NAEA members form a professional community that advances the field of visual art education by engaging in issues of curriculum, instruction, and assessment in and through the visual arts. Professional visual art educators have the knowledge, skills and commitment to teaching the visual arts to students of all ages. Visual art educators, as members of the broader community of educators, have insight into and understanding of human development. Art educators come from diverse populations, viewpoints, and professional settings, including schools, museums, universities and community-based organizations.

Art educators believe that the visual arts are vital to the comprehensive education of all students.