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Become an Arts Advocate

PTA believes all students deserve the opportunity to take part in the arts, both in school and in the community. The arts can positively affect entire school culture—especially student motivation, attitudes, and attendance—which encourages students to stay in school, succeed in school, succeed in work and succeed in life!

Help PTA ensure that every child has access to-and takes part in-high quality arts learning experiences. Use the tools below to grow family and community engagement for arts education at your school.

ArtsEd: In their own words!

 

We asked our 2023-2024 PTA Reflections national winners why creating art is important to them. Here is what a few of them had to say:

"Art helps me use my brain in different ways than I usually do. It’s fun to express yourself without using words. Or if I don't use words when creating , I do it in a different way than I normally would. I feel and think in fun ways that don’t have any rules that I have to follow."—Mitchell Onken
"For me, art acts as a means of self-expression and exploration, fostering creativity and cultural understanding. In and outside school, it has a therapeutic effect and promotes mental well-being." —Aadya Rai

"First of all, I love to do it! It helps me think in a different way of things. To look in a new perspective! And second, it helps me express myself and my feelings and just be me! I find that secret passion within to keep going and keep trying to make my artworks improve!" —Vaishnavi Hemant

Check out Mitchell's piece:

Hope on a Boat

Check out Aadya's piece:

Ripples of Hope

Check out Vaishnavi's piece:

Together We Can


ArtsEd: What Can PTAs Do?

 

Get started by using our ArtsEd Leader's Guide to assess the health of the arts programs, practices and policies at your school and how well families are engaged in arts education. Identify areas for improvement and develop a sustainable action plan to build or further develop arts education in your community. Ask yourself these critical questions to ensure that your arts programming is rooted in the Four 'I's for Transformative Family Engagement.

Using a PTA Position Statement and Resolution, your PTA can show support for arts education in your community or state.

For additional tools, templates and resources to support your PTA's arts advocacy efforts, check out this Advocacy Toolkit provided by Arts Are Education.


Host Arts Education Programming

 

Creative Career Fairs invite families to learn about how artistic literacy translates into college and career readiness. Learn how using the PTA Creative Career Fair Guide.

National PTA Reflections programs spark creativity and celebrate participation and achievement in the arts. Learn more at PTA.org/Reflections/StartYourProgram.

The School of Excellence program can support PTAs in strengthening family-school partnerships that support arts education. See how Schools of Excellence gained national recognition by using the program to expand arts programming in there school community here. Learn more at PTA.org/Excellence.  


Support Creating Art At Home

 

Encourage families and your school community to use art-making activities to foster family engagement and fun! Check out the resources from the Kennedy Center around Getting Parents Involved in Arts Education, as well as the following activity booklets and idea sheets. Encourage families to share their creations with us using #PTAReflections.

Creating art at home can assist students in processing and exploring their emotions and experiences and raises mental health awareness. Use these journaling and drawing prompts from the "My Feelings Journaling Program” to aid in teaching children (TK-5) healthy ways of expression. 

Celebrate the Arts Throughout the Year

 

Commit to celebrating the arts all year round by participating in National Arts in Education Week and National Arts and Humanities Month!  

Share your PTA's support for arts education. Use #PTAReflections on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and share your #PTAProud story with us. Explore One Voice blogs and Our Children Magazine articles about arts education. 

Celebrate National Arts in Education Week
What is it?

Students, educators, families and arts professionals use National Arts in Education Week to celebrate the impact, value and power of the arts in education. Designated by Congress in 2010, the annual celebration brings attention and recognize the transformative power of the arts in education.

When is it?

National Arts in Education Week takes place annually during the week beginning with the second Sunday of September.

How can I celebrate National Arts in Education Week?
  • PTAs can launch their PTA Reflections program as an opportunity to explore different ways of creating art and for students to earn prizes and recognition for their creative interpretation of the theme "Accepting Imperfection."
  • Students and families can explore new types of art and share their creations on social media using #ArtsEdWeek or #BecauseOfArtsEd. Use your artwork and inspiration to highlight the benefits of creating art and how you been positively affected by the arts. Don't forget to tag us with #PTAReflections!
I want to host an arts education celebration, what can I do if need more time?
How can I help ensure others have access to the benefits of arts in education?
  • PTAs, schools and families can all use Arts in Education week to advocate for arts on a national scale by asking their federal legislator to support the Arts Education for All Act, which helps expand arts education and programming for all students. Learn more about advocating for the arts.
Celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month

Every October, National Arts and Humanities Month provides opportunity to celebrate the value of arts and humanities in shaping our lives, communities, and country. Read the 2024 White House proclamation recognizing the celebration.

How can I celebrate National Arts in Humanities Month?
  • PTAs can launch or continue to promote their PTA Reflections program as an opportunity to explore different ways of creating art and for students to earn prizes and recognition for their creative interpretation of the theme "Accepting Imperfection."
  • Students and families can explore new types of art. Use your artwork and inspiration to highlight the benefits of creating art and how you been positively affected by the arts. Don't forget to tag us with #PTAReflections!
I want to host an arts education celebration, what can I do if need more time?
  • PTAs and schools can collaborate and plan celebrations like art exhibits, talent shows, special performances, guest presentations and/or readings that engage your school community in creating art. 
How can I help ensure others have access to the benefits of arts in education?
  • PTAs, schools and families can all use Arts and Humanities Month to advocate for arts on a national scale by asking their federal legislator to support the Arts Education for All Act, which helps expand arts education and programming for all students. Learn more about advocating for the arts.


National Arts in Education Week


ArtsEd: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Speak Up for Diversity in the Arts

 

National PTA believes that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) enhances and deepens the impact of the arts in our communities. By supporting diversity in the arts and diverse artists, your PTA can educate and connect your community members while showcasing your PTA’s commitment to representing everyone in the PTA family.

Here are a few ways your PTA can begin furthering diversity in the arts in your community:

  • Celebrate diversity in the arts using our Diversity Arts Celebration Guide to offer students positive reinforcement for participation in arts programs, while also fostering inclusivity.

  • Take a diversity in the National PTA arts pledge to highlight your PTA's commitment to expanding diversity in your arts programming. You can also customize this version (en español).


  • Use best practices to welcome diverse perspectives into your arts programming and ensure your efforts are representative of everyone in your PTA.
  • Continue your learning around DEI with National PTA's DEI resources and learn how you can build a more diverse and inclusive PTA to enhance your arts programming.  

Elevate Diverse Student Voices 

 

National PTA believes that the arts are a great platform for our children and youth to elevate their voice. The 2020-2021 Reflections theme, I Matter Because…, reaffirmed this as it took on new meaning and allowed National PTA to connect with the thoughts and feelings of many of our Black and Brown children.

And so, we invited Reflections artists of color and their allies to share artwork that expresses and affirms their beliefs and identities—as well as the importance of Black lives. Check out some of the amazing pieces we received in this highlight video.


ArtsEd Resources

National Level Arts Education Resources

 

Arts Education Partnership(AEP) helps PTA to advance arts education and lead the way to student success with current research and policy insights. Make your case for arts education with the help of ArtsEdSearch, a research and policy database providing summaries on academic, cognitive, personal, social and civic outcomes for students of arts education.

Americans for the Arts envisions a country where everyone has access to-and takes part in-high quality and lifelong learning experiences in the arts, both in school and in the community. Browse these Arts Matter: State Fact Sheets to learn more about art policy in your state and grow your confidence as a PTA ArtsEd Leader.

Assistance for Arts Education Center provides evidence-based resources and arts education specific toolkits for to support high-quality arts programming and expand equitable access to arts education. Check out these grantee profiles to be inspired with new and exciting ways local organizations are supporting the arts.

Regional and State Level Arts Education Resources

 


ArtsEd: Grant Opportunity

 

Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant

Sponsored by the Family of Mary Lou Anderson — 2024 Funding Opportunities Now Closed 

For over 50 years, the National PTA Reflections arts program has furthered the goals of the program founder, Mary Lou Anderson. Mary Lou Anderson believed in the power and importance of the arts and dreamed that Reflections would leave a lasting impact on children across the country – and it has! Reflections has helped millions of students explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life. To learn more about Mary Lou Anderson and the impact of her vision, visit our Reflections timeline.

National PTA is proud to continue Mary Lou Anderson's legacy of Reflections through the Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant. Through this grant opportunity, two local PTAs are awarded fundsto administer innovative, student-centered programs that increase access to high quality arts learning experiences and provide new pathways for at-risk and underserved students to participate in arts education experiences, including National PTA’s Reflections program. If selected for this specific funding, PTAs must participate or have participated in the current year's Reflections program and must also meet the general requirements for National PTA grants. 

Congratulations to the 2024 Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grantees:

  • Boca Raton Community High School PTSA from Boca Raton, Florida
  • Poe Middle School PTSA from Annandale, Virginia 

Curious how past grantees have used the grant funds? Read this Our Children blog discussing the impact and successes of the 2023 Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grantees, Campbell Middle School PTA and Maple Intermediate PTA. 


Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant Survey


Share with National PTA

Invite your school community to provide feedback about the program at PTA.org/Survey. If you are providing printed, paper copies of this survey, please mail completed surveys to National PTA Programs at 1250 N. Pitt Street, Alexandria VA 22314 or scan and provide a shared link or attachment to Programs@PTA.org.

TAKE SURVEY




REFLECTIONS HOME

Encourage and celebrate student participation in arts education.


START YOUR PROGRAM

Find tools to run your Local PTA's Reflections program.


AWARDS

Learn about our winners, events and exhibits and see what you can win!