Reflections Art Program

Reflections: It’s All About the Arts

“What My Culture Means to Me!”

That’s the theme for the 2026-27 Reflections Art Program, which has been bringing the arts to life for more than 10 million students since 1969. California State PTA and its members, families and kids are on the forefront of this amazing program, which increases community awareness of the importance of arts in education.

Reflections encourages students of all ages to:

• Unleash creative talents and be inspired
• Express themselves imaginatively in their artwork
• Experience the fun and joy of making art
• Tap into critical thinking skills to create art inspired by the annual theme
• Receive positive recognition for their original works of art.

Click here to see the California winners of the 2025-2026 Reflections Art Program.

Reflections Training (for Unit Leaders)

Stay tuned for our 2026-2027 training information in August.

Participation is Easy, Exciting, and Empowering

All students attending PTA schools sponsoring the program are invited to participate and submit original artwork in one of six areas:

• Dance Choreography
• Literature
• Photography
• Film Production
• Music Composition
• Visual Arts

Artworks are submitted first to school-level PTAs, where they are first recognized, celebrated and judged by five grade-level divisions, the Accessible Arts division celebrates student artists with special needs. School PTAs then choose a selection of entries to be judged by local PTA units, which are then sent on to councils and then districts for consideration. The final artworks submitted to California State PTA by districts are then considered for Outstanding Interpretation, Awards of Excellence or Awards of Merit. Outstanding Interpretation and Award of Excellence entries then go on to represent California in the final National PTA judging round.

State-level Outstanding Interpretation honorees receive:

• Onstage recognition at the California State PTA Annual Convention
• The opportunity to showcase their artwork at the California State PTA Convention Reflections Gallery
• Prizes including an Outstanding Interpretation plaque, award and certificate

State-level Award of Excellence honorees receive:

• The opportunity to showcase their artwork at the California State PTA Convention Reflections Gallery
• Prizes including an Award of Excellence medallion, award and certificate

State-level Award of Merit honorees receive:

• The opportunity to showcase their artwork at the California State PTA Convention Reflections Gallery
• Prizes including an Award of Merit medallion and certificate

National-level Outstanding Interpretation honorees are recognized at the National PTA Convention, plus their artwork, along with any National Award of Excellence and Merit winners, are featured in Reflections’ popular traveling national exhibit. See the winners.

Important Reflections Dates

Local entry submission due dates vary depending on where you live. Please reach out to your PTA unit, council and district to inquire about your local due dates, which are generally in the fall of each year.

• If you are a STUDENT – Contact your School Reflections chair for your school submission date.
• If you are a SCHOOL REFLECTIONS CHAIR:
  • In a PTA Council school – Contact your PTA Council Reflections chair for your PTA Council submission date.
  • In an Out-of-Council PTA school – Contact your PTA District Reflections chair for your PTA District submission date.

Annual Theme Search

Each year, students are invited to submit themes for the annual Reflections Art Program that will inspire young artists to create original works.

Click here for more information and to see the 2025-26 California finalists who were sent to National PTA for judging.

Thank you to all who participated. We received 150+ theme search entries. 

Grants for the Arts Available

Building on the decades-long arts legacy of past Colorado State PTA President Mary Lou Anderson, who established the Reflections Art Program, National PTA awards grants of up to $1,000 so local PTAs can take arts education to the next level — especially for at-risk kids. Find out how your PTA can qualify.

So let the Reflections Art Program — and the arts — be a part of your kids’ lives! For more information on participating, or to get Reflections and other arts programs started or funded at your school, contact your local PTA, and check out the resources on our Arts Education page.