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!

Back at it, with Weekly YAM Ideas!

It's been a while since there's been a new post here at at The Artful Advocate, but its time to get your advocacy back in gear.  Beat the winter blues and kick off the new decade with these fabulous ideas for YAM (Youth Art Month).  Start now and build momentum for March 1st!  Participating in YAM is an excellent way to advocate for your art program!

1
Make an in-house video on 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.  Great idea for all classes/Art Club/NAHS/or interdepartmental work.

2
Use props from #1 and post daily to Twitter.

3
And for another take on this idea - Why Does Art Matter? - Students complete postcards on the theme of why it matters to them.  Display on hallway bulletin board.  This would be a great way to get faculty and staff to chime in too!  Think of it as a way to get some fresh ideas out there for the New Year!

4
Kick off a new Art History unit with walking paintings... cardboard with a face cut out from a famous work of art.  Students complete the large scale pieces - offer as a photo booth idea in March during YAM as a fund raiser for a targeted need!

5
Share all these out on social media with the hashtag #nysYAM20!