School for Art Leaders

Committed to supporting art educators in their quest to excel as leaders, NAEA has designed a 21st century flagship program: School for Art Leaders at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

About the Program

Since 1947, art educators representing all states, regions, and work contexts have provided volunteer leadership service that has shaped the field of art education and positioned the National Art Education Association (NAEA) as the premier professional community for art educators. Committed to supporting art educators in their quest to excel as leaders, NAEA has designed a 21st-century flagship program: School for Art Leaders. Utilizing experiential action learning modules and in-depth conversations with expert leaders, this program provides participants with needed learning experiences and skills to successfully lead in any environment.

The program design is geared specifically for art educators and is based on the work and recommendations of the NAEA Leadership Development Task Force. Seven different leadership models provide a strong basis for the content of the work, with specific individual and group exercises woven throughout the experience.

The NAEA Art Educator Competency Model (developed by the Leadership Development Task Force)
Thurber–Zimmerman Empowerment/Leadership Model
Mindful leadership
Total leadership
Emotional intelligence
Storytelling
Strategies to support equity, diversity, and inclusion in leadership

Those selected for each annual class will contribute to the development of an extraordinary community cohort committed to leadership excellence. Upon successful completion, participants become members of the national School for Art Leaders network and are positioned to excel as leaders in education, the arts, and advocacy.

Questions? E-mail Laura Grundler, Director of Learning and Program Development at lgrundler@arteducators.org

Application Details

Eligibility and Qualifications

Art education professionals who are new to leadership as well as those who have a range of leadership experience and are looking to enhance their skills are encouraged to apply. Successful applicants will:

Have 5 years or more of professional practice and currently working as an art educator (school/school district, museum, college/university, local or state agency, community organization, or other work context).
Commit to fully participating in the 10-month program, including possible inclusion in a longitudinal study on leadership impact in art education upon completion of the program.
Have organizational support from a state association and/or your school/institution.
NAEA expects that program graduates will actively apply their leadership skills in ways that will enhance their institutions and/or NAEA and its affiliates, and contribute a positive impact on the field of art education.

Program Fee

There is no application fee. If accepted, a program fee of $900 for members and $1,100 for non-members must be submitted by June 1. The program fee includes access to all courses and related materials, including the onsite intensive program at Crystal Bridges. Travel and housing are additional and at the expense of the participant. NAEA works to secure competitive and optional housing rates.

2026 Program Commitment

The purpose of the School for Art Leaders at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to provide an experience that both inspires and prepares art educators to become active leaders of positive change in the field of art education.

A cohort of no more than 25 participants annually will form a learning community throughout this 10-month program. Participants will meet in a kickoff orientation in preparation for a 5-day intensive experience, taking place at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. Following the intensive experience, participants will continue to learn and support one another through application of leadership experiments and debriefing sessions through coaching and mentoring for the next 9 months.

SAL Class of 2026

Are you ready to grow as an arts leader? Applications for the next iteration of the NAEA School for Art Leaders will open on August 1, 2025. Check back for the application link.

Fund your SAL Experience

Leaders in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Scholarship

This scholarship is intended to support participants who are interested in growing their leadership capacity and skills, while also engaging in the work of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I).

Scholarships include the cost of SAL program fees; accommodations at the 21C Museum Hotel in Bentonville, AR; and an air travel allowance (up to $600).

Application Process
To apply for a scholarship, use the “request form” feature connected to your initial SAL application and follow the steps below:

First, submit your application for the School for Arts Leaders Program.
Next, log back into your Submittable account. Navigate to your submitted SAL application by clicking on “Submissions.”
Click on your School for Arts Leaders application.
On the next screen, click the “Forms” tab.
Scroll down to the “Request Forms” section. Locate the “SAL Scholarship Form” and click the “Open” button.
On the next screen, complete the required information and click “Submit.” You will receive a confirmation email for your scholarship application.

Eligibility
Candidates will need to complete the scholarship application following the submission of their application for the NAEA School for Art Leaders program.

Candidates should also have a demonstrated commitment to ED&I in arts education, a desire to build ED&I into their daily practice, and a commitment to reflective practice in ED&I work.

Selection
Two scholarship recipients will be chosen from applicants selected to participate in SAL, who have submitted a scholarship application as well. No financial information will be requested, but the selection process will prioritize candidates from underrepresented groups, regions, and divisions.