2025 State Arts Agency Arts Education Managers Professional Development Institute
Des Moines, Iowa | September 16 - 18, 2025
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 and jurisdictional arts agency (SAA) arts education managers. The annual Professional Development Institute (PDI) provides meaningful leadership development and technical assistance that new and seasoned managers alike find invaluable. As a result, arts education managers in all 56 states and jurisdictions are knowledgeable leaders in their field and are equipped to deliver high-caliber arts education programming tailored to their state’s needs.
The 2025 PDI takes place September 16 -18 in Des Moines, Iowa, in partnership with the Iowa Arts Council, part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Arts education leaders will participate in a range of professional development activities at community venues that demonstrate innovative arts education programming.
Guiding Question & Outcomes
The 2025 PDI agenda responds to the following guiding question:
How can arts education managers envision future-ready arts learning systems and resources that benefit students, educators, communities and workforces across their states and jurisdictions?
Learning Outcome 1: Participants will explore how arts education can cultivate transferable, creative and technical skills that prepare learners for a variety of career pathways in their own states and jurisdictions.
Learning Outcome 2: Participants will examine how rural arts education practices engage local leadership and build on each community’s distinct strengths to develop impactful programs.
Learning Outcome 3: Participants will review and synthesize local, state and regional resources and learning frameworks that promote the health, well-being and overall capacity of SAA arts education managers.
Registration
PDI registration is limited to state and jurisdictional arts agency arts education managers and invited arts education partners.
There is no cost to attend the 2025 PDI. The following are included with registration: New Arts Education Managers Dinner (as applicable); breakfast and lunch on Tuesday, September 16, lunch on Wednesday, September 17, and breakfast and lunch on Thursday, September 18; and transportation between the local hotel and off-site conference venues.
Hotel Reservations
The conference lodging venue is the Surety Hotel Des Moines, 206 6th Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309.
The NASAA discounted rate per room is $110 per night (plus tax). The cutoff date for securing rooms through the NASAA discounted rate is Monday, August 25.
To reserve your room at Surety Hotel, make an online reservation using this link:
Book your group rate for National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.
You must use the link above in order to access the NASAA group rate.
You can also book by calling the Surety Hotel front desk at 515-985-2066. Be sure to request the NASAA group rate.
Please closely review the hotel website for additional fees, including late check-out parking costs.
The opinions expressed in materials on this website are those of the author(s) and do not represent the views of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The NEA does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information included in these materials and is not responsible for any consequences of their use. This online website is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.