As National Arts in Education Week approaches (September 13–19), this issue is packed with ways to plug in. We're celebrating a sold-out Asbury Park Dance Festival that generously supported our work, catching up with Youth Arts Education Council alum Meer, and rounding up an advocacy toolkit along with upcoming professional learning and conference opportunities for educators across the state. Dive in below.
Where does a Youth Arts Education Council experience lead? For alum Meer, it meant a trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with education policymakers, new friendships that broadened his view of NJ's communities, and skills he still uses in college today. Read his reflections on the program, and his advice for future Council members.
Photos: Demi Remick, NJ Ballet, Payton Primer by John Herr
Thank You, Asbury Park Dance Festival!
We're incredibly grateful to the Asbury Park Dance Festival for including Arts Ed NJ in the celebration surrounding their sold-out 7th Annual event. This year's festival brought together an extraordinary roster of artists, spanning groundbreaking contemporary work, iconic American modernism, and powerful cultural traditions, and a portion of the proceeds were shared with Arts Ed NJ in support of our mission. We're honored to have been part of a celebration that so powerfully demonstrated the power of dance to bring community together. Thank you to APDF, its artists, production team, volunteers, and everyone who came out to support this incredible night.
Workshop: Legal One: Arts Education & The Law
Oct. 8, 2026; 9 am - 3 pm at FEA, 12 Centre Drive, Monroe Township, NJ 08831 Fee: $195 Members/Non-Members (breakfast and lunch included)
In Partnership with FEA Professional Learning and Arts Ed NJ
Know before you need to know. This one-day workshop gives school and district leaders practical guidance on the legal, policy, and programmatic issues that shape arts education, from standards and student access to special education, multilingual and gifted learners, funding, SEL, and sustaining strong programs. Designed for superintendents, principals, supervisors, curriculum and special education leaders, and other district decision-makers.
National Arts in Education Week Toolkit: Every Student, Every Community
Americans for the Arts has released a toolkit for National Arts in Education Week, September 13–19, built around this year's theme, "Every Student, Every Community." Inside you'll find ready-to-use newsletter and social media content, a partner email template, legislative talking points on NEA, NEH, the HBCU Arts Act, and the Arts Education for All Act, plus downloadable resources to make advocacy simple. Your voice matters, so take a look and help spread the word during this year's Arts in Education Week.
Middle School Band Directors: Sign Up for NJ Association for Jazz Education
Middle School Jazz Fest 2027
Middle school band directors, consider bringing your Jazz Band to the NJAJE Middle School Jazz Fest 2027! This year's festival features clinicians Mitch Butler, Wayne Escoffery, and Will Gorman.
WHEN: Saturday, May 1, 2027, 11:00 AM
WHERE: Princeton High School
MEMBERSHIP FEE: $225, which includes entry to the NJ State Middle School Jazz Festival, admission to the NJAJE State Jazz Conference/Awards Luncheon, a subscription to Downbeat Magazine, admission to all NJAJE Middle School Festival, High School Prelims, Finals, Vocal & Region events, and access to the NJAJE Resource Team.
Please read the festival's rules and regulations before signing up.
Community Conversation: Shaping a National Arts Agenda
Americans for the Arts is hosting a Community Conversation on September 17, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET as part of Arts in Education Week and its theme, "Every Student, Every Community." Using public opinion data, a Policy 101 overview, and shared policy resources, the conversation will support collective learning and help develop "statements of hope" that inform a National Arts Agenda for equitable access to arts education. ASL interpretation and AI-generated captions will be available, with accessibility requests made at least three business days in advance to gkhang@artsusa.org.
Sign Up for AENJ's 2026 Fall Conference: Art is Metamorphic — Early Bird Pricing Ends Tomorrow!
Art Educators of New Jersey's 2026 Fall Conference, Art is Metamorphic, is open for registration, but don't wait: early bird pricing ends tomorrow, September 9th. Get it on your calendar before the school year kicks into high gear. Register by Saturday, October 17, 2026 to secure your spot.
