NAEA Position Statement on Relationship of Visual Arts, Design, and Media Arts Educators to Decision Makers

NAEA recognizes the importance of visual arts, design, and media arts educators creating, developing and maintaining relationships with parents, families, guardians, businesses, cultural organizations, administrators, legislators, media, and others who have an impact on or can influence visual arts, design, and media arts education policy at local and national levels.

Art educators are encouraged to cultivate a network of individuals and groups to build effective partnerships for furthering policies that support visual arts, design, and media arts education for all learners. NAEA recognizes the complexity of communities and encourages educators to engage in thoughtful reflection when forming and evaluating impactful community partnerships, urging art educators to draw on multiple resources to customize messages that address local needs with sensitivity to the unique nature of their community and educational system.

Local initiatives that support visual arts, design, and media arts education policies should be regularly monitored and evaluated to assess their impact on identified needs. This process must be ongoing, as new strategies and partnerships may be created to achieve the desired outcomes.

Additional resources are available in the Advocacy section.