For more than 20 years, the National Endowment for the Arts has supported activities for state arts agency arts education managers through a cooperative agreement with NASAA. NASAA coordinates the national network of state arts agency arts education managers, facilitating professional development and helping them to lead successful arts education programs and policy efforts in each state.

For an up-to-date roster of state arts agency arts education managers, please contact Meghan McFerrin.

The 2023 State Arts Agency Arts Education Managers PDI attendees at Spy Hop in Salt Lake City, Utah

The Arts Education Working Group (AEWG) designs and leads professional development opportunities for state arts agency arts education managers.

• 2024 AEWG Roster
• AEWG Description
• Regional Meetings: Members of the Arts Education Working Group coordinate regular regional meetings. Use the AEWG Roster to connect with the representative in your region for more information about upcoming virtual calls.

Tanner Dance performs during the 2023 Professional Development Institute. Photo by Jean Irwin, Utah Division of Arts & Museums

State Arts Agency Arts Education Managers Professional Development Institute (PDI)

The annual Professional Development Institute convening provides meaningful in-person leadership development and technical assistance for this multifaceted field.

• 2024 PDI
• PDI Archives

Arts Education Managers Peer Group Sessions

These sessions offer professional development opportunities, foster peer group collaboration and provide support to strengthen efforts in advancing arts education. For more information, see the Upcoming NASAA Events Calendar or contact Meghan McFerrin.

• Skill Domains and Core Competencies
• Arts Education Manager Self-Assessment Tool
• Arts Education Managers Listserv

The Arts Education Working Group gathers for the 2023 Professional Development Institute at Tanner Dance in Salt Lake City, Utah

Explore NASAA’s growing suite of research resources available to support state arts agencies. Don’t hesitate to contact NASAA staff for help using this information in your state.

• Arts Education Fact Sheet
  This fact sheet provides a quick overview of the major grants and services that state arts agencies offer in support of arts education.
• Teaching Artist Relationships with State Arts Agencies
  Funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and authored by arts consultant and community organizer Precious Blake, this strategy sampler describes how state arts agencies are adapting their programs, deepening their relationships and demonstrating flexibility with rapid change in support of teaching artists.
• State Arts Agency Innovations: Arts Education
  View arts education–specific articles from the NASAA Notes newsletter.
• Arts Education Partnership Resources
  NASAA is a partner organization of the Arts Education Partnership (AEP). AEP gathers and compiles information that helps arts and education leaders improve practice, build effective partnerships and inform policy. ArtsEdSearch and ArtScan are searchable online clearinghouses of high-quality research studies and policy information supporting education in and through the arts.

• 2023 PDI
• 2022 PDI
• 2021 PDI
• 2020 PDI
• 2019 PDI

For information about prior Professional Development Institutes, please contact a member of NASAA staff.

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.