Conferences & Events
Art Education Association Conferences
Many different conferences are available to art educators. The most common, art education association conferences, take place at the local, state, and national levels. These conferences have offerings for all art educators:
- workshops
- seminars
- lectures
- panel discussions
All these activities, as well as other staff development sessions, are designed by and presented for art educators at every level of education.
Advantages to attending art education association conferences include
- learning about the latest topics in art,
- meeting well-known members of the art community, and
- interacting with other art educators.
Smaller, local art education association conferences may offer only a few options, but the presenters may be local experts who do not attend state or national conferences. Local conferences are usually tailored to meet the needs of the community they serve.
Other Conferences
Many arts and educational organizations provide workshops and seminars for art educators. Such organizations include the following:
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
- museums
- national and state teacher associations
- state education agencies for fine arts
- National Endowment for the Arts
- state commissions on the arts
You may also want to attend a conference that is focused on general education topics rather than specifically on art. One benefit to attending such a conference is that it affords educators a broader perspective. Curriculum and assessment, instructional strategies, and brain-based research, to name a few topics, are relevant to all fields of education.
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Conference on Teaching and Learning: "Professional Practices That Work"
October 24-26, 2008
www.ascd.org
October is National Arts and Humanities Month
National Arts and Humanities Month (NAHM) is a coast-to-coast collective celebration of culture in America. Held every October and coordinated by Americans for the Arts, it has become the largest annual celebration of the arts and humanities in the nation. From arts center open houses to mayoral proclamations to banners and media coverage, communities across the United States join together to recognize the importance of arts and culture in our daily lives. For more information, visit www.artsusa.org.
Upcoming Art Education Conferences
Americans for the Arts Annual Convention
"American Evolution: Arts in the New Civic Life"
June 20-22, 2008
www.artsusa.org/events
Arizona Art Education Association
"Back to the Elements...But We Haven't Lost Our Principles"
September 25-28, 2008
http://azarted.org
Missouri Art Education Association
October 3-4, 2008 (tentative) www.maea.net
Art Educators of New Jersey
October 6-8, 2008
www.aenj.org
Michigan Art Education Association
"Art Brings Hope, Healing " Change"
October 9-12, 2008
www.miarted.org
Maryland Art Education Association
October 17, 2008
www.mdarted.org
Art Educators of Nevada
"The Healing Attributes of Art"
October 20-22, 2008
www.art-ed-nevada.org
Illinois Art Education Association
"Innovate, Inspire, and Create"
October 23-25, 2008
www.ilaea.org
Colorado Art Education Association
"Creating Art With Meaning"
October 23-26, 2008
www.caea-colorado.org
Pennsylvania Art Education Association
"An Opportunity to LEARN (Lead, Educate, Advocate, Relate, Network)"
October 23-26, 2008
www.paea.org
Wisconsin Art Education Association
"Risks and Possibilities"
October 30-31, 2008
www.wiarted.org
Ohio Art Education Association
"Glass City Gathering"
November 6-8, 2008
www.oaea.org
Art Educators of Minnesota
November 7-8, 2008
www.aem-mn.org
Virginia Art Education Association
"Renew, Reflect, Reconnect"
November 13-15, 2008
www.vaea.org
New York State Art Teachers Association
"Why Art? Defining Art Education in the 21st Century"
November 21-23, 2008
www.nysata.org
Upcoming Music Education Conferences
For a complete state-specific listing, visit the National Association for Music Education site at www.menc.org/about/view/menc-state-affiliates.
League of American Orchestras
"Bigger, Better, All-Together"
June 10-14, 2008
www.americanorchestras.org
National Anthem Project
For the second year, the National Association for Music Education (MENC) invites music educators and students to perform together in Washington, D.C. in an effort to continue to remind decision makers about the importance of music education in the nation's schools. The event will take place June 12-15. Plans are to include a concert on the National Mall featuring a national anthem sing-along. Student ensembles will once again have the opportunity to perform at the capital's historic memorials. Bands, choral groups, and orchestras are invited to perform at the event. For more information, visit www.tnap.org/.
Music Teachers National Association Summer Seminar
"Empowering Musicians: Body, Mind and Spirit"
July 7-9, 2008
www.mtna.org
Pennsylvania Music Educators Association
July 21-22, 2008
www.pmea.net
New York State School Music Association
August 10-12, 2008; December 4-7, 2008
www.nyssma.org
National Urban Music Leadership Conference
October 23-26, 2008
www.umlc.org
Wisconsin Music Educators Association
October 29-November 1, 2008
www.wmea.com
Virginia Music Educators Association
November 20-22, 2008
www.vmea.com