Reflections Art Program
Explore the Arts and Express Yourself
National PTA has a long-standing commitment to arts education. The Reflections program provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts which boost student confidence and success in the arts and in life.
Each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K through Grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student-created theme. This 50+ year-old program helps them explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life
The 2024-2025 Reflections theme is "Accepting Imperfection"
Explore the 2024-2025 theme, Accepting Imperfection, and use discussion questions and art-making activities to get inspired HERE.
Interested in Participating?
All students are invited to participate and submit original artwork in one of six (6) areas (click on the category for instructions):
Pick up submission guidelines and an entry form today from Ms. Putnik (art teacher) or Mr. Heinrichs (music teacher). You can also download the fillable entry form HERE.
Reflections Artwork Review Criteria
The program theme and review criteria are what make the Reflections program stand out among other art contests. The National PTA provides the following criteria for reviewing Reflections submissions:
Interpretation of Theme (40 pts.): How closely the piece relates to the theme, based on the artwork itself and the artist statement.
Creativity (30 pts.): How creative and original the piece is in its conception of the theme and its presentation.
Technical Skill (30 pts.): The level of skill demonstrated in the basic principles/techniques of the arts area.
Note: “interpretation of theme” is weighed more heavily than the other considerations. A well-developed concept is more important than technique. Entries will be judged primarily on how well the student uses their artistic vision to portray the theme, rather than their technical skill or creative process.
Watch and Learn
Watch this short Reflections introduction video to learn the basics of the program.