LAKELAND, Fla. – Talented art students from across Polk County will be honored and celebrated at the 17th annual Kids Tag Art (KTA) Awards of Distinction (AoD) ceremony on Thursday evening!
The Kids Tag Art (KTA) program, created in Polk County, now spans 15 counties across Florida. It inspires young artists, fifth grade students, to create their own unique specialty license tags to be purchased as a fundraiser for elementary school art programs.
This year, participating KTA Tax Collector offices throughout the state celebrate reaching the $2 Million mark together, in funds raised for art programs over the years! Teachers have been able to use what’s raised to purchase valuable items like classroom supplies.
Polk County Tax Collector Joe G. Tedder said, “We know students who participate in the arts have higher test scores and are more likely to graduate high school and enter the workforce as innovative thinkers and problem solvers.” 
A study by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) finds students with high levels of arts involvement did better in school and in civic participation. That, “they earn better grades and demonstrate higher rates of college enrollment and attainment,” according to NEA analysis.
Part of the goal of the KTA program is to nurture interest in the arts and help teachers supply classrooms, but to also reach students in a positive way as an introduction to the very office they will eventually visit for services!
“We want Kids Tag Art to be such positive outreach to young people, early on, and to set a friendly foundation for government and what we do in the Tax Collector’s Office.” Tedder adds.
The Office of the Tax Collector for Polk County (TCPC) thanks its KTA program sponsors: Southern Homes of Polk County, D-print, Bartow Ford, LEGOLAND, Florida, Big 4 Radio – 97.5 WPCV and Max 98.3, the Tax Collector for Polk County, Bill 2 Pay, MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, LAMAR Advertising Company, Polk Education Foundation, Lauren’s Kids, South State Bank, Florida Heart Research Foundation, Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance, Publix Super Market Charities, Unlimited DPI, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital/BayCare Kids, Polk County Public Schools, and the Polk Museum of Art.
Major sponsor Southern Homes of Polk County Owner Greg Masters said: “We understand the impact the arts have in every facet of a child’s development and education. If we want to continue to recruit creative, innovative problem solvers, then we need to support programs that develop well-rounded students with those skills. The Kids Tag Art program is one of those programs.”
Join us! Kids Tag Art Awards of Distinction Ceremony
Branscomb Auditorium, Florida Southern College
Thursday, May 4, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
For more information contact Ashleigh Mills, Public Engagement Specialist at AshleighMills@polktaxes.com or by phone at 863-534-4738.
The local community can support elementary school art programs by purchasing tag art at www.KidsTagArt.com, with all proceeds going back into the classroom for arts education.
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