“I Will Not Die,” 3rd-grader Samantha Mercedes’ winning pandemic mask design, told the story of her grandmother’s victorious fight against the coronavirus.

Every day, the students in A. A. Sieunarine's Studio Art 2 class at August Martin HS in Jamaica come prepared with five pieces of news to discuss. "I want them to know what's happening outside of Queens," Sieunarine said. "We don't live in a vacuum."

“There’s something so rewarding and magical about starting with nothing and making something amazing,” said teacher Mary Agramonte of Origins HS in Brooklyn, a presenter at the 38th annual conference of the New York City Art Teachers Association/UFT.

The United Federation of Teachers supports the inclusion of music, visual and performing art classes on a regular basis in every school as part of the curriculum.

NYCATA/UFT is the standing professional committee of the UFT representing art educators in New York City. Membership is free and open to all NYC art educators, art coordinators, art supervisors, art specialists, university and museum educators, school administrators, classroom teachers, retirees, college students and any other individuals whose purposes are consistent with those of the Association.