YourStateStandards

North Carolina K–6 visual art standards

North Carolina writes its own visual art standards. They are published as North Carolina Standard Course of Study — Dance / Theatre Arts / Visual Arts (2024), adopted 2024 and are not a version of a national framework. 38 of 112 are matched to a national standard.

384 rows: Dance 140, Theatre 132, Visual Arts 112 (art = the three non-music 2024 arts disciplines; Music is its own subject). Re-acquired from NCDPI's combined K-12 discipline Google Docs (export?format=txt). Per-discipline code completeness 140/140, 132/132, 112/112 and 384/384 verbatim vs NC's documents; Dance 140 == CSP's independent Dance count. Rows carry a DECLARED discipline prefix DA./TH./VA. (§9) + NC's 1.CN.1.1 code so the shared code shape does not collide under importKey. HS proficiency tiers excluded. Re-run extract-nc-arts.py after any re-fetch.

Framework
North Carolina Standard Course of Study — Dance / Theatre Arts / Visual Arts (2024)
Adopted
2024
Source last checked
July 26, 2026
Read the official document

112 standards, kindergarten through 6th grade

  • VA.K.CN.1.1K
    Describe how art changes over time.
  • VA.K.CN.1.2K
    Identify how visual arts exist in daily life, including home and school.
  • VA.K.CN.2.1K
    Explain how all people are artmakers.
  • VA.K.CN.2.2K
    Identify art that is created with technology and digital media tools.
  • VA.K.CR.1.1K
    Create original art through exploration and imaginative play with materials.
  • VA.K.CR.1.2K
    Create original art that expresses personal identity that does not rely on copying or tracing.
  • VA.K.CR.2.1K
    Demonstrate how to share materials and ideas with others.
  • VA.K.CR.2.2K
    Explain the difference between original and copied visual arts ideas or works.
  • VA.K.PR.1.1K
    Improve personal art based on positive feedback from instructors.
  • VA.K.PR.1.2K
    Describe how personal art is made.
  • VA.K.PR.2.1K
    Select personal artwork that meets given criteria.
  • VA.K.PR.2.2K
    Identify various locations where works of art can be viewed.
  • VA.K.RE.1.1K
    Identify the media used to make specific artworks.
  • VA.K.RE.1.2K
    Identify symbols and themes used in the works of others to communicate meaning.
  • VA.K.RE.2.1K
    Describe personal preference in works of art.
  • VA.K.RE.2.2K
    Provide positive feedback for personal art.
  • VA.1.CN.1.11
    Explain how visual arts are used in cultures around the world.
  • VA.1.CN.1.21
    Identify cross-curricular connections between visual arts and other arts disciplines.
  • VA.1.CN.2.11
    Name various careers in visual arts.
  • VA.1.CN.2.21
    Identify how technology, innovations, and digital media tools are used in art making.
  • VA.1.CR.1.11
    Experiment with materials to make unique combinations of ideas, themes, or events.
  • VA.1.CR.1.21
    Create original art from imaginary sources of inspiration.
  • VA.1.CR.2.11
    Differentiate between sharing ideas and copying.
  • VA.1.CR.2.21
    Explain how and when to give credit to others when creating derivative work.
  • VA.1.PR.1.11
    Improve art based on positive feedback from instructors and peers.
  • VA.1.PR.1.21
    Identify elements of art in personal art.
  • VA.1.PR.2.11
    Describe ways personal artwork can be presented.
  • VA.1.PR.2.21
    Identify various ways an audience can interact with works of art.
  • VA.1.RE.1.11
    Describe how works of art are made.
  • VA.1.RE.1.21
    Explain how symbols, subjects or themes are used in the works of others to communicate meaning.
  • VA.1.RE.2.11
    Describe why a work of art is personally appealing.
  • VA.1.RE.2.21
    Provide positive feedback for personal and peer art.
  • VA.2.CN.1.12
    Describe how American visual arts are reflected in the diverse heritage, customs and traditions of various cultures in the United States.
  • VA.2.CN.1.22
    Identify cross-curricular relationships between visual arts and other content areas.
  • VA.2.CN.2.12
    List art careers in the local community.
  • VA.2.CN.2.22
    Explain why technology, innovations, and digital media tools are used in art making.
  • VA.2.CR.1.12
    Experiment with creative solutions to challenges to create art.
  • VA.2.CR.1.22
    Create original art that expresses ideas about people, neighborhoods, communities, and imaginary sources of inspiration.
  • VA.2.CR.2.12
    Adapt materials, style, or ideas from artists or artworks.
  • VA.2.CR.2.22
    Explain how to share visual artworks fairly.
  • VA.2.PR.1.12
    Improve art based on constructive feedback from instructors, peers, and self.
  • VA.2.PR.1.22
    Describe personal choices and processes used in artmaking.
  • VA.2.PR.2.12
    Identify formal and informal ways to display personal artwork.
  • VA.2.PR.2.22
    Discuss various ways an audience can interact with works of art.
  • VA.2.RE.1.12
    Classify art into categories, such as landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes, portraits, and still life.
  • VA.2.RE.1.22
    Identify the “story” in a work of art.
  • VA.2.RE.2.12
    Express preferences for how the elements of art are used in a specific artwork.
  • VA.2.RE.2.22
    Provide constructive feedback to others.
  • VA.3.CN.1.13
    Compare purposes of art in different cultures, time periods, and societies.
  • VA.3.CN.1.23
    Describe how the visual arts connect to other content areas and everyday life.
  • VA.3.CN.2.13
    Categorize a variety of artists and art careers.
  • VA.3.CN.2.23
    Compare how art has changed and remained the same with advances in technology, innovations, and digital media.
  • VA.3.CR.1.13
    Use imaginative and expressive processes to generate ideas, plan solutions, and develop personal artwork.
  • VA.3.CR.1.23
    Create original art from realistic sources of inspiration.
  • VA.3.CR.2.13
    Create personal art in the style of another artist or artwork.
  • VA.3.CR.2.23
    Identify visual artworks that can be used by everyone fairly.
  • VA.3.PR.1.13
    Improve composition and art skills based on constructive feedback from instructors, peers, and self.
  • VA.3.PR.1.23
    Explain themes, materials and processes used to create personal art.
  • VA.3.PR.2.13
    Select personal artwork for display that meets given criteria.
  • VA.3.PR.2.23
    Describe how art exhibitions add value to communities.
  • VA.3.RE.1.13
    Identify skills and techniques that artists use to create a work of art.
  • VA.3.RE.1.23
    Describe the “story” in works of art, citing evidence.
  • VA.3.RE.2.13
    Express preferences about artwork.
  • VA.3.RE.2.23
    Apply specific criteria to construct respectful feedback about art and composition.
  • VA.4.CN.1.14
    Describe how the visual arts have influenced, and been influenced by the customs, traditions, and history of indigenous and other cultural groups in North Carolina.
  • VA.4.CN.1.24
    Use skills and concepts learned in other content areas and everyday life in visual arts.
  • VA.4.CN.2.14
    Describe visual arts careers in North Carolina.
  • VA.4.CN.2.24
    Explain how contemporary media and emerging technologies impact the field of visual arts.
  • VA.4.CR.1.14
    Develop imaginative and expressive ideas using imagery from North Carolina as source material to create art.
  • VA.4.CR.1.24
    Create original abstract art that expresses ideas.
  • VA.4.CR.2.14
    Combine ideas from multiple sources to create artwork.
  • VA.4.CR.2.24
    Identify how to responsibly use resources for online access of visual artworks.
  • VA.4.PR.1.14
    Apply changes to personal art based on self-evaluation.
  • VA.4.PR.1.24
    Create an artist statement using the vocabulary of art.
  • VA.4.PR.2.14
    Select artwork based on common ideas, themes, or media.
  • VA.4.PR.2.24
    Identify art museums, galleries, and other venues in North Carolina.
  • VA.4.RE.1.14
    Classify North Carolinian artists in terms of style, genre, or movements.
  • VA.4.RE.1.24
    Infer meaning from artwork.
  • VA.4.RE.2.14
    Compare personal responses to a work of art at different stages.
  • VA.4.RE.2.24
    Apply specific criteria to provide feedback for self-evaluation.
  • VA.5.CN.1.15
    Describe how the visual arts has affected, and been affected by, the customs, traditions, and history of indigenous and other cultural groups in the United States.
  • VA.5.CN.1.25
    Describe how information and skills learned in visual arts can be applied in other content areas.
  • VA.5.CN.2.15
    Identify how art skills can be utilized in various careers.
  • VA.5.CN.2.25
    Give examples of visual artworks or artists that were innovative for their time.
  • VA.5.CR.1.15
    Choose unique media and techniques inspired by ideas and imagery from the global environment.
  • VA.5.CR.1.25
    Create original realistic, imaginative, abstract, and non-objective art.
  • VA.5.CR.2.15
    Create artwork based on the ideas of other artists.
  • VA.5.CR.2.25
    Cite artists correctly when utilizing or adapting their original artwork.
  • VA.5.PR.1.15
    Apply changes to personal art based on self and peer-evaluation.
  • VA.5.PR.1.25
    Create an artist statement using given criteria.
  • VA.5.PR.2.15
    Select personal artwork for a portfolio that meets given criteria.
  • VA.5.PR.2.25
    Compare the purpose and types of personal experiences provided by art museums, galleries, and other venues.
  • VA.5.RE.1.15
    Classify American artists in terms of style, genre, or movements.
  • VA.5.RE.1.25
    Compare a personal interpretation of a work of art with the interpretation of peers.
  • VA.5.RE.2.15
    Defend personal preferences for particular works of art.
  • VA.5.RE.2.25
    Identify appropriate criteria for evaluating works of art depending on styles, genres, and media in historical and cultural contexts.
  • VA.6.CN.1.16
    Analyze the effect of geographic location and physical environment on the development of visual arts.
  • VA.6.CN.1.26
    Explain how skills and concepts developed in the visual arts can be applied to daily life.
  • VA.6.CN.2.16
    Identify the art skills, characteristics, and behaviors needed for success in art careers.
  • VA.6.CN.2.26
    Compare how innovative tools and ideas have been used in a variety of visual artworks.
  • VA.6.CR.1.16
    Use materials in both traditional and non-traditional ways to create art.
  • VA.6.CR.1.26
    Create original imagery as a means of self-expression to communicate ideas and feelings.
  • VA.6.CR.2.16
    Combine ideas from multiple artists to create a new work of art.
  • VA.6.CR.2.26
    Describe how fair use, copyright, public domain, open source, and creative commons affect the ability of artists to create original or derivative art.
  • VA.6.PR.1.16
    Improve the use of elements of art and principles of design using feedback based on given criteria.
  • VA.6.PR.1.26
    Create an artist statement describing elements of art and principles of design used in personal art.
  • VA.6.PR.2.16
    Identify personal artwork that meets multiple criteria.
  • VA.6.PR.2.26
    Differentiate etiquette for appropriately engaging with works of art in a variety of settings.
  • VA.6.RE.1.16
    Analyze style, subject matter, and movements in art from various historical periods.
  • VA.6.RE.1.26
    Speculate on why the artist chose specific qualities for a work of visual art.
  • VA.6.RE.2.16
    Justify appealing qualities of works in visual artworks.
  • VA.6.RE.2.26
    Develop relevant criteria to evaluate a work of art.

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