The Alaska Arts Education Consortium (AAEC) Champions of Arts in Education Award formally recognizes and honors Alaskan individuals or organizations who “champion” the arts in education. These Champions carry the torch for arts education through high-caliber instruction, arts support, and ongoing arts promotion.
NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN for the 2024-2025 school year!
Categories
AAEC has designated four categories of Champions of Arts in Education, including:
- Arts Leader–a school or community leader who champions arts education through policy, community engagement, organizing and providing for quality arts education for children and youth in Alaska.
- Arts Educator–a teacher working directly with children and youth, classroom teachers, arts specialists, teaching artists, cultural specialists, peer educators in Alaska who exemplify the impact arts education can have on children and youth.
- Arts Advocate–a school or community advocate, supporting educators and students to access arts education opportunities, and speaking out about the impact of arts education on children and youth in Alaska.
- Arts Student–a 6th-12th grade student of any art form who strives for excellence in their emerging work, and who seeks the opportunity to increase their knowledge and skill, as well as opportunities for his or her peers in Alaska.
Criteria
Each nomination application will be examined through the lens of the following criteria:
- The application highlights the nominee’s positive impact on the lives of children and youth in and through the arts as a teacher, mentor, student, role model, and/or advocate.
- The application describes the nominee’s personal dedication to creating meaning in his/her/their own practice in and/or through the arts.
- The application highlights the nominee’s dedication, over time, to promote high quality learning in and through the arts for Alaska students of all backgrounds.
- The application describes at least one specific account of how and why the nominator believes his or her nominee should be recognized as a “Champion of the Arts in Education” in the Arts Educator, Arts Leadership, Arts Advocate or Arts Student category.
- Champions will be announced on March 31, 2025, at the annual “Alaska’s Heart Through Student Art” Exhibit, co-sponsored by Alaska Arts Education Consortium and Alaska Council of School Administrators.
- The Student Champion will have a spotlight showcase for art at the Exhibit. They will receive a $500 scholarship.
- The Arts Educator Champion will receive a choice of one complimentary registration at an AAEC Summer Institute of their choice in either 2025 or 2026 or a $500 gift card for classroom art supplies.
You may contact the Alaska Arts Education Consortium Interim Executive Director Angie Chervenak at aaec.ied@gmail.com with any questions, or for technical assistance.