Art Advocacy Ideas for winter days!

Long winter days need some special events built in to move them along.  This week's ideas lend themselves perfectly to classroom curriculum, build the concept of teamwork and planning, and can become great advocacy PR pieces for the local newspaper.  The old saying "You have to be a hero in your community first" is so true in art advocacy!

1

Valentine's Day excitement have you feeling blue rather than red?  Create a school-wide UNITY event based on the work of Jim Dine and his Hearts series in multiple media for K-5.  Tie right in with PE, as many schools celebrate Heart Month with different event challenges.  Dovetail with classroom teachers talking about the need for good nutrition and organize a healthy snack day for all.  Need ideas?  Check out Pinterest under Jim Dine for exciting lessons.
 
2
 Hungry for more?  Older students (grades 6-12) can do the Empty Bowls project and join forces with community food banks in raising money.  Tie in a nutrition study with Family and Consumer Science classes and have local grocery stores donate dried soup ingredients to package up in Ziploc bags to be auctioned off with bowls (if you cannot do the actual meal event).  More info at: 
http://www.emptybowls.net/about

3
Partner with neighboring school districts and set up a traveling art show of 5-6 pieces that move from school to school.  Great way to collaborate for the arts, and showcase not only your students, but those in your area.

4
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.  Perfect way to use our this year's YAM theme of Take a Journey Through Art! 

Five Fabulous February Advocacy Events!

Happy Second Semester!  February is a short month, full month of holidays and quite often, School Spirit Weeks.  Take advantage of all that extra buzz and channel it into some  YAM-worthy events that will help build a sense of unity and community in your buildings!  These 5 events are from Babylon High School, that were submitted last year, by Cheryl Schweider, for the Annual YAM Report.

1
Upcycled Bas Relief Panther - Our school mascot is the panther; YOU can use  YOUR mascot!  The art students created a bas relief of the panther with papier-mache and then had other students glue on discarded keyboard keys and mouses.  This was done during art week during the lunch periods.  About 50 students participated in this.  (School Unity - re-purposing discarded items).

2
"Be Like Brit" - similar to the Memory Project, our students created 66 portraits for children living in the "Be Like Brit" house in Haiti.  This was done in conjunction with our French National Honor Society who held a teacher/student talent show to raise money for this house.  We decided to create the portraits for the 66 residents (33 girls and 33 boys).  (Community Service/Social Justice)

3
"Adopt Me" pet painting portraits - About 25 of our students and some teachers participated in a pet painting workshop for a local animal shelter.  Each student paid to participate and the money was donated to the shelter.  The paintings are hanging on the cages of the animals and will go home with the animals once they are adopted.  (Community Service)

4
 Paint by number sunflowers - From an original photo, we uploaded it to PUNIFY where it was converted to a paint-by-number and put onto a large canvas.  During the lunch periods, during art week, about 50 students participated in the painting of it.  (Community building within the school)

5
Using food theme, combined with a study of Andy Warhol, do a community service canned soup food drive.  Introduce Andy's Soup Can series and a theme of "You CAN make a difference". Make a sculptural installation of the soup can donations (in a safe area of course), give recognition for those who contribute, and help stock up the local food pantry at a time of the year when things may be scarce.  Involve your Art Club, Honor Society, Student Council, Class Challenge, or K-Kids (Kiwanis organization for younger students).

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!

Get Ready for March YAM Kickoff Week!

Youth Art Month is officially just a couple of days away!  

Here's some great ideas for you to use.

1
Make prints of student artwork, frame and present to local officials.  Walmart or Walgreens 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 with a theme of Collaboration/Unity.  Everyone creates a panel to add.  Or use the Post-it Challenge.  Plan colors of Post-it Notes to spell out school mascot or school's initials.
4
Hold a 10x10 (or 12x12) art challenge for students and staff using any media.  Install in school foyer.
5
In cold climates, have a 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 Andy 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 your classroom/school/community for the visual arts.  Use the hashtag #MakeArtMonday and share on Facebook, at the YAM NYS page (or, if you're in another state, that state's YAM page), or on Twitter!

Art Advocacy Mid-Winter Break Ideas!

Is this a vacation week for you?  Rest and recharge, as Youth Art Month is less than two weeks away.  If you cannot get away for a vacation, plan how you can use some of these virtual art trips, for your students to experience artwork from both around the world, and close to home. 
1
Visit an online museum or build your own collection of artworks.  (Art Institute of Chicago has a build-your-own collection feature.)
2
Arrange an Artist in Residence Program during March, by inviting in local community artists to demonstrate and/or talk to students.  Are there local museums nearby?  Set up a visit, and if area artists have work present, try to arrange it so that they can be present to discuss their work with your students. 

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!