Resources
Resources
Here you’ll find various tools, facts, guides and other useful information devoted to the importance of arts education.
Amplifying the Arts, an Amp Up Arts Webinar Series
Amplifying the Arts is a transformative monthly webinar series dedicated to amplifying educator voices, fostering arts education advocacy, and building powerful connections through the arts. Each session features inspiring speakers, thought-provoking discussions, and actionable strategies to harness the power of arts education for social impact and community growth. Check out the webinar recordings!
Alabama Resources
Alabama Arts Education Association is a professional organization dedicated to leadership, advocacy, and professional development for visual arts educators in Alabama. AAEA provides support and resources to enhance the quality of visual arts education across the state.
Alabama Arts Alliance is a statewide organization committed to increasing public awareness and engagement in the arts through education and advocacy. They offer resources and support for arts educators, aiming to foster a comprehensive and sequential arts education for Alabama’s youth.
Developed by the Alabama State Department of Education, the Arts Education Standards comprehensive framework provides rigorous standards for K-12 arts education across disciplines such as dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts. It serves as a guide for educators to implement quality arts instruction statewide.
Alabama Dance Council is a statewide network committed to promoting the art of dance. They provide resources, networking opportunities, and professional development for dance educators and enthusiasts. ADC also organizes the annual Alabama Dance Festival, featuring master classes, performances, and workshops to enrich the state’s dance community.
Alabama Thespians promotes and supports excellence in educational theatre throughout Alabama. They provide enriching experiences for students and teachers in the performing arts, including hosting the annual Alabama Thespian Festival, which offers workshops, performances, and networking opportunities for theatre enthusiasts.
Alabama Institute for Education in the Arts offers professional development and resources for educators to integrate the arts into their teaching practices. They provide workshops, training, and support to enhance arts education in schools and communities.
As the state affiliate of the National Association for Music Education, Alabama Music Educators Association is dedicated to the advancement of music education in Alabama. They offer professional development, resources, and advocacy for music educators, and recognize outstanding achievements in the field through their Hall of Fame.
Alabama State Council on the Arts is the official state arts agency, providing grants, professional development, and resources to enhance arts education statewide. Their Arts in Education program aims to integrate the arts as a fundamental component of education for all students from preschool through 12th grade.
Alabama Symphony Orchestra offers a range of music education resources suitable for K-12 students, including lesson plans and interactive tools. Their programs aim to integrate music education into classrooms and support remote learning initiatives.
artlook®Alabama is a virtual platform that connects Alabama students with the arts. This data platform puts information in the hands of teachers, principals, arts organizations, foundations, corporations, and policy makers with the goal of increasing access to quality arts programs
in public schools.
Bloom City is a set of four, 20-minute virtual poetry workshops designed for middle school students. These workshops are free, available on-demand, and are accompanied by a companion guide for teachers and parents. Presented by the Arts Collab and The Flourish Alabama. View Episode 1 “The BopShop”, Episode 2 “The Ode”, Episode 3 “Persona Poetry Pt. 1”, Episode 4 “Persona Poetry Pt 2”.
With the Standards Roadmap, educators can learn fundamental education language, how to access academic and arts education standards, and how to enrich your education programs. This free toolkit is perfect for developing common language with educators and taking your arts education program development to a new level. Designed for Alabama artists, organizations, and informal educators by Ginger Swan Lindsey and Ruth Jatib O’Connor in partnership with the Arts Collab, Creative Launchpad, and West Alabama Arts Education Collaborative.
The Alabama Arts License Tag Grant Program aims to promote the arts in Alabama, especially arts education, including visual arts, folk arts, and performing arts programming.
A six-person volunteer committee governs the program. Committee members serve on a voluntary basis and one member is appointed by each of the following organizations or individuals: the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the Alabama Arts Alliance, the State Department of Education, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Proceeds from the sale of the license plate will be used to fund a variety of arts in education and community arts projects. Buy the Support the Arts plate the next time you renew your registration at your county’s vehicle licensing office!
General Resources
Americans for the Arts – A leading nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the arts and arts education nationwide. It provides advocacy tools, research, policy guidance, and professional development opportunities to support educators, artists, and communities in promoting the value of the arts in education.
Arts Education Field Guide – Created by Americans for the Arts, this guide helps educators, advocates, and policymakers understand the key players in arts education and how they influence policy and practice. It provides a clear roadmap for engaging with stakeholders at the local, state, and national levels.
Arts Education Navigator – This digital toolkit from Americans for the Arts offers step-by-step guidance for advocating for arts education. It includes research, messaging strategies, and action steps to help individuals and organizations make a case for the arts in schools and communities.
Arts Education Partnership – Arts Education Partnership (AEP) is a national network dedicated to advancing arts education through research, policy, and practice. It provides reports, toolkits, and case studies to support educators, policymakers, and advocates in integrating the arts into learning.
Davis Publications – Specializing in art education, Davis Publications provides K-12 art curriculum, lessons, and resources. Their digital platform offers access to a comprehensive curriculum suitable for various classroom environments, including remote and hybrid settings.
Doodles Academy – This organization provides tools and resources to support the development and implementation of high-quality art curricula for elementary students. Their materials are designed to be adaptable and accessible, enriching the art education experience for young learners.
Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) – A professional organization for theatre educators, EdTA provides resources, professional development, and advocacy for theatre education. It also oversees the International Thespian Society, honoring student achievement in theatre arts.
Musician’s Guide to Advertising and Marketing –
National Art Education Association (NAEA) – Founded in 1947, NAEA is the leading professional membership organization exclusively for visual arts educators. It offers resources, professional development, and a platform for collaboration among art educators to advance visual arts education.
National Association for Media Arts Education (NAMAE) – NAMAE supports media arts educators by offering resources and advocating for media arts as a vital component of K-12 education. It aims to formalize media arts’ presence in the national education system.
National Association for Music Education (NAfME) – One of the largest arts education organizations, NAfME advocates for music education at all levels. It offers teaching resources, professional development, and national standards to support music educators in delivering comprehensive music instruction.
National Core Arts Standards – Developed collaboratively by national arts organizations, these voluntary standards provide a framework for arts education in dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts. They guide educators in delivering quality arts instruction from Pre-K through high school.
National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) – A non-profit organization dedicated to advancing dance education centered in the arts. NDEO provides professional development, resources, and advocacy tools for dance educators to promote quality dance instruction in schools.
National Endowment for the Arts – The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is a federal agency that funds and promotes arts education programs across the country. It provides grants, research, and policy guidance to support arts learning in schools, community settings, and lifelong learning programs.
National Guild for Community Arts Education – This organization supports and develops leaders in community arts education, aiming to maximize the impact of arts education nationwide. They offer resources and professional development to strengthen and sustain arts programs in various communities.
National Teaching Artist Guild – A professional organization supporting teaching artists, this guild provides resources, networking opportunities, and professional development to strengthen arts education in schools and communities. It promotes best practices and advocates for the role of teaching artists in education.
Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) – SAAM offers a range of teacher guides and resources that use artworks to explore historical eras, literary themes, and contemporary connections. These materials are designed to enrich K-12 art education by integrating art into broader learning contexts.
Teaching Artist Companion – This is a framework to: engage young people in art-making, conversations, and reflection informed by the values of Arts for Change; and provide an expanded set of qualities of well-designed and implemented Arts for Change projects and artworks for use in program design, implementation, and evaluation.
TeachRock – An initiative of the Rock and Roll Forever Foundation, TeachRock offers free, standards-aligned, arts-integration curriculum and professional development workshops to K-12 schools nationwide. Their resources use music to engage students across various subjects.
The Art of Education University (AOEU) – AOEU provides the FLEX Curriculum, a comprehensive, standards-aligned visual arts curriculum platform for K-12 teachers. It includes lessons, videos, resources, and assessments to support art educators in delivering high-quality instruction.
The Kennedy Center – Through its Education Division, the Kennedy Center offers a wide range of arts education programs, including professional development for teachers, resources for teaching artists, and initiatives like ArtsEdge and Turnaround Arts. It supports arts integration in schools and provides national leadership in arts education.
The Wallace Foundation – The Wallace Foundation funds research and initiatives to expand access to high-quality arts education, particularly for underserved communities. It provides reports, case studies, and best practices to help educators, policymakers, and organizations strengthen arts learning programs.
YoungArts – A national foundation that identifies and supports young artists in various disciplines, including visual arts, music, dance, theater, and writing. YoungArts offers scholarships, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to nurture emerging talent.
Sign up for our newsletter!
Catch up on the latest news from around the state on arts education and advocacy.