Reflections

Reflections is a National PTA art in education program. The program was started in 1969 and is the largest arts competition of its kind in the United States. Students have the opportunity to use their creative talents by expressing themselves through their own original works created around a theme.

Participants in Reflections will have their work reviewed by local art professionals, have their work displayed at a school art show and receive a certificate and ribbon. Outstanding work may be sent to the PTA council, state, and national competitions. Top winners at the national level receive award packages, some of which include cash prizes!

Does your child love to paint or draw? Write stories, poems or essays? Take photos? Make films or compose music? Dance? Encourage them to sign up for the Reflections Competition!

This year's reflections competition invites participants to explore the theme of What My Culture Means to Me across various art forms.

 A student may submit an entry in any of six arts areas. Only original works of art are accepted. The six art areas are:

• Literature – works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, prose, drama, short stories and lyrics.

• Music Composition – original musical composition, with or without words.

• Photography: color or black and white, included techniques: photogram, negative sandwich, and multiple exposure.

• Visual Arts: drawing, painting in tempera, oil, acrylic, watercolor & t-shirt paints, computer generated art, two-dimensional collage, printmaking, needlework & leather tooling.

• Film/Video: original works, with or without sound, of animation, narrative, documentary, experimental or music video/film.

• Choreography/Dance: originally choreographed dance composition.

Participation is organized by student age and grade levels. Student works are critiqued against others in the same grade division. This allows recognition and judging of artworks by appropriate developmental age and skill levels. The grade divisions are:

• Primary: Pre-school – Grade 2

• Intermediate: Grades 3 – 5

• Middle School: Grades 6 – 8

• High School: Grades 9 – 12

For more information on the program, visit:
Reflections Art Program (wastatepta.org)

More detailed submission instructions coming soon!

Contact reflections@einsteinptsa.org with questions!