** Important Note: Please save your original artwork. It will be requested physically if the work advances to national level**

2024-2025 Theme:
Accepting Imperfections...

Reflections is a National PTA art in education program. The program was started in 1969 and is the largest arts in 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. 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!


Theme: Accepting Imperfections
 
Does your child love to paint or draw? Write stories, poems or essays? Take photo? Make films or compose music? Dance? If so, then encourage them to sign up for the Reflections Competition.
 
This year's reflections competition invites participants to explore the theme of Accepting Imperfections across various art forms.
 
Categories:
🎶 Music
💃 Dance Choreography
🎬 Film Production
📚 Literature
🎨 Visual Arts
📸 Photography
 
Submission Deadline: November 10th

How to Enter:
  • Create your original piece reflecting the theme.
  • Submit your entries to:

    Reflections Submission Form
  • Include your name, category, and a brief description of your work.

Submission Rules

Below are the rules for each of the categories:

 

Five Grade Divisions:

Participation in Reflections is organized by student grade levels. Student works are critiqued against others in the same grade division.

Primary (Preschool – Grade 2)
Intermediate (Grades 3 – 5)
Middle/Junior (Grades 6 – 8)
Senior (Grades 9 – 12)
Special Artist (All grades)

The Special Artist Division welcomes students from all grades and abilities and offers non-artistic accommodations (e.g. adaptive technology; transcribing; holding a camera) for students to participate fully in PTA Reflections. Assistants must refrain from being involved in the artistic process (e.g. developing an artist statement, choreography, music lyrics, storyboards, etc.) Student recognition and awards are announced as part of the Special Artist Division.

Categories:

Dance Choreography: Solo and ensemble works of all dance styles are accepted. Entrant must be the choreographer and may also be the performer, or one of the performers. If background music is used, cite it on the entry form. Video file must not exceed 5 min. and 1 GB in size. Accepted formats: AVI, FLV, WMV, MOV, MP4.

Film Production: Accepted short film styles include: Animation, narrative, documentary, experimental or media presentation. Use of PowerPoint is prohibited. Entrant must be the screenwriter, cinematographer, editor and producer. If background music is used, cite it on the entry form. Video file must not exceed 5 min. and 1 GB in size. Accepted formats: AVI, FLV, WMV, MOV, MP4.

Literature: Accepted forms of fiction and nonfiction include: Prose, poetry, reflective essay, screen play and play script, narrative and short story. Entrants may write in their primary language as long as an interpretive English translation is also attached. Use of copyrighted material is prohibited. Writing must not exceed 2,000 words and may be handwritten or typed. Accepted formats: PDF file.

Music Composition: All music styles and combinations of instrumentation are accepted. Entrant must be the composer and may also be the performer, or one of the performers. Use of copyrighted material is prohibited. Audio file must not exceed 5 min. and 1 GB in size. Accepted formats: MP3, WMA, WAV, ACC, FLAC. Notation (score/tablature) in PDF format is only required for middle and high school divisions.

Photography: Photo must be a single print/digital image. Collages and collections of photos are not accepted. Entrant must be the photographer and may use a variety of digital editing techniques including but not limited to, multiple exposure, negative sandwich and photogram. Use of copyrighted material is prohibited. Print image dimensions must be no smaller than 3x5 inches and no larger than 8x10 inches. Accepted print formats: Mounted on mat or poster board no larger than 11x14 inches. Framed prints are not accepted. Digital image dimensions must be at least 640x960 (pixels) and 300 dpi (resolution). Accepted file formats: JPEG, JPG, GIF, PNG.

Visual Arts: Works of both fine and design arts are accepted, including but not limited to: architectural drawing, collage, computer generated images and graphics, drawing, fiber work, mixed media, painting, and printmaking. Use of copyrighted material is prohibited. 2D artworks must be mounted on sturdy material and no larger than 24x30 inches and ½” thickness with matting. Framed entries are not accepted. Digital image dimensions must be at least 640x960 (pixels) and 300 dpi (resolution). Accepted file formats: JPEG, JPG, GIF, PNG.

 

Questions? Please email reflections@einsteinptsa.org

Albert Einstein Elementary PTSA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All rights reserved.