Jeff Poulin
Americans for the Arts has long been a national leader in the arts in America. For decades, the organization, too, has been involved in the advocacy of the inclusion of the arts as part of a quality education for all students in the United States. Today, we work to ensure that all Americans have access to quality arts education in school, out of school, and throughout adulthood.
What makes this possible, you ask?
My answer: when people who care about arts education speak up and are heard.
The Arts Education Council of Americans for the Arts has crafted an event to help people like you from across the country build the skills necessary to speak up (advocate) and be heard (by elected officials, decision makers, the media or whoever you like!)
I would like to invite you to join a distinguished group of arts education advocates, thought leaders, policy experts and field practitioners for the Arts Education & Advocacy Preconference on June 12-13, 2014 in Nashville, TN. The preconference will include a keynote presentation from the NEA’s Ayanna Hudson, inspiring case studies from the arts education heroes in Lansing, MI and the Music Makes Us Program in Nashville, TN, as well as practical workshops with next-day implementable tools for advocacy.
Along with everything I mentioned above, I am particularly excited for two things that make this event stand out above all other arts education events in the country!
First, exclusive to this event being in Nashville, attendees of the preconference will go on a field trip to meet with leading experts from throughout Nashville’s music scene! Hear from elected officials from the city council, leaders of the Nashville Metropolitan School District and executives from tops music establishments like the CMA Foundation and Warner Music as they tell the story of the creation and success of the famed Pearl Cohn Entertainment Magnet School.
Second, we want to hear from you! As an attendee, you will be asked to participate in a special town hall meeting. This is your opportunity as an advocate to let us know how to improve your work! As a group, we will be collectively strategizing about the field’s next steps for advocacy at the local, state and federal level to advance arts education in America!
This event is not one to be missed! If you have any questions, please feel free to email me directly at [email protected] or find our more on our website. The deadline for registration is May 30th, so act fast as you don’t want to miss out!
See you in Nashville!
