district web/Facebook page.  Students can use a prop titled "What Art Means to Me" and write their responses to hold up.

3  Use props from #2 and post daily to Twitter. 

4  Challenge students to create an Art Rap - lyrics and choreography to create a video.  Show them all on a Friday afternoon, with popcorn for all!

5  Have students make mini-sketchbooks and do a drawing challenge.  Involve the staff, too!

Bonus Idea!

6  Create 'walking paintings' - cardboard with a face cut out from a famous work of art.    

Thanks to frequent contributor to The Artful Advocate, Donnalyn Schuster, for providing this week's  'Fab Five' post!

Weekly Artful Advocacy 'Fabulous Five' - #2

2017 is one month old.  Here are this week's 'Fabulous Five' - five terrific ideas to liven up February, as we move closer to Youth Art Month.  Many high schools have a Senior Night/Spirit Week during this time, and some of the great ideas listed here could be used as a guaranteed way to energize the celebrations!  Or if there's no Spirit Week or Senior Night, use ideas #1 & #2 to enliven an otherwise ordinary week of school.

• 1) Do a Stop Drop & Draw - everyone in the school - for 15 minutes.  Entire school (and staff) display their work! 

• 2) So You Think You Can Draw Challenge - do this by grade level/class challenge/faculty and staff challenge.

• 3) Invite local artists to YAM openings - make them honorary chairpersons.  (Line these folks up now!)

• 4) If your community has an electronic billboard for community events, see if they can scan in a piece of student artwork to promote YAM as it approaches, or to promote one of the school-wide arts events listed here.

•  5) Create a famous cutout of a work of art (the Mona Lisa, The Scream, or American Gothic perhaps).   Have photos taken of kids in the cutout for $1, and donate proceeds to a local charity.  Be sure the cutout has the YAM logo on it!  You can do this at school events.  Better yet, bring it out into the community!! (Here's a pic of me taken in one such Scream cutout at a school art show a couple of years ago.)