After a two-year COVID hiatus, Youth Art Month is back at the Arlington Museum of Art! This celebration of the artistic talent flowing throughout the Arlington Independent School District is a floor-to-ceiling explosion of color and creativity. Kids, tell your parents to bring the telescoping selfie stick.
From March 9 through April 19, students from six local high schools and their nearby primary schools will fill gallery walls that have previously held works by Pablo Picasso, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Salvador Dali, Keith Haring, Kehinde Wiley, and other classic and modern masters. Hundreds of students’ paintings, drawings, and other media will be rotated every two weeks.
AISD Elementary, Junior and Senior High Exhibition Dates
Visit the Visit Us page for Museum hours
- March 9 – 22: Sam Houston and Seguin plus their Elementary and Junior High partner schools
- March 25 – April 5: Arlington and Bowie plus their Elementary and Junior High partner schools
- April 8 – 19: Martin and Lamar plus their Elementary and Junior High partner schools
Receptions for Artists and Families
- March 11 from 5-7pm: Sam Houston and Seguin plus their Elementary and Junior High partner schools
- April 1 from 5-7pm: Arlington and Bowie plus their Elementary and Junior High partner schools
- April 13 from 5-7pm: Martin and Lamar plus their Elementary and Junior High partner schools
Chris Hightower, President and CEO of the Arlington Museum of Art, sees this unique partnership with AISD as an important part of the museum’s commitment to encouraging young artists and engaging with the community.
“Art, education, and community engagement form the foundation of the Museum’s mission,” said Chris Hightower, President and CEO of the AMA. “Youth Art Month really brings the three together in such a fun way. We especially enjoy welcoming families who come to admire the work of their favorite aspiring artist.”
“The partnership with the Arlington Museum of Art is truly unique and special,” said Linh Nguyen, AISD Assistant Director for Visual Arts. “It’s built on the foundation and tradition of providing our students and community a platform to be recognized for their artistic talents. We strive to give students learning opportunities inside and outside of the classroom through amazing programs such as the Youth Art Month and the Summer Art Camp and exhibition in collaboration with the museum. Both the AISD and the AMA share a love and passion for motivating and inspiring the next generations of artists and planting the seed that gives them a pathway to success.”
The AMA donates 6,000 square feet of gallery space to AISD for the event’s six-week run, and admission is free. “We want this to be a y’all come opportunity for the entire community,” said Chris. “We don’t want an admission fee to be a barrier, especially for families.” For those who wish to financially support the event, a donation box is available near the front door of the Museum. Shopping sprees at the Museum’s gift shop and online donations also help fund Youth Art Month and other educational programs at the AMA like Summer Art Camp.
“Every year, the creativity and talent of AISD students never cease to amaze us!” said Kendall Quirk, Director of Exhibitions and Registrar of the AMA. “And because we’ve been hosting Youth Art Month in Arlington for over three decades, it’s become a multi-generation tradition. I’ve met several parents who remember participating in Youth Art Month at the AMA when they were kids.”
History of Youth Art Month
The roots of the Arlington Museum of Art are deeply embedded in the intersection of art and education. AMA began in 1952 as the Arlington Art Association, which was founded by civic leaders with the guidance of Howard and Arista Joyner. Howard was head of the art department of North Texas Agricultural College (now the University of Texas at Arlington). Arista was the first art teacher at Arlington High School, and went on to develop the art department at Tarrant County Junior College (now Tarrant County College).
The AMA and AISD have co-hosted Youth Art Month in Arlington for over thirty years, which by all accounts is the largest Youth Art Month event in the State of Texas. Nationally, Youth Art Month is overseen by the Council for Art Education as a way to encourage support for quality K-12 visual art programs.
“Youth Art Month is such a special time,” said Linh. “It is time where all schools across the city and nation display art in a show of solidarity for arts education. To be able to see the smiles on the children’s and parent’s faces are priceless. The idea that students are given the opportunity to display their artwork in a professional museum and literally leave their ‘artistic mark’ in history is incredible.”
About the Arlington Museum of Art
The Arlington Museum of Art is dedicated to championing creativity and providing access to art for the educational enrichment and cultural development of our community. arlingtonmuseum.org
