About the Montana Alliance for Arts Education
The Montana Alliance for Arts Education was established in 1979 as a statewide not-for-profit organization and a member of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network (KCAAEN). The original intent of the state alliances was to participate in the strengthening of the arts in education at all levels through arts education, advocacy, and talent showcase programs.
MAAE has collaborated with many state and regional arts and education organizations on a wide range of projects, events, advocacy, and education programs. Highlights include:
- Collaborate on Statewide Arts Education Summits
- Funded artists training for working with people with disabilities
- Funded awareness campaign on value of arts education
- MAAE on Office of Public Instruction Task Force to rewrite Montana Arts Education Standards
- Organize and sponsor arts awards programs for Montana
- Sponsor student participation in national arts, music, and drama institutes.
- Co-sponsored Rural Arts Round-up Conferences, Creative Writing/Drama
- Institute, Regional Arts Leadership Conference, Spring All-Arts Event,
- National Symphony Orchestra Residency, Arts Advocacy Week.
- MEA-MFT, the Montana organization affiliated with the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers, to provide professional development workshops for teachers
After significant funding changes in 2004, MAAE developed a single and significant role in providing quality professional development for Montana educators. The primary outcome of these workshops is to increase skills and knowledge of the arts among Montana's educators, enabling them to more effectively integrate the arts into other curriculum areas.