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.
Upcoming Art Education Conferences
For a complete state-specific listing, visit the National Art Education Association site at www.naea-reston.org/stateprov.html.
National Art Education Association
March 26-30, 2008
www.naea-reston.org
Massachusetts Art Education Association
May 11, 2008
www.massarted.com
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.
Americans for the Arts Annual Convention
"American Evolution: Arts in the New Civic Life"
June 20-22, 2008
www.artsusa.org/events
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
"Differentiated Instruction: Understanding by Design, and What Works in Schools"
June 27-29, 2008
www.ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/index.jsp/
Upcoming Music Education Conferences
For a complete state-specific listing, visit the National Association for Music Education site at www.menc.org/connect/meetings.html.
Massachusetts Music Educators Association
"Music from the Inside & Out"
March 27-29, 2008
www.mmeaonline.org
Music Teachers National Association
122nd Annual Conference
March 29-April 2, 2008
www.mtna.org
The National Association for Music Education
"The 61st National Biennial In-Service Conference"
April 9-13, 2008
www.menc.org
Pennsylvania Music Educators Association
April 16-19, 2008 www.pmea.net