SENATE RESOLUTION No. 47

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 5, 2018

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  SHIRLEY K. TURNER

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

Senator  M. TERESA RUIZ

District 29 (Essex)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator T.Kean

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Recognizes March of 2018 as “Youth Art Month.”

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


A Senate Resolution recognizing March of 2018 as “Youth Art Month.”

 

Whereas, The Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI) created “Children’s Art Month” in 1961 as a time to emphasize the value of children participating in visual art education; and

Whereas, In 1969, the event expanded to include secondary school students and “Children’s Art Month” officially became known as “Youth Art Month” (YAM); and

Whereas, More than 800,000 students in grades K-12 and over 200 art educators participate in YAM each year; and

Whereas, Art education is an integral factor in the education curriculum necessary to develop citizens of a global society; and

Whereas, Art education contributes to the development of creative problem solving skills such as adaptability, flexibility, imagination, fluency, originality, elaboration, and abstract reasoning; and

Whereas, Through art education, students develop critical thinking skills such as the ability to compare and critique information as well as provide original hypotheses; and

Whereas, By interrelating student learning through art production, history, and criticism, art education reinforces skills taught in other subject areas; and

Whereas, Art education also teaches sensitivity to beauty and order while helping students develop a deeper understanding of multi-cultural values and beliefs; and

Whereas, YAM is an opportunity for states to provide a forum for developing skills through unique visual arts experiences not found in other curriculum subjects; and

Whereas, YAM provides additional opportunities for individuals of all ages to participate in creative art learning and increases community, business, and governmental support for art education; and

Whereas, The Art Educators of New Jersey (AENJ) holds the annual NJ State Youth Art Month Exhibition, where each county in the State is asked to submit six pieces of artwork to represent the county; and

Whereas, To affirm the Senate of the State of New Jersey’s commitment to the development of art education and creative learning, it is appropriate to recognize March of 2018 as “Youth Art Month”; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    March of 2018 is recognized as “Youth Art Month” in order to promote art education as an integral aspect of a student’s education.

     2.    Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Governor.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This resolution recognizes March of 2018 as “Youth Art Month” in order to promote art education and creative learning. Art education contributes to the development of creative problem solving abilities and critical thinking skills while reinforcing what students learn in other subject areas. By developing imagination, originality, abstract reasoning, and critiquing skills, art education prepares students to be successful in all subject areas.

     Through art education, students develop sensitivity to beauty and order while learning to develop a deeper understanding of multi-cultural values and beliefs, skills necessary for becoming citizens of a global society. By recognizing March of 2018 as “Youth Art Month,” the Senate of the State of New Jersey will formally acknowledge the importance of developing quality school art programs in order to better aid students in their development of fundamental skills. Therefore, it is appropriate to recognize March of 2018 as “Youth Art Month.”