March 2022 was a Youth Arts month to remember! Each March, Coconino Center for the Arts (CCA) participates in the national Youth Art Month. In 2022 CCA took Youth Arts to a new level, filling the entire month with art, music, and workshops for youth K-12. All Youth Arts programming was free to the public. All said and done, more than 850 visitors came through CCA during the month of March to participate in and celebrate Youth Arts.

Youth Arts started with a bang on March 5^th with the opening reception. Nearly 400 guests came to the CCA Main Gallery from 4-8 pm to see the more than 450 pieces by local youth artists. Exhibitions and Programs Director, Julie Comnick, took a different approach while hanging the artwork for this year’s edition of Youth Arts. The show, titled “Youth Arts: Progress & Potential” featured work from youth as young as 4 years old all the way to seniors in High School. There was no limit on the number of artworks a school could submit, and individual youth artists were also included. The works were displayed in the 4000 sq ft gallery salon-style, giving the impression of a total Youth Art takeover of the space. “It was an explosion of artwork that showcased the dynamic range of artistic expression in the Flagstaff youth community.”

The same evening as the opening, CCA hosted the inaugural Youth Arts: Battle of the Bands. 4 acts competed in a public vote for differing prizes. The acts included: Migraine, a 14-year-old singer-songwriter; the NPA Advanced Jazz Band; FALA’s Line 10 band; and Earthshine, a rock band featuring high school students. The event was emceed by NPA high school student Juno Walter. Each act performed a 20-minute set and at the end, the audience used a text-to-vote system to determine the winner. First place went to the NPA Advanced Jazz Band, and for their prize they performed in Heritage Square during the April 1^st First Friday ArtWalk. A huge “thank you” to CCA Advisory Board member Susan Walter for her herculean efforts in coordinating this event!

Youth Arts 2022 featured several school music performances. Sechrist Elementary School band and choir students, conducted by Kaitlyn Leung, started the month with a packed theater of families for a weekday morning performance; Flagstaff School of Music Percussions Students with Owen Davis featured drum solos and covers by young students coinciding with the Youth Arts Saturday workshops; and BASIS music students, led by Dr. Christian Martin, brought a delightful close to the exhibition by performing solo, duets and quartets surrounded by artwork in the gallery on the final day of the exhibition.

On Saturday, March 26, CCA held a Youth Printmaking Workshop. This hands-on workshop was led by BASIS art teacher Erika Tsouras and featured morning session for younger students and an afternoon session for older students. About 20 students in total participated in the workshops.

We recognized the concerted effort of Flagstaff’s schools to retain excellence in arts education, and the important role of the arts in innovation. Thank you to all of the teachers and students who shared their artwork, and everyone who helped make this year’s Youth Arts celebration a success.