The YAM theme for 2025–2026 is The World Needs Art.
How To Participate in the CAEA YAM Flag and Banner Program
Youth Art Month CAEA Teacher Membership Requirements
• The teacher submitting a student’s artwork must be a current member of CAEA when the artwork is submitted at all levels of the YAM program.
• The membership must be an individual membership and not an institutional membership.
• The membership status of the teacher submitting student artwork must be verified by the CAEA Executive Secretary, as an NAEA/CAEA ID# is not proof of current membership.
• A member teacher may not submit artwork for another teacher who is not a current member.
The Regional show can only accept three artworks per division/category from each area. In the event of a tie, CAEA recommends the tied pieces are sent back to the area judging panel to reassess and reach a consensus decision.
CAEA YAM Flag Competition Entry Basics
Who Can Participate: Students in grades K-12. The submitting teacher must be a current member of the California Art Education Association (CAEA).
• Each CAEA Member Teacher may submit up to 5 designs for a 3’ x 5’ flag or banner on the Google Form Submission Link: Click Here.
• The flag design needs to include creative images that represent California and art along with the words California or CA.
• Must creatively represent the state of CA, and be inspired by the 2025 YAM theme: The World Needs Art.
• The flag design should be printable to a 3’ x 5’ flag or banner.
• Design can be VERTICAL or HORIZONTAL format.
• Include the words “Youth Art Month” if possible.
• Use vibrant, clear designs suitable for printing on a flag.
• SUBMISSION DEADLINE DECEMBER 19, 2025
• PLEASE NOTE: You need to fill out page 2 of the Permission and Release Form
• One winner will be chosen and notified between January 1-15, 2026
• For a fillable form, click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D2_0Eq0vmBJZJdccbbYNBUO8O2zXdtzR/view
Click here to download a PDF detailing the annual Youth Art Month Museum Flag Display information.
Click here for the CAEA Flag and Banner submission form.
Annual Submission Dates
Dec. 19: Deadline to submit all Flag/Banner artworks and release forms to CAEA. (via this link)
Dec. 21: State Council Judging of Flag Submissions at December State Council Meeting
Dec. 22: Winning flag design notification sent out to the student and flag design is sent for printing.
Jan. 15: Printed flag is sent to Council For Art Education for display at the Youth Art Month Museum at the NAEA National Convention (National deadline is February 5)
Mar. 5: Winning flag design on display at the Youth Art Month Museum at the NAEA National Convention
Museum at the NAEA National Convention.
Questions? Please email: [email protected]
Instructions
1. Students will create a work of art following the design guidelines stated above and in the National Flag Entry Form Template.
2. Download and complete page 2 of the National Flag Entry Release Form here.
3. Submit the National Flag Entry Release Form and a JPEG of the flag via the CAEA YAM Flag Google Form
Submission Requirements
• SUBMISSION DEADLINE DECEMBER 19, 2025 Read more here.
• MUST upload a high-quality digital image of the flag (evenly lit, in-focus, with no background visible)
• MUST complete and scan page 2 of the official YAM Permission and Release Form.
All submissions will be judged blind by a committee of unelected CAEA volunteers using Rubric.
Winners will be notified by December 22.
CAEA will administrate the printing, shipping, and exhibition of the flag at the NAEA national convention.
Questions? Please email: [email protected]
The Regional show can only accept three artworks per division/category from each area. In the event of a tie, CAEA recommends the tied pieces are sent back to the area judging panel to reassess and reach a consensus decision.
How to Participate in the General CAEA YAM Program
To allow sufficient time for the artwork from the statewide CAEA YAM programs to be prepared and delivered to the NAEA convention, all CAEA Regional YAM programs (Northern, Central, and Southern) must be concluded 3 weeks before the NAEA national convention each year. Art Educators, be sure to check with your area YAM coordinator for specific deadlines.
Contact information for the area YAM coordinators can be found below.
The 2026 NAEA convention is scheduled to take place in Chicago from March 5–7. Click here for details.
When entering student artwork, please be sure to observe the following requirements:
• Complete a Photo/Plagiarism Release form for each student submitting work.
• Create an Inventory of the work you are submitting.
• Create a Label for each entry you are submitting.
• Turn all Photo/Plagiarism Releases, Inventory, and Labeled Artworks in to your designated chair by area deadlines
The Regional show can only accept three artworks per division/category from each area. In the event of a tie, CAEA recommends the tied pieces are sent back to the area judging panel to reassess and reach a consensus decision.
Be sure to follow up with your area or local chair for specific information regarding deadlines and submission information:
California State Chair: Theresa Nguyen ([email protected])
Northern California Chair: Maryann Schultz ([email protected]) and Jaime Shilen ([email protected])
Central California Chair: Vacant; if interested, contact Central Area Director Vicki Smart ([email protected])
Kern County YAM: Yvette Stockton @CAEA ([email protected]) and Gabbie Jordon McDuff @CAEA ([email protected])
Inland Empire Chair: Kristen (Ursenbach) Carrillo ([email protected])
Los Angeles Chair: Christine Terry ([email protected])
Orange County Chair: Pei Ou ([email protected])
San Diego Chair: Hilary Spitzer, ([email protected])
CAEA Student Artwork Rubric
In the absence of cross-committee norming, rubrics yield subjective results based on each judge’s unique interpretation of the rubric criteria. It is expected that the CAEA Student Artwork Rubric will be used when judging all YAM show and State YAM Flag artwork entries.
The Regional show can only accept three artworks per division/category from each area. In the event of a tie, CAEA recommends the tied pieces are sent back to the area judging panel to reassess and reach a consensus decision.
Program Report/Digital Scrapbook
State Youth Art Month Chairpersons can create digital scrapbook reports, documenting local observances, events, exhibits, proclamations, funding, and community support. Reports are submitted to CFAE, and programs are recognized for outstanding achievement with financial awards and trophies.