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The YAM theme for 2025–2026 is The World Needs Art.

2026 YAM Coordinator

Theresa Nguyen
[email protected]

Inland Empire YAM

Educators in the Riverside and San Bernardino Counties are welcome to submit their student works to this year's Youth Art Month Exhibition. The exhibit will run from February 6th-February 28th, 2026 at the Riverside Community Arts Association. Please email Kristen Carrillo at [email protected] if you are interested in submitting your students' work. 

Important Dates:
Membership Verification Form: 12/1/25
Inventories: 1/30/26
Artwork Intake Day (10am-5pm) Submit Artwork and Signed Photo/Plagiarism Form: 1/31/26
Judging: 2/7/26
Exhibit: 2/6/26-2/28/26
Reception: 2/28/26

Artwork will be on Display at:
Riverside Community Arts Association
3870 Lemon St, Riverside, CA 92501

Questions: Kristen (Ursenbach) Carrillo, [email protected]

Southern Area YAM

Entries to the Southern California Youth Art Month Exhibition will be the 1st-3rd place pieces in each grade/category from the Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and Inland Empire regional shows. The exhibit will run from March 7th-21st, 2026 at the Riverside Art Museum.

Important Dates:
Judging: 3/7/26
Exhibit: 3/7/26-3/21/26
Reception: 3/21/26

Artwork will be on Display at:
Riverside Art Museum
3425 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501

Questions: Kristen (Ursenbach) Carrillo, [email protected]

San Diego YAM

Here is a quick checklist for participating San Diego area teachers:   

• Identify 8 individual (no group) K-12 artworks (20 in. x 26 in. or smaller)
• Upload images, info, and artist statements October 15-30
• Collect wet signature photo releases for each student submission
• Correctly label each entry (see #6), matted or on black cardstock with a binder clip on top
• Send artwork to us along with original photo release before November 21

Exhibit is Dec 4- Jan 11 at Poway Center for Performing Arts: 15498 Espola Rd, Poway, CA 92064
Reception: Jan 11 2-4pm

Rules and details: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10LUnke2Z5j5Vice2XQP4N0YkskuzXcTmD0Yo9TIscEc/edit?tab=t.0

Please forward to any CAEA members who might be interested!

Questions: Hilary Spitzer, [email protected]

Orange County YAM

Membership Verification Form (for teachers): December 1, 2025
Inventories: January 9, 2026
Artwork Intake Day (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM): Submit artwork and signed Photo/Plagiarism Form, January 10, 2026
Judging: January 18, 2026
Exhibit: January 17 – February 7, 2026
Reception: February 7, 2026
Artwork will be on display at: TBD

Contact: Pei Ou - [email protected]