Youth Art Month (YAM) is an annual event coordinated nationally by the Council for Art Education (CFAE) and is a primary program of the National Art Education Association (NAEA). It’s a nationwide initiative in March each year that promotes the value of art education for K-12 students, encouraging community support and participation in art programs. 

2026 marks the 46th year that the Midwest Museum of American Art (MMAA) will be sponsoring/hosting Youth Art Month, expanding the number of participating Elkhart County high schools from 4 to 6, including the Elkhart Area Career Center, Elkhart High School, Concord, Northridge, Fairfield and Goshen. The 2026 theme for Youth Art Month is “The World Needs Art”.

This family-friendly exhibit encourages the possibilities for students of what can be achieved within the visual arts and showcasing their artwork in a museum setting. This all-media exhibit will feature artwork made by students in grades 9 through 12 from each public high school located in Elkhart County. Each educator within these schools is asked to choose 10 artworks created by their students that display excellence in creativity and skill. Participating students have an opportunity to receive monetary awards for their artwork in the exhibit, as selected by our award sponsors and judges from the MMAA.

Along with their teachers, all participating students and their parents are invited to attend the opening reception free of charge on Sunday, March 8, 2026. During this reception, we will present awards, serve refreshments, and celebrate the artistic diversity of Elkhart County’s talented students. The artwork featured in this exhibit will be on public display from March 8 through April 19.