National Art Honor Societies
For more than 40 years, National Art Honor Society programs have recognized outstanding visual arts students and their teachers. The program supports members in achieving the highest standards in art scholarship, character, and service while providing opportunities for leadership, peer recognition, college and career preparation, community engagement, and more—helping to promote the value of art education within schools and communities.
Student Benefits
Opportunities for national recognition, scholarships, leadership experience, and connectivity to 50,000+ outstanding arts students worldwide are available to members of an NAHS or NJAHS chapter, including:
College Scholarships
Opportunities to receive as much as $8,000 in tuition at some of the country’s finest arts and design programs.
National Awards
The NAEA Awards Program offers the opportunity to nominate outstanding students, who are members of NAHS chapters, for national recognition.
NAHS and NJAHS Juried Exhibitions
An annual juried exhibition featuring the artwork of more than 100 talented students who are members of the NAHS and NJAHS programs.
Publication of Artwork in NAHS News
Each issue—received by more than 58,000 students and 3,500 teachers—features reports and photos from NAHS chapters, student artwork, and more.
Virtual Learning Events
Participate in NAHS Connections—an exclusive online series for middle and high school students who are members of NAHS or NJAHS.
NAHS/NJAHS Merchandise and Resources
Celebrate outstanding student artists with distinctive Honor Societies awards products—such as honor cords and tassels. All members receive a membership card and NAHS/NJAHS Digital Badge.
Chapter Sponsor Benefits
Sponsoring an NAHS or NJAHS chapter can be rewarding for you and your students while magnifying the innovation, skills, and scholarship that your visual arts, design, and/or media arts program brings to your school and community.
NAEA Membership
Connect to thousands of art educators worldwide while accessing thoughtfully curated benefits, resources, and opportunities.
National Awards
The NAEA Awards Program offers the opportunity to nominate outstanding art educators for national recognition.
Chapter Sponsor Community
Connect with fellow sponsors in the Collaborate Community—an online space dedicated to supporting educators leading NAHS/NJAHS chapters.
Recognition in your school and community
National Art Honor Society chapters magnify the innovation, skill, and scholarship that visual arts programs and students bring to their school and community.
Starting a New Chapter
Getting started is easy: Once you’ve checked with school administrators to be sure an NAHS chapter is allowed under school policies, you’ll establish chapter bylaws, invite qualified students, and register with NAEA. That’s all it takes to join more than 58,000 students in 2,000 chapters across the country. And we’re here to provide support along the way.
The NAHS and NJAHS programs are designed by NAEA to support and recognize students who have shown outstanding abilities in art. The NAHS and NJAHS programs support student members in their goal of attaining the highest standards in visual arts, and bring visual arts education to the attention of the school and community.
Participation in the program requires students to be members of an established chapter at their school. If your student is interested in joining, please reach out to your student’s art educator or school administrator to inquire about the existence of an active chapter at their school. Additionally, you can download the Letter of Encouragement to gain support from your student’s administration.
Public, charter, private and virtual schools, homeschool networks, and community-based nonprofit art organizations are eligible to apply for charter through the National Art Education Association (NAEA).
Students must be enrolled in middle or high school, have completed at least 1 semester of art in the school, and have a minimum art GPA of “B” (or your school’s equivalent) to be eligible for membership. Membership is based upon art scholarship, service, and character.
A chapter sponsor is an art faculty member designated to supervise and provide guidance for the chapter on a regular basis. The sponsor acts as a liaison between the chapter and NAEA, faculty, administration, students, and community. Any art faculty member employed at the school or organization may act as the NAHS/NJAHS chapter sponsor.
Buying NAHS/NJAHS Merch
Distinctive Honor Society insignia and award products—such as honor cords and tassels—to promote visual arts within your school and community.