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Arts Education Is Essential: A Unified Statement From Arts and Education Organizations

May 2020

Unified Statement

As likeminded arts and education organizations, NAEA and 52 other national groups have come together to release a unified statement on the necessity of arts education for all students, “Arts Education Is Essential”.

With fellow organizations working to preserve arts education, we have provided this clear statement of support for educators and other stakeholders, as you make the case with administrators and other decision-makers for your own arts program in your school district. Three principles are spelled out in “Arts Education Is Essential”:

  • “Arts education supports the social and emotional well-being of students, whether through distance learning or in person.”
  • “Arts education nurtures the creation of a welcoming school environment where students can express themselves in a safe and positive way.”
  • “Arts education is part of a well-rounded education for all students as understood and supported by federal and state policymakers.”

We encourage you to share this statement with your own network, and share why you believe “Arts Education Is Essential” on social media using the hashtags #ArtsEdIsEssential and #VisualArtsEdMatters and tagging @NAEA and @VisualArtsEdMatters.

We are in this together.

Signing organizations as of May 26, 2020.

Afterschool Alliance, American Choral Directors Association, American Composers Forum, American Orff-Schulwerk Association, American String Teachers Association, Americans for the Arts, Barbershop Harmony Society, Carnegie Hall, Casio America Inc, Chorus America, CMA Foundation, College Band Directors National Association, Conn-Selmer, Inc., D’Addario Foundation, Eastman Music Company, Education Through Music, Educational Theatre Association, Give a Note Foundation, Hal Leonard, Historically Black Colleges and Universities National Band Directors’ Consortium, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Jazz Education Network, KHS America, KORG, USA, League of American Orchestras, Little Kids Rock, Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, Music for All, Music Teachers National Association, NAMM Foundation, National Art Education Association, National Association for Music Education, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Coalition for Core Arts Standards, National Dance Education Organization, National Education Association, National Federation of State High School Associations, National YoungArts Foundation, Organization of American Kodály Educators, Quadrant Research, QuaverEd, Recording Academy, Save The Music Foundation, State Education Agency Directors of Arts Association, The Rock and Roll Forever Foundation, United Sound, Inc., Varsity Performing Arts, West Music Company, WURRLYedu, Yamaha Corporation of America, Young Audiences Arts for Learning, YOUnison

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