Refueled and Recharged: Stories from the National Art Education Association Conference
This spring, five of our museum educators packed their bags and headed to Louisville, Kentucky for the National Art Education Association (NAEA) conference. This annual event is a dynamic gathering of art educators, advocates, and innovators from across the country.
The NAEA’s mission champions creative growth and equitable access to high-quality visual arts, design, and media arts education. Our educators Margarita Sandino, Christine Ruby, and Christan Allen were provided a powerful platform to share new ideas, strategies, and celebrate the transformative impact of the arts.
Community Building - Education for all
Lacy Mitcham, Public Programs Coordinator, said she enjoyed discussions surrounding increasing life expectancy and the necessity of expanding adult programming.
“In a time of unprecedented polarization, disconnection, and loneliness, it is uplifting to see how much of a difference it makes in community building to have vibrant informal education opportunities, including, and maybe especially, for adults,” Mitcham said.
Staff learned tips, tricks, and tools from several other museums represented in the conference such as the Outsider Art Museum, The Kentucky Museum of Contemporary Art, 21C Museum and more! Outreach Programs Coordinator, Jorden Miernik Walker, said she attended over twenty sessions from community engagement and collaboration to the Feminist and Spiritual caucus groups.
“I was not an awardee or presenter, but I was the designated driver, loft sleeper, participant, moral support and comic relief,” Miernik Walker said.
“Without the support of the Dixons' value in the work we do in Art Education, this wouldn't have been possible. Nothing is more wonderful than knowing you are valued and the work you do has purpose.”
Leadership Recognition
Our educators attended sessions that strengthened their knowledge for art education in the museum space, and presented their work and networked with over 3,000 art educators.
The Dixon’s Director of Education Margarita Sandino and Youth Programs Coordinator Christine Ruby collaborated with professionals from the Metal Museum and Brooks Museum of Art to discuss their success with 2024’s Discovering Memphis initiative, a program from Memphis Shelby County Schools that allowed students to attend free field trips throughout the city.
Christan Allen, Assistant Director of Education for the Dixon, presented “Gigabyte Galleries” as part of NAEA’s Digital Playground. During this session she demonstrated how to use Google Arts and Culture to explore museum collections and how to use Canva to create a digital portfolio for student work.
Allen has spent the past 10 months working on a capstone project for leadership in art education and presented her work, “Leading through Connection: The Art of Community Building,” during two sessions at the convention.
Join us in congratulating Christan Allen, as she was recognized for her leadership in art education and presented with a national award for her work in the field. She was one of twenty-five art educators selected from across the United States as a 2024 School for Art Leaders participant!
Learn at the Dixon - Students at every age
From toddlers to teens, the Dixon has enriching educational experiences for every age between 2 and 18! Our education staff provides countless opportunities to learn, explore, and create; visit the event calendar here.
If you’re already a Dixon member, these classes are offered at a discount. Don’t miss out on the wide variety of educational classes and hands-on workshops designed to spark creativity and curiosity at every age. Become a Dixon member today!
