It’s March – and that means Youth Art Month is here! In collaboration with the Maine Art Education Association (MAEA), the Portland Museum of Art (PMA) is hosting its annual exhibit showcasing the amazing artwork of talented students in kindergarten through grade 12 from schools around Maine. This year, the Portland Public Schools has the largest showing of young artists of any district, with submissions ranging from watercolor to oil pastel.

This exhibit of more than 80 works not only turns the spotlight on these young creatives, but also celebrates the importance of art education and highlights the role that art educators play in fostering creativity, expression, and communication skills in students. The exhibit, which is open through March 30, is located on the lower ground floor of the PMA. The artwork can be viewed in person at the museum and also on the museum’s website. Learn more and view the artwork.

Artwork: Shown above is "I Mörkret,” a portrait in colored pencil on paper by Portland High School senior Jesseca Kelsey. Teacher: Emily Haines.

Below is an untitled landscape in soft and oil pastels by a Talbot Community School first-grader. Teacher: Sam O’Connor

The Portland Public Schools is Maine’s largest school district, with nearly 6,500 students, and it’s also the most diverse. About one-third of the district’s students come from homes where languages other than English are spoken—a total of 59 languages. Approximately 47 percent of the district’s students are white and 53 percent are students of color. More than half of all PPS students are economically disadvantaged.