The 2011-2014 NAEA Strategic Plan called for creation of a commission to: “conduct research and generate knowledge that enriches and expands visual arts education and widely share that research and knowledge.” The NAEA Research Commission officially launched at the 2012 NAEA National Convention.

The Research Commission continues to evolve with the strategic plan of NAEA, adopting the following statements of purpose and vision in July 2023:

Statement of Purpose
The NAEA Research Commission activates a research culture of advocacy, dialogue and policy making across environments, fostering networks and collaborations within communities of practice relevant to visual arts, design, and media arts education. 

Vision
The NAEA Research Commission supports diverse research within and beyond NAEA illuminating how art education fosters collaboration, communication, scholarship, transformative discoveries, innovation, creativity, and understanding. The commission’s vision:

• Broadens awareness of the value of research;
• Advocates for the needs of a variety of NAEA research communities;
• Shares research information and findings;
• Facilitates working groups, research partnerships, and interdisciplinarity;
• Supports professional learning to foster research initiatives;
• Contributes to leadership development in research;
• Cultivates research initiatives to shape education; and
• Promotes a vibrant, ethical, diverse, and inclusive research culture within and beyond NAEA.

NAEA Research Commission Charge

The NAEA Research Commission advances the field of art education by generating, curating, and synthesizing evidence-based research. This research informs practice, leadership, advocacy, and policy. Aligned with NAEA’s 5-year Strategic Vision and annual Board priorities, the Commission selects focused goals and produces measurable, data-driven deliverables that respond to documented needs in visual arts, design, and media arts education. Through coordinated work across its working groups and systematic reporting to the Delegates Assembly and the Board, the Commission supports research outputs that are accessible and strategically aligned. In doing so, the Commission positions research as a vital foundation for advocacy, organizational leadership, decision making, and the continuous advancement of the field.

View the May 2026 Research Commission charge from the NAEA Board of Directors.

Give It a Minute: Research Conversations

Brought to you by the NAEA Research Commission, “Give It a Minute” is an opportunity to share research experiences and perspectives within art education—from all levels of teaching and learning—through 1-minute videos. View the growing collection of videos to see what your colleagues are doing.

Questions

For questions or more information about the Research Commission send an email to research@arteducators.org.