What We Do

AEP’s updated strategic mission focuses our work on building leadership capacity for arts and education leaders. Through research, reports, convenings and counsel, leaders gain knowledge and insights to ensure that all learners receive an excellent arts education.

RESEARCH

AEP gathers and compiles information that helps arts and education leaders improve practice, build effective partnerships and inform policy.

ArtsEdSearch

ArtsEdSearch is AEP’s online clearinghouse of research focused on the outcomes of arts education for students and educators, both during and outside the school day. All studies included in ArtsEdSearch are peer-reviewed by AEP staff and members of the ArtsEdSearch Review Panel.

How you can get involved:

• If you have expertise in arts education research, consider serving on the ArtsEdSearch review panel.
• Submit your research for consideration in ArtsEdSearch.

ArtScan is a searchable database of state policies supporting arts education in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. AEP partners with the State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) to update this database every year.

REPORT

AEP issues relevant and timely reports, providing concise, factual overviews and analysis on priority arts and education issues.

• ArtsEd Digest is AEP’s bi-monthly newsletter highlighting news from AEP partner and affiliate organizations, as well as the arts education field more broadly.
  • How you can get involved:
    • Subscribe to ArtsEd Digest.
    • Submit items to be included in a future edition of ArtsEd Digest.
    ArtsEdAmplified
    • ArtsEd Amplified is AEP’s blog which shares updates, research and data about timely arts education stories from the field.
      • How you can get involved:
        • Subscribe the latest ArtsEd Amplified stories.
        • Submit items to be a guest author for ArtsEd Amplified.
        Researched Writing
        • Policy briefs are publications that provide deeper analysis of one policy issue.
        • Policy outlines are short overviews of a single policy issue with related examples from various states.
        • Special reports are publications that provide a deep dive into research, policy and/or practice related to an issue.
          • How you can get involved:
          • Use and share AEP’s policy resources as part of your work.

          Submit an information request to AEP if you need information or a resource that doesn’t currently exist.

          Success Stories
          • Success stories highlight successful programs and initiatives of AEP partner organizations. Each success story includes a description of the program or initiative, information about the partner organization, conditions for success, questions to consider and links to learn more.
            • How you can get involved:
              • Contact AEP’s Engagement Specialist if you have a success story to share.

              COUNSEL

              AEP provides unbiased advice and consultation on arts and education policy and practice.

              Information Requests

              • Information requests are one-page responses to inquiries about specific issues or policies from partners and others, including policymakers, media, partners, affiliates and members of the general public. AEP coordinates a response, sends it to the requestor and posts the response on its website.
                • How you can get involved:
                  • Submit an information request.
                  Staff Services
                  • AEP staff members engage in speaking engagements, testimony and technical assistance as requested. Partner organizations receive first consideration for scheduling, followed by affiliates. AEP may engage partner organizations to fulfill these requests when their expertise matches the need.
                    • How you can get involved:Contact AEP to request a speaker, facilitator, or other support.

                    CONVENE

                    AEP brings arts and education leaders together locally, within their states and nationally to interact, collaborate and learn from each other.

                    Annual Convening

                    • AEP’s Annual Convening is a two-day conference that brings together arts and education supporters, including partners, affiliates, policymakers and others.
                      • How you can get involved:
                        • Submit a proposal to present a concurrent session.
                        • Recommend student artists to showcase their work.
                        • Host a site visit or reception.
                        • Share registration information with networks.
                        • Register to attend the event
                        Policy Academies
                        • Policy Academies are two-day meetings where state teams receive targeted technical assistance around a specific issue. By the end of the convening, state teams have short- and long-term policy plans for moving that policy in their state. AEP staff may provide ongoing assistance for an additional 18 months.
                        Quarterly Partner Webinars
                        • Quarterly partner webinars are one-hour, virtual meetings of AEP partner and affiliate organizations. They serve as regularly scheduled opportunities for AEP to connect with partners and affiliates, as well as for partners and affiliates to connect with each other.
                          • How you can get involved as a partner:
                            • Attend the webinars.
                            • Contact AEP to share information about your organization’s work during a webinar.
                            Thinkers Meetings
                            • Thinkers meetings are one-day, invitation-only facilitated meetings designed to gather the collective wisdom of some of the leading thought experts on key education issues to better inform education leaders across states.
                            Working groups, special project teams and task forces
                            • Working groups, special project teams and task forces provide counsel and support to AEP staff, both generally and related to specific products. AEP forms and manages these groups, which are comprised of representatives from partner and affiliate organizations.
                              • AEP currently supports three active working groups:
                                • The AEP Equity Working Group brings together arts education leaders committed to advancing equity to gather, study and share models of practice and lessons learned on the topic of equity in arts education. Chaired by Pam Breaux, AEP advisory council member and president and chief executive officer at National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA).
                                • The AEP Higher Education Working Group brings together arts education leaders to address topics at the intersection of higher education and the arts. Chaired by Martha McKenna, AEP advisory council member and university professor & director at Center for Advanced Professional Studies, Lesley University.
                                • The AEP Arts Education Policy Working Group brings together arts education leaders to ensure that arts and education communities have the resources necessary to engage in the many opportunities that federal policies, like the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), open for expanding the arts in U.S. classrooms. This group also addresses broader topics related to arts education policy at the state and federal levels. Co-chaired by Heather Noonan, AEP advisory council member and vice president for advocacy at League of American Orchestras, and Narric Rome, AEP advisory council member and vice president of Government Affairs & Arts Education at Americans for the Arts.
                                • How you can get involved:
                                  • To learn more or join an AEP working group, contact AEP director Jamie Kasper, via email. Please note that some groups may have limited capacity based on the current focus of their work.