Art and Design Educators to Convene in New York

ALEXANDRIA, VA – FEBRUARY 20, 2017 – Art educators from throughout the U.S. and some 35 countries around the world will gather at the 2017 NAEA National Convention—the national gathering of the National Art Education Association (NAEA)—to demonstrate the ways that art education shapes minds, improves thought processes, and prepares students in all fields and pursuits for working in a digital and visual age.

Studies consistently show that art education not only nurtures creativity and innovation but also significantly impacts the cognitive, social and emotional development of children and youth. While students who have access to art education develop technical and expressive capacity in the arts, they also develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills and realize other cognitive, personal and social outcomes that contribute to the development of human potential.

The NAEA National Convention will host several notable artists and thought leaders including Jeff Koons, Ursula Von Rydingsvard, Matthew Israel (Artsy), David Driskell, and Blaise Aguera Y Arcas (Google), Derrick Adams, Laura H. Chapman and Diane Ravitch.

“Many of our keynote presenters are cutting edge, visionary leaders whose accomplishments exemplify the value of art visual arts education, even if their primary work takes place outside the field of visual arts. The benefits of incorporating visual arts education into any field of study are limitless,” said Patricia Franklin, President of NAEA.“

More than 7,000 art educators, teaching in pk-12 schools, as well as teaching artists, researchers, scholars, administrators, and museum educators will take part in the NAEA National Convention.

The three-day convention includes more than 1,000 participatory workshops, panels, seminars, research reports, discussions, exhibits, and tours. Each year, 150+ exhibitor booths displaying the latest art curriculum materials, software, equipment, and programs, as well as the latest studio and art history media are made available for examination and review by art educator delegates.

Media are invited to attend and cover the event, visit here for more information.

Founded in 1947, the National Art Education Association is the leading professional membership organization exclusively for visual arts educators. Members include elementary, middle, and high school visual arts educators; college and university professors; university students preparing to be art educators; researchers and scholars; teaching artists; administrators and supervisors; and art museum educators—as well as more than 49,000 students who are members of the National Art Honor Society.