For more than 30 years, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) have supported professional development programming for state arts agency arts education managers. The annual Professional Development Institute (PDI) provides meaningful leadership development and technical assistance for this diverse field. As a result, arts education managers are knowledgeable leaders in their field through a peer network that new and seasoned managers alike find invaluable.
The 2024 PDI took place in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from Monday, October 21 – Wednesday, October 23.
The purpose of the Professional Development Institute was to equip participants with skills necessary to succeed in their roles as state arts agency arts education managers. PDI attendees gained job-specific tools and knowledge that are relevant across a wide array of state needs and circumstances. PDI programming focused on strategies to ensure all learners, especially those in underserved communities, have access to high-quality arts education. Discussion encompassed impactful approaches to grant funding, services, research and partnerships.
Drawing inspiration from the powerful capacity building strategies and relationships cultivated in Puerto Rico, the 2024 Professional Development Institute explored topics and questions relevant to all 56 states and jurisdictions.
Guiding Question & Outcomes
How can state arts agency arts education managers collaborate with local arts organizations to promote thriving communities through learning rooted in local heritage and traditions?
- Learning Outcome 1: Participants will identify innovative approaches used by Puerto Rican arts organizations to recover and thrive amidst unpredictable circumstances, drawing lessons applicable to their own states and jurisdictions.
- Learning Outcome 2: Participants will explore how traditional art forms are integrated into daily life in Puerto Rico, applying these insights to support programming that leverages cultural heritage through community engagement in their own states and jurisdictions.
- Learning Outcome 3: Participants will examine holistic arts education models implemented in Puerto Rico and consider the role out-of-school programming plays in reaching all members of communities in all states and jurisdictions.
