The following organizations provide advocacy and support for arts and music education:
National Association for Music Education: www.nafme.org
National Association for Music Education (NAfME), among the world’s largest arts education organizations, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. NAfME advocates at the local, state, and national levels; provides resources for teachers, parents, and administrators; hosts professional development events; and offers a variety of opportunities for students and teachers. The Association orchestrates success for millions of students nationwide and has supported music educators at all teaching levels for more than a century.
NAfME staff has put together an overview of Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) that provides details on several opportunities afforded by this legislation to expand access to music education for students nationwide. Sign up to access the free webinar presentation and slidedeck.
Chorus America: www.chorusamerica.org
Chorus America is the advocacy, research, and leadership development organization that advances the choral field. We support and serve choral conductors, administrators, board members, and singers with tools, training, peer networking, and access so that choruses are better able to contribute to their communities.
Chorus America developed “Making the Case for Your School Choir: An Advocacy Guide” to help chart a path toward proactive advocacy on behalf of choral music education. It contains a step-by-step advocacy plan as well as research and statistics on the value of choral singing in school from more than 40 studies.
Americans for the Arts: www.americansforthearts.org
Our mission is to serve, advance, and lead the network of organizations and individuals who cultivate, promote, sustain, and support the arts in America. Connecting your best ideas and leaders from the arts, communities, and business, together we can work to ensure that every American has access to the transformative power of the arts.
With over 300 contributors and over 175 partner organizations, the Arts Education Navigator is your connection to the tools and resources you need to make the case for arts education!
OPERA America: www.operaamerica.org
OPERA America draws on resources and expertise from within and beyond the opera field to advance a mutually beneficial agenda that serves and strengthens the field through its programs. The association provides members with an array of publications and online resources, regional workshops, an annual conference and network-specific services such as conference calls, listservs and direct contact with staff with expertise in opera production, administration and education. OPERA America provides members with tools to maximize the effectiveness of financial and human resources, expand the scope of repertoire and programs, and extend their reach to new and diverse audiences.
Dance/USA: www.danceusa.org
Established in 1982 as the national service organization for the professional dance field, Dance/USA is a membership organization currently serving nearly 500 aerial, ballet, modern, culturally specific, jazz, and tap companies, dance service and presenting organizations, individuals, and related organizations. Dance/USA occupies a unique position in the field as the only national service organization dedicated to serving a broad cross-section of professional dance.
American Choral Directors Association: www.acda.org
Founded in 1959, the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) is a nonprofit music-education organization whose expressed purposes outline the associations dedication to the advancement of choral music. The mission of ACDA is to inspire excellence in choral music through education, performance, composition, and advocacy.