Book Description

Late in 1975, the U.S. Office of Education made available a small grant to the four professional associations representing the arts education profession in the United States. These associations are the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), National Art Education Association (NAEA), National Dance Association (NDA) and the American Theatre Association (ATA). The project became known as the Arts Advocacy Project. The purpose of the grant was to provide opportunities for arts educators to discuss ways in which other educational groups, outside the arts but closely involved with educational administration and the determination of educational policy, can be more direct advocates for the arts in education. Five seminars on promoting the arts in education were planned in cooperation with five leading educational associations: National Elementary School Principals Association (NAESP), American Association of School Administrators (AASA), National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), and National School Boards Association (NSBA). Representatives from these groups and from the four arts education associations sought ways to build increased understanding and support for the arts in education, with special attention given to problems that are endemic in a particular administrative group's area of concern.