Arts and Education Resource Guide to National Agencies and Organizations


Overview

The field of arts education is vast and complex. Funding arts education is no less complex. There is a broad differential in what specific funders care about and want to fund in this field. Do they want to affect systemic change, system wide change, or fund a single school or district or arts discipline? How does a funder wish to invest arts education dollars—arts infusion, arts integration, professional development, after school, artist teachers, K-12, post secondary, evaluation, and the list goes on? Where does a funder go to find reliable current information, guidance, research, and assistance on a particular aspect of the field?

Clearly, no one resource has all the answers. This Arts and Education Resource Guide lists below a modest number of the national agencies and organizations that specialize in multi-disciplinary arts education and have significant web resources devoted to the seemingly immeasurable aspects of education in and through the arts. There are some overlaps in service and web content, but clearly each of those listed has assets that are unique and valuable. All of the organizations listed have highly skilled staffs with backgrounds in arts and education and much written information about various arts and education topics. We have listed basic contact information. Please browse the organizations' websites to find additional staff or to review their resources.

As stated, this is only a sampling of the broad array of public and private agencies and organizations that impact and/or comprise the field of arts education. Those not listed are easily accessed as links featured within the websites that are listed below.

National Agencies and Organizations

Americans for the Arts
ArtsEdge
Arts Education Partnership
Keep Arts In Schools
Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education
Lincoln Center Institute
National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
National Endowment for the Arts
Project Zero
State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education
U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Innovation and Improvement


Americans for the Arts

  • Policy and advocacy information
  • National and local convenings
  • News emails and one-on-one help

Americans for the Arts (AFTA) is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. AFTA has offices in Washington DC and New York and has more than 5,000 organizational and individual members. Local arts agencies comprise the core constituency. A variety of partner networks are also supported.

The AFTA website, www.AmericansForTheArts.org, has a broad overview of their field services including an arts and education network, public art, united arts funds, and emerging leaders.

Of interest to grantmakers:

  • Arts Education Network, working to improve access and quality in arts education. Information on arts education research, advocacy, and publications.
  • Arts education programming at AFTA's annual convention.
  • Weekly e-news that reports news, resources, and funding opportunities, an Arts Education Information Quarterly, and numerous special publications.
  • Arts Education in Public Schools including a resource page on No Child Left Behind and a storehouse of tools to advocate and grow arts education in schools.
  • National Arts Policy Database, which enables users to search a vast range of topics including arts education news articles, research abstracts, and project profiles.

American For The Arts
1000 Vermont Avenue, NW, 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: 202-371-2830
Fax: 202-371-0424
URL: http://www.AmericansForTheArts.org

Robert L. Lynch, President & CEO
Mara Walker, Chief Planning Officer
Narric Rome, Senior Director of Federal Affairs & Arts Education, nrome@artsusa.org

ArtsEdge

  • Lesson plans, standards, and web links
  • Meet the artist and arts quotes
  • Advocacy essentials, research and articles

This online resource center, http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org, aims to connect people to people, to connect people to resources, and to build a new base of knowledge in the area of arts education. To achieve these goals ArtsEdge offers teaching materials, resources for advocacy, and media-rich, student-friendly activities.

ArtsEdge was developed more than 10 years ago through a cooperative agreement among the US Department of Education, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It was one of the first 100 ".org" sites on the Internet. In 1999, ArtEdge joined MarcoPolo, http://www.marcopolo-education.org, a consortium for K-12 teachers and students, offering free, standards-based, discipline-specific educational websites.

Of interest to grantmakers:

  • Articles and reports from a variety of sources.
  • Over 60 links to arts organizations organized by category such as advocacy, funding, K-12 training, and arts literacy.
  • Look-Listen-Learn section includes discipline specific explorations, sights and sounds.
  • The entire website is a great deal of fun to navigate. The site displays a host of interactive sections and information for the online community not available in other areas.

ArtsEdge
The John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20566
URL: http://www.artsedge.kennedy-center.org

Nuit Hansqer, Director

Arts Education Partnership

  • Fundamental and seminal research on the effects of arts education
  • Database of every state's policies affecting arts education
  • Clearinghouse and link to best practices in arts and education partnering

Arts Education Partnership (AEP) is a national coalition of arts, education, business, philanthropic and government organizations that demonstrate and promote the essential role of the arts in the learning and development of every child and in the improvement of America's schools. AEP was formed in 1995 through a cooperative agreement among the National Endowment for the Arts, the US Department of Education, the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies and the Council of Chief State School Officers.

AEP's website, www.aep-arts.org, is quite comprehensive and invaluable to anyone engaged in arts education. It contains resources for partnerships, state policy database, a research compendium, evaluation and assessment information, publication tool kits, a library of arts integration programs and excellent publications that can easily be accessed or ordered.

Of interest to grantmakers:

  • An extensive library of publications of interest to those working in the field of arts and education.
  • A searchable database on state arts education policy.
  • Links to more than 140 organizational partners that are national in scope and impact.
  • Three national forums a year, and resulting reports, exploring important issues, themes, and trends affecting arts education.

Arts Education Partnership
One Massachusetts Ave, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20001-1431
Fax:(202) 408-8081
E-mail: aep@ccsso.org
URL: http://www.aep-arts.org

Richard Deasy, Director
Sandra Rupert, Senior Associate for Research & Policy
Karen Gallagher, Senior Associate for Communications & Partnership
Development
Kathy Beachler, Associate for Communications & Partnership
Development

Keep Arts In Schools

  • National opinion research
  • Integrated curriculums, programs descriptions
  • Advocate tips and tools from grassroots to national level, including outreach examples

In August 2007, Douglas Gould and Company launched keepartsinschools.org, funded by the Ford Foundation. The website was born out of the belief that the arts are a vital component to every student's public school education. It highlights the efforts of arts education organizations throughout the country and makes tools and resources available to those seeking to make the arts top priority in public schools and communities. Keep Arts in Schools is designed to equip individuals with what they need to make compelling cases for arts education.

The website, keepartsinschools.org, includes the latest news, events, case studies, research, and hands-on advocacy support in the form of sample letters, petitions and testimony. Integrating the Arts and Education Reform: The Ford Foundation's Vision of Quality Public Schools can also be found at this site.

Of interest to grantmakers:

  • The Programs link outlines the progress that grantees are making in their city, school districts, and communities.
  • The Research link lists a number of recent studies and public opinion research and focus group summaries.
  • A variety of recent News articles are available along with links to other Resources, organized by focus, such as advocacy, policy, messaging talking points, and assessment. An array of helpful organizational links are listed as well.
  • Sign up to receive news and updates via email.

Keep Arts In Schools

The site is maintained by:
Douglas Gould and Company
145 Huguenot Street, Suite 312
New Rochelle, NY 10801-5200
Voice mail: 914-833-7093

Questions regarding site content or to submit content e-mail: content@keepartsinschools.org

Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education

To meet the following program objectives, members of the KCAAEN in partnership with the Kennedy Center will:

  1. Build Collaborations: Develop and support innovative collaborations among schools, community partners, and cultural institutions that sustain arts education.
  2. Position the Arts: Speak out on behalf of arts education to citizens, policy makers, state agencies, and others about the value and benefits of arts education.
  3. Generate Resources: Develop, publish, and/or disseminate resources for arts education leaders and practitioners.
  4. Provide Professional Development: Implement professional development through educational programs, training, and resources.
  5. Recognize Innovation and Achievement: Provide awards and acknowledgments to individuals, organizations, and schools that demonstrate outstanding support for arts education.

The Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network (KCAAEN) is a coalition of statewide not-for-profit Alliances for Arts Education working in partnership with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to support policies, practices, and partnerships that ensure the arts are an essential part of American K-12 education. The mission of the KCAAEN is to advance learning in and through the arts for all students.

Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education
2700 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20566
800-444-1324 or 202-467-4600

Contact John Abodeely: jmabodeely@kennedy-center.org

Lincoln Center Institute

  • Professional development resources and opportunities for teachers and administrators
  • Extensive online resources, bibliographies, and catalogues
  • An onsite resource center containing more than 7,000 reference and circulating items.

Lincoln Center Institute (LCI) is an arts and education organization whose approach is based on aesthetic education and the writings of such innovators as John Dewey and Maxine Greene. Students learn about and through the arts by focusing on works of art, including performing and visual arts, and architecture. LCI's principles support learning across the curriculum. The Institute works in partnership with pre-K through grade twelve educators and degree-granting teacher education programs, and provides numerous professional development opportunities.

Founded in 1975, the Institute is the educational cornerstone of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc, and a global leader in education and the arts. Since its inception, it has reached over 3 million students and some 50,000 educators.

LCI's website, www.lcinstitute.org, is largely password protected, but creating a login is free and easily accomplished. Once logged in you can search for teaching artists, news and ideas, professional development information and training opportunities, and a host of resources.

Of interest to grantmakers:

  • LCI Library Catalog Search, including numerous resources in circulation that are useful to funders working in arts and education.
  • The Resource portal allows users to search in for titles in LCI's onsite collections and through their online Resource Center, which includes bibliographies and webographies that are organized by discipline.
  • The Research link provides an array of information, including position papers, news archives, and writings by resident philosopher Maxine Greene.

Lincoln Center Institute
70 Lincoln City Plaza
New York, New York 10023
Tel: 212-875-5535
Fax: 212-875-5539
E-mail: lci@lincolncenter.org / Resource Center: rc@lincolncenter.org
URL: http://www.lcistitute.org

Scott Noppe-Brandon, Executive Director
Madeleine F Holzer, Director of Educational Development
Maxine Greene, Philosopher-in-Residence

National Assembly of State Arts Agencies

  • Links to every state and US territory's arts agency
  • News and information about current arts and education policy
  • Arts and education, toolkits, issue briefs, research, and other publications

The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) is a membership organization that unites, represents, and serves the nation's state and jurisdictional arts agencies. Each of the 56 states and jurisdictions has created an agency to support excellence in and access to the arts. NASAA's mission is to advocate and promote a meaningful role for the arts in the lives of individuals, families, and communities throughout the United States. Many of theses state agencies are members of GIA as public funders.

NASAA's website, www.nasaa-arts.org, offers useful links to every state arts agency, major grantmakers in arts and culture, arts and learning resources, and to information about cultural tourism policy, creative economy, and arts as a public policy asset.

Of interest to grantmakers:

Arts & Learning Resources for State Leaders is also of particular interest to both public and private funders. The section on "research" includes a large number of links to national education resources, arts and learning links to reports and publications, and policy structures, organized by arts disciplines, educational approaches, and delivery systems. The "resource" section has a number of national, regional, state and local links to funding, knowledge institutions, networks, listservs and useful tools.

Note: * Every state has an Arts in Education Manager and these individuals' names and contact information are available on the NASAA website by linking to the state agency.

National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
1029 Vermont Avenue, NW, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: 202-347-6352
Fax: 202-737-0526
TDD: 202-347-5948
E-mail: nasaa@nasaa-arts.org
URL: www.nasaa-arts.org

Jonathan Katz, Chief Executive Officer
Kelly J Barsdate, Chief Program & Planning Officer
Carmen Boston, Arts Education Manager

National Endowment for the Arts

  • Information about arts and education project funding and history of funded projects
  • Arts and education publications and research reports

The NEA is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education. NEA was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government and is the largest public funder of the arts, bringing art to all 50 states, rural areas, inner cities and military bases.

The NEA provides funding through a variety of discipline specific program areas as well as for special national initiatives. The NEA's website, www.arts.endow.gov, highlights each funding area and the opportunities therein.

Of interest to grantmakers:

  • Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth grant program, including instructions to apply and a history of funded projects.
  • Arts Education resource page. The NEA's focus is on identifying and supporting model programs and projects that provide in-depth knowledge, skills, and understanding of the arts to children and youth in schools and communities.
  • Research on a variety of projects, programs, and disciplines, some of which are specific to arts education. Also provides to ERIC—Educational Resources Information Center.

National Endowment for the Arts
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20506-0001
Tel: 202-682-5400
TTY: 202-682-5496
URL: www.arts.endow.gov

Dana Gioia, Chairman
Eileen Mason, Senior Deputy Chairman
Sarah B Cunningham, Director, Arts Education, mailto:cunninghams@arts.endow.gov

Project Zero

  • Links to research papers, articles, publications regarding the development of learning processes
  • Products, services, and institutes to help educators create useful in and out of school learning environments
  • E-bookstore with over 100 books, articles, and papers for online purchase or download

Project Zero is a research group at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. For 40 years it has researched the development of learning processes of children, adults, and organizations. Their mission is to understand and enhance learning, thinking, and creativity in the arts, as well as humanistic and scientific disciplines, at the individual and institutional levels. Much of what Project Zero produces are foundation stones for the field of arts education.

Project Zero has maintained a firm research commitment in the arts and gradually expanded to include education across all disciplines. Its' work is documented extensively on their website, www.pz.harvard.edu, through a large variety of publications, papers, and articles by their Principal Investigators and other Project Zero researchers.

Of interest to grantmakers:

  • Past and present research projects including numerous links to research on arts programs, assessment, learning in out-of-school settings, multiple intelligences, school change, and school improvement.
  • Current and former principal investigators, and links to their research projects and contact information.
  • E-bookstore, including publications by Project Zero authors available for purchase

Project Zero
Harvard Graduate School of Education
124 Mount Auburn Street, Fifth Floor
Cambridge, MA 02138
Tel: 617-495-4342
Fax: 617-495-9709
E-mail: info@pz.harvard.edu
URL: www.pz.harvard.edu

Steve Seidel, Director of Project Zero & HGSE's Arts in Education
Program

State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education

  • Research on development of instructional/assessment strategies that engage students in formative self-assessment embedded in the learning process
  • Portal to issues and topics relevant to administrators of state arts education programs, and
  • Policies and practices that impact fine arts education, educators, and students in all states.

The State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) consists of those individuals from state education agencies whose responsibility is education in the arts—dance, music, theatre and visual arts. Their mission is to support the professional effectiveness of individual members and provide a collective voice for leadership on issues affecting arts education. Their purpose is to achieve quality, comprehensive, sequential, standards-based education in the arts for all students Pre K-12. SEADAE accomplishes this by identifying and responding to key issues in arts education, strengthening arts education policy at national and state levels, and maintaining a network to exchange ideas and information. They also collaborate with other organizations to support vision and leadership in arts education.

While much of the website, www.seadae.org, is password-protected, general access allows you to browse national news releases, articles, and publications. Though not extensive, it contains some items not featured on other sites.

SEASAE is supported by NASAA and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Of interest to grantmakers:

  • The Media Stories portal includes the notes from an online dialogue about teaching artists, presented by Eric Booth.
  • The Resources menu leads to several reports, videos, PowerPoint presentations, and research reviews on arts education technology.
  • Web Links offers links to videos and articles on some of the latest thinking in arts and education.
  • Links to organizations planning national conferences that relate to arts education.

State Agency Directors of Arts Education
Tom Waggoner, SEADAE Secretary
E-mail: twaggone@tea.state.tx.us
URL: www.seadae.org

U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Innovation and Improvement

  • Strategic investments in innovative educational practices
  • Arts in Education Model Development & Dissemination and Professional Development Arts Education programs
  • Information on effective practices in the field

The U.S. Department of Education's (ED) mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. Key aspects of ED's focus include collecting data on America's schools and disseminating research and focusing national attention on key educational issues. ED's website, www.ed.gov, has a great deal of information on education in general, most in the form of PDFs.

The Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) makes strategic investments in innovative educational practices through discretionary grant programs and coordinates public school choice and supplemental educational service provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as amended by No Child Left Behind. Programs and initiatives most closely related to arts education, including several grant programs, can be found here.

Of interest to grantmakers:

The OII website does link to PDF downloads for a large number of programs and initiatives the agency has funded. Look through the Resources and Reports link and the in the Publication section. There are also a number of policy briefs included here.

U.S. Department of Education, OII
Innovation and Improvement Program
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5950
Tel: 202-205-4500
Fax: 202-401-4123
URL: www.ed.gov/oii/

Morgan Brown, Assistant Deputy Secretary, Office of Innovation &
Improvement
Doug Herbert, Special Assistant, Office of Innovation & Improvement
Isadora Binder, Professional Development for Arts Educators
Diane Austin & Tyra Stewart, Arts in Education Model Development
And Dissemination

Note: the National Institute of Education of the US Department of Education sponsors the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), which provides free access to more than 1.2 million citations on education topics, dating to 1966. ERIC is the world's largest digital library of educational literature. Records of journal articles, grant reports and research and other education-related materials are listed and if available, it includes links to full text. There are more than 40,000 citations on arts education. It is useful if you have the author and/or title of the material you are searching for. The website is www.eric.ed.gov


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