Reflections fine arts gives outlet for students’ creativity

MADISON – More than 50 years ago, the National PTA entered a longstanding commitment to arts education when the organization founded the PTA Reflections Art Contest.

High school students at Bob Jones and James Clemens still can participate in the 2022 Reflections Fine Arts Contest. Deadline to submit an entry is Nov. 28. Most elementary schools have completed the contest steps.

The program gives an access point to students for fine arts, recognizes student creations and thus boosts student confidence for success in the arts and everyday life.

This 2022 contest theme is “Show Your Voice!” Students can apply their talent in art, music and dance or pursue their interest in writing, producing films and photography.

Categories in the fine arts are Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography and Visual Arts. Each year, more than 300,000 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 create original works of art and follow the year’s theme.

The age divisions start with Primary, which includes pre-kindergarten through Grade 2; Intermediate, grades 3-5; middle school, grades 6-8; high school, grades 9-12; and special artist, in which all grades are welcome to participate.

Students who identify as having a disability and may receive services under IDEA or ADA: Section 504 can enter in the Special Artist Division or the grade division most closely aligned to their functional abilities.

All entries, except visual arts, can be digitally submitted. Click the digital entry form and complete the requested information on the form. For entries in photography, video or audio, click the consent form and complete the requested information. Students then can upload their entry form, consent form (if applicable) and all entry attachments to the provided folder.

Students should confirm that each upload includes his or her full name in the file title. Students can deliver visual arts, such as paintings, at Bob Jones front office for judges to pick up. All other entries must be uploaded digitally.

For more information about submitting a project, visit https://bjhs.memberhub.com/edit/w/reflections. For inspiration in creating a submission, students can visit the Reflections virtual art gallery and learn more about prizes and scholarships at PTA.org/Reflections/Awards.

Each year, students in pre-kindergarten through seniors in high school create original works in the fine arts for Reflections. After students submit pieces of work at the school level, based on this year’s theme, “Show Your Voice,” their winning submissions will advance to the local level, then to the state and lastly to national levels.