Tennessee: Arts Education Policy Convening

Students from Bradley Academy, an arts-integrated public school, provide an opening performance at the Arts Education Policy Convening. Photo by Bradley Hanson

As part of its annual conference this year, the Tennessee Arts Commission hosted a day-long, participant-driven Arts Education Policy Convening. The Commission organized the event for arts-education stakeholders from throughout the state to collectively address issues such as Tennessee’s fine arts standards and the accountability requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The agenda also featured a number of “snapshots” from the field presented by arts education professionals as well as a conversation about effective advocacy methods. Using the collective impact model, which was the theme of the larger Commission event, participants united their voices in identifying opportunities, challenges and their next steps. The convening resulted in plans for forming an arts education coalition, continuing a dialogue with the Tennessee Department of Education about ESSA compliance and strategizing ways to strengthen arts education. To learn more, contact Tennessee Arts Commission Director of Arts Education Ann Talbott Brown.