COURAGE
- Henri Matisse
EVERY EVERY EVERY Child Day Year
MISSION
Arts Ed NJ is a collective impact coalition of statewide partners that works to ensure that all New Jersey pre-K - 12 public school students participate in a high-impact, sequential, equitable arts education that celebrates diverse lived experience and artistic expression and prepares the creative leaders of tomorrow.
OUR VISION
Arts education for every child, every day, every year.
IMAGINATION
is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited; imagination encircles the world.
- Albert Einstein
OUR COALITION
Arts Ed NJ organizes a diverse coalition of partners and collaborators who share the goal of ensuring that all students value and benefit from equitable, high-quality arts education. It is a collective impact organization where arts education professionals and advocates come together to advance the impact of the field. Arts Ed NJ organizes, amplifies, and sustains the advancement of the arts education field. To achieve
Arts Disciplines Associations
Youth & Families
our shared goal of systemic change in how the arts are integrated into education, the state’s entire arts ed ecosystem needs to be represented.
Community Organizations
School District Leaders
Higher Education
COLLECTIVE
Arts Educators
NJ Department of Education
COLLECTIVE IMPACT
School Boards
Non-Profit Arts Organizations
Private & Public Funders
CORE VALUES
COLLECTIVE ACTION & IMPACT
We are stronger and more effective together and united in our commitment to champion arts education.
EQUITY & SOCIAL JUSTICE
We believe that the opportunity to participate in an equitable, high quality arts education is a social justice issue. We examine and activate everything we do through an equity lens.
RESPONSIVENESS
We are committed to co-learning together with a diverse group of partners.
We will remain nimble and mindful of emergent and urgent needs.
BELONGING & WELL-BEING
Much as we aim to deliver a sense of belonging and well-being to arts students, we want everyone involved in Arts Ed NJ to feel that they belong in our collective. Everyone has a voice in change and the power to make positive contributions to our communities.
We cultivate belonging by prioritizing the care and well-being of everyone involved.
COMMITMENT TO SYSTEMIC CHANGE
We believe that large-scale systemic change is possible if we keep working towards it over time.
We will keep doing the next right thing and recognize that each gain we make is one step towards achieving our greater collective bold vision for arts education.
ACCOUNTABILITY
We hold ourselves, our partners, and our work to the highest standards of transparency and integrity.
CREATIVITY born with
OUR COMMITMENT
TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
Arts Ed NJ has historically been an advocacy organization for arts education in the state of New Jersey. We believe that all students deserve a highly impactful arts education. Arts education, like all of education, is an inequitable system creating the reality that some students have historically had more access to the arts while other students have had less due to systemic inequalities. Effectively advocating for arts education requires a social justice lens.
Organizationally, internally and externally, Arts Ed NJ is setting a “north star” to intentionally embed Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice practices and policies into each goal, outcome, and strategy of our new five-year strategic plan.
The Statements here outline our framework and guideposts for this work over the timeline of this plan.
COMMITMENT
WHAT WE KNOW
1. In the State of New Jersey, arts education is mandated by educational law and code.
2. Equitable access to and participation in a comprehensive, high-impact arts education (dance, music, media arts, theater, and visual art) is a social justice imperative.
3. Equitable participation in arts education is essential for nurturing the creative potential of all students, regardless of their background or circumstances.
4. Diverse perspectives and experiences enrich the arts education landscape and prepare students for a multicultural world.
5. Inclusive arts programs that reflect and respect diverse cultural traditions and perspectives foster a sense of belonging and well-being for all students, and are crucial for student engagement and success.
6. Systemic change in arts education is achievable through collective action and sustained commitment.
For the length of this strategic plan, AENJ will increasingly focus on:
• Ensuring that students in historically underresourced school districts, as well as students receiving Individualized Educational Program Services (IEP), multilingual learners, and those in the juvenile justice system, receive the arts education mandated by educational law and code.
• Maturing as an organization internally to integrate DEI J promising practices into how we operate as an organization and redistributing resources to do so.
PROGRAM STRATEGIES
Arts Ed NJ will pursue a shared vision and objectives using four primary program strategies:
ADVANCING POLICY & EQUITY
• The “Arts Ed Now & for ALL!” campaign and other public awareness initiatives
• Advocacy for pro-arts education policies
• Addressing gaps in student access to arts education
RESEARCH & RESOURCES
SUPPORTING EDUCATORS & THE FIELD
• NJ Arts Education Census
• Interactive School Performance Dashboard
• Spotlighting Research into arts education’s impact and practices
• Convening and professional learning
• Spotlighting Solutions that help schools to implement arts ed
• Task Forces on emerging issues
• Enhancing culturally sustaining arts education
• Our Center for Arts Education and Social Emotional Learning
CELEBRATING STUDENTS & EDUCATORS
• Activating student advocacy
• Celebrating student and educator accomplishments
• New Jersey Governor’s Awards in Arts Education
LIMITLESS
The artist’s world is It can be found anywhere.
- Paul Strand
PURSUIT Anyone in
is responding to a desire to make visible that which is not, to offer the unknown
PURSUIT OF ART
PURSUING OUR STRATEGIC GOALS
This adaptive plan provides a strategic framework for Arts Ed NJ for five years, from July of 2024 to June of 2029. Given the time frame, the plan is designed to articulate Arts Ed NJ’s vision and goals while providing flexibility in the strategies used to achieve them. Strategies and tactics will be developed each year as part of the organization’s annual planning.
GOAL 1
Increase equity in arts education by addressing persistent gaps in access to and participation in high quality, culturally sustaining arts instruction.
OUTCOMES
• The significant gap in access to arts education at the 11% of schools that currently offer very little or no arts instruction will be reduced, particularly in those schools that serve historically under-resourced populations/communities such as district factor groups, physical and neurodiverse abilities, and multi-language learners.
• 100% of schools that are currently offering no arts instruction will offer instruction in at least two art forms.
• At least 75% of schools offering just one art form will offer instruction in at least two art forms.
• An increased number of students with access to and participating in sequential, highimpact instruction in at least three arts disciplines.
• Arts instruction will incorporate a wider range of culturally sustaining content that will engage more students.
ALL MEANS ALL
GOAL 2
Advance state policies and local advocacy that will support more public schools in meeting New Jersey’s requirements for arts education.
OUTCOMES
• Increased overall student participation in arts instruction from 76% to 89%.
• The adoption of new state policies that support high-impact arts education in public schools.
• Districts and schools dedicate more resources to expanding their arts education offerings.
• More state policy makers, school administrators, educators, and partner organizations will become advocates for the value of arts education in building better schools, a creative workforce, and a more democratic and creative New Jersey.
• Youth, families, and community members will be actively engaged in organizing and expanding arts education in their schools and communities.
LET’S DO MORE
GOAL 3
Strengthen the field’s capacity to provide high quality, equitable arts education.
OUTCOMES
• An increased number of schools and educators are making progress towards meeting the sector’s collective definition of a comprehensive high-impact Arts Education
• Increased mutually beneficial partnerships between schools, certified arts educators, nonprofit arts organizations, and teaching artists that support and supplement quality arts
Increased reach and participation in Arts Ed NJ professional learning offerings, in
GOAL 4
Strengthen Arts Ed NJ’s Infrastructure.
OUTCOMES
• The Collective will have active participation from a diverse range of groups that share a commitment to the future of arts education and a cohesive strategy to advance the field.
• Sustainable organizational revenue through a mix of increased support from current funders and new earned and contributed revenue.
• Arts Ed NJ will have adequate staff to support the achievement of the outlined goals.
• The Board’s composition will be representative of the diversity of our state and structured to advance the plan’s strategic priorities.
ARTS ED STRONG
