Declare Youth Art Month

Senate Resolution No. 2224 BY: Senator KENNEDY MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 2020, as Youth Art Month in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the quality and character of life in the communities across New York State are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those programs and individuals who devote themselves to the welfare of young people and their futures; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 2020, as Youth Art Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Youth Art Month; this year's theme is "Take a Journey Through Art"; and WHEREAS, Youth Art Month is an annual observance each March to emphasize the value of art education for all children, encourage support for quality school art programs, and promote art material safety; and WHEREAS, Created in 1961 by the Art and Creative Materials Institute, Youth Art Month is a nonprofit association of art and craft materials manufacturers, in cooperation with the National Art Education Association; and WHEREAS, Art education contributes viable education benefits to all elementary and secondary students including: developing students' creative problem-solving and critical abilities; teaching sensitivity to beauty, order, and other expressive qualities; providing students with a stronger understanding of multicultural values and beliefs; and interrelating student learning in art production, art history, art criticism, and aesthetics; and WHEREAS, To promote Youth Art Month, the Council for Arts Education coordinates Youth Art Month activities at the national level; the primary event is the State Flag Program where 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 in March; and WHEREAS, In addition to the flag contest, states select and exhibit student artwork throughout the year to be displayed in the Youth Art Month Museum at the National Art Education Association Convention in March; and WHEREAS, Youth Art chairs also create digital scrapbook reports, documenting local observances, events, exhibits, proclamations, funding, and community support; these reports are submitted to the Council for Art Education, and several programs are recognized for outstanding achievement; and WHEREAS, These benefits of art education form the basis of "World Class Standards" developed by the United States Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Arts; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body recognizes the importance of art in education as being necessary for full development of all children, challenging the intellect while teaching lessons about order, proportion and genius; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 2020, as Youth Art Month in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, and the New York State Art Teachers Association.