Abreu, the founder of El Sistema, was a professional musician, economist, and one-time cabinet minister, but his life’s mission was to democratize and universalize music education.

The Blueprint builds on the 2014 Collective Action for Youth Agenda by prioritizing three strategic areas—Visibility and Impact, Funding, and Field-Building—and identifying specific actions for cross-sector advancement of the field. 

More than 28 states have adopted new arts education standards since 2014. The NCCAS report includes a comprehensive list of states that have revised their arts standards and an up-to-date status of other states that are currently working on standards revision. 

Americans for the Arts today announced 26 new and re-elected advisory council members for each of their four networks: Arts Education, Emerging Leaders, Private Sector, and Public Art Network. These individuals will advise Americans for the Arts’ staff on developing programs and services that will build a deeper connection to the field and the network membership. 

Americans for the Arts today announced its celebration of National Arts in Education Week. During this week, the field of arts education joins together in communities across the nation to celebrate the transformative power of the arts in education. 

Dr. Catterall built his career on the inquiry of creativity and produced pervasive works that fueled the advancement of arts and arts education friendly policies in the United States and around the world. Americans for the Arts wishes to dedicate the upcoming National Arts in Education Week celebration in his honor. 

Americans for the Arts believes in the transformative power of the arts in education and is committed to advancing policies which ensure equitable access to arts education for America’s learners in numerous ways. National Arts in Education Week is supported by Americans for the Arts on behalf of the field of arts education to bring visibility to the cause, unify stakeholders with a shared message, and provide the tools and resources for local leaders to advance arts education in their communities.

Americans for the Arts announced the recipients of the 2017 Americans for the Arts Annual Leadership Awards. These awards recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations committed to enriching their communities through the arts.

Americans for the Arts, a partner of the Vans Custom Culture program, is proud to announce the finalist high schools selected for the eighth Vans Custom Culture competition. The annual contest challenges students to create unique designs of the shoe company's sneakers.

The popular Twitter chat on arts education returns Tuesday, June 13, on the topic of museum education. The series will continue through 2018 on the second Tuesday of each month.

On Tuesday, April 25, the National Assessment Governing Board and the National Center for Education Statistics releases results of The Nation's Report Card: 2016 Arts. This report will demonstrate national Grade 8 results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, including findings by demographic subgroups and region. The release event will explore what the data show about student skills and how the availability of resources and opportunities in arts education may shape these skills.

Americans for the Arts is pleased to offer a number of full ride and reimbursement scholarships to the 2017 Annual Convention in San Francisco June 15-18, 2017. Scholarships are available to our members as well as California-based artists and cultural workers. Deadline is Feb. 28, 2017.

The Heritage Foundation formulated a number of arguments against the NEA decades ago. These arguments are listed below with corresponding rebuttals.

Arts professionals, community leaders, artists, and students are all invited to join this annual gathering June 16-18 in San Francisco on the future of art and culture in America.

Vans invites high school art students throughout the country to join in the eighth annual Vans Custom Culture art competition to embrace youth creativity and support arts education. Starting today, high school art teachers can register their classes to compete for the grand prize of $50,000 towards their art program by creating their most artistic and inventive designs using blank Vans shoes as their canvas.

Americans for the Arts announces new and re-elected advisory council members for each of their four networks: Arts Education, Emerging Leaders, Private Sector, and Public Art Network. These individuals will advise Americans for the Arts’ staff on developing programs and services that will build a deeper connection to the field and the network membership. 

With the goal of artistic literacy for all students in Connecticut, the Connecticut Arts Standards set the guidelines for schools, districts, teachers and communities to develop artistically literate citizens. 

Members of Americans for the Arts enjoy a 30% discount on Visme, a visual content tool for designers and non-designers alike. Try the robust platform free as part of their Visualize Me contest, open now through Oct. 5.

During this week, the field of arts education joins together in communities across the country to tell the story of the impact of the transformative power of the arts in education. We celebrate, we advocate, and we bring attention to our cause.

This round of proposed regulations was designed to provide clarity and support to state education agencies as they design accountability systems, report cards, and state plans. However, as is also evident by the sheer number of public comments, there were several concerning provisions in the proposal.

Today marks the formal launch of the Creative Youth Development National Partnership between the National Guild for Community Arts Education, Massachusetts Cultural Council, The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, and Americans for the Arts. These four organizations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize their joint commitment to advancing creative youth development (CYD) as a field of practice nationwide.

Americans for the Arts invites arts professionals from across the country to submit nominations for incoming advisory council members in the fields of Arts Education, Emerging Leadership, the Private Sector and Public Art.

Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. talked to the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts in Las Vegas, NV on Thursday and emphasized the importance of a well-rounded education for every student in America. More, he acknowledged the vital role of the arts in rethinking education.

Under the new law, he said:

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts recently announced the Owensboro Public Schools Board of Education in Owensboro, KY has received the 28th annual Kennedy Center and National School Boards Association (NSBA) Award for exemplary leadership in arts education.

The award, which includes a $10,000 prize, was presented by Mario R. Rossero, Senior Vice President of Education at the Kennedy Center, at the National School Boards Association’s Annual Conference in Boston, MA.

The California State Senate Education Committee heard testimony today on SB 916, the Theatre and Dance Act (which legislators have dubbed "TADA!") that would establish single-subject credentials for dance and theater. The committee members voted in unanimous support, 9-0, and one senator called it "absolute[ly] awesome."

The Arts Education Partnership (AEP), a national coalition of more than 100 education, arts, business, cultural, government and philanthropic organizations, has selected Jane Best as its new director. AEP is a national center within the Education Commission of the States with a mission to ensure that every child receives a complete and competitive education that includes the arts.

On Thursday, March 17, the Delaware Board of Education voted to adopt new arts standards for Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts.  These statements of learning, developed by teachers for teachers, will replace standards that have been used to guide instruction in arts classrooms for the last 20 years. Utilizing a framework which includes Philosophical Foundations and Lifelong Learning, the new standards focus on the creative process and highlight learning that includes Creating, Performing, Responding and Connecting across arts disciplines. 

Through the work of Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), the U.S. Senate bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) now includes support for STEAM!

Coming off the heels of the 29th Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy with executive, technologist, and designer John Maeda and his lecture titled "STEAM Makes STEM Taste Better," the excitement around STEAM -- and its proven results -- continues to build.