Outstanding Visual Arts Communities
Outstanding visual art Communities
The Pennsylvania Art Education Association is proud to recognize schools and districts across the Commonwealth for their commitment to visual arts education opportunities for all students PK-12 as Outstanding Visual Art Communities (OVAC).
Congratulations 2023 Award Members!
Now more than ever, districts and schools Are recognizing the importance of our Visual Art programs and the enormous benefits they offer for student well-being. Let’s celebrate this support!
Schools and districts receiving this endorsement demonstrate the importance of their visual arts programs with:
Rigorous and Inclusive Programs: Arts programs demonstrate rigor using standards-based curricula taught at every level by highly qualified and certified arts educators.
Highly Accessible Programs: Art programs are offered to all students at every level of education with a sustainable budget for the visual arts.
Highly Visible Programs: Schools and districts identify their programmatic accomplishments, curriculum for all levels, art staff, mission statements, and arts events using their school websites and social media.
Use this One-Page Checklist to advocate for your visual arts programs and become an
Outstanding Visual Arts Community!
Congratulations 5 Year Recipients!
We look forward to celebrating with you at the PAEA 75th Conference in Hershey, in the Fall of 2024.
Carlisle Area School District
Kutztown Area School District
Neshaminy School District
West Allegheny School District
All nominations must be submitted by the end of August 2023 for consideration. Endorsements will be awarded in October 2023 to celebrate Arts & Humanities Month
As an award recipient, you will receive a PR TOOLKIT to celebrate your Outstanding Visual Arts Community.
The toolkit includes:
Endorsement Logo (New look this year!!)
Customizable Posters
Press Release Template
About PAEA Information Page
PAEA Advocacy Resources 2023
OVAC Endorsement Recipient Poster
PAEA empowers its members to transform their practices, students, colleagues, and communities to build a strong art education culture and citizenry.
ANNUAL TOP 5 EVENTS FOR PA ART EDUCATORS:
September: Arts Education Week
Passed by Congress in 2010, House Resolution 275 designates the week beginning with the second Sunday in September as National Arts in Education Week. During this week, the field of arts education joins together in communities across the country to tell the story of the impact of the transformative power of the arts in education (Americans for the Arts, 2018).
October: National Arts & Humanities Month &
PAEA Conference: 2023 Erie, October 6-8
National Arts & Humanities Month was established in 1993 and is celebrated every October in the United States. It was initiated to encourage Americans to explore new facets of the arts and humanities in their lives and to begin a lifelong habit of participation in the arts and humanities. It has become the nation’s largest collective annual celebration of the arts (Wikipedia). Conference 2023: In Process - We as artists are always in-process, and as we adjust to changes in the education system as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are mindful of how the very fabric of American culture is shifting—the process of recognizing the privilege many of us have, the process of making amends in broken cultural relationships, and the need for decolonization are all in process and coming into clearer focus. As we “re-warp” the fibers of our understanding, we can recognize that in the process of making, we must weave the threads of new ideas together. In the making, we find meaning, and in togetherness, we find we are one.
December: PAEA Flag Contest
To promote Youth Art Month, The Council for Art Education coordinates Youth Art Month activities at the national level. The primary event is the State Flag Program. Using the national or state theme, each state coordinates a flag design contest, with the winning design made into a flag for display in the Youth Art Month Museum at the National Art Education Association (NAEA) annual National Convention (NAEA).
March: Youth Art Month with PAEA - View the 2023 Virtual Exhibition & Awards Ceremony
The Council for Art Education (CFAE) administers Youth Art Month. Youth Art Month encourages support for quality school art programs and promotes art material safety. The Council for Art Education (CFAE) administers the program at the national level. The program provides a medium for recognizing skills developed through visual arts experiences unlike any other curriculum subjects, including problem-solving, creativity, observation, and communication. Art shows, special exhibits, fundraisers, and school and community activities take place annually, traditionally during March, to celebrate visual art education for grades K – 12 (NAEA).
April 26, 2023: Arts Advocacy Day
This is our big day on Capital Hill! Click HERE to find some easy ways that you can build support for your program, from local to state.
What else can you do to support the ARTS in Pennsylvania?
Postcards are a simple way to pass along the importance and benefits of art education.
Personalizing a message is powerful.
Timing your Postcard Campaign:
Arts in Education Week (September)
National Arts and Humanities Month (October)
Youth Art Month (March)
Arts in Education Advocacy Day (late April/Early May)
Art Shows and Special Events
Who do we send our postcards to?
Local – administrators, educational leaders, school board members, community organizations, …
State – legislators and policy makers
National – Education foundations, corporate organizations, federal policy makers
Remember that postcards are powerful, especially when you end your message a ‘thank you for supporting the arts.'
