Have you seen the data dashboard for that publishes student fine arts enrollment data for your school? Quadrant Research, sponsor of the National Arts Education Data Project has partnered with MAAE, DESE, and MAC to bring this powerful Missouri-specific-data tool to you! View enrollment data (collected from local school districts as part of their reports to DESE) by arts discipline, by county, district, or school level and examine trends over time.  Identify areas of abundance and opportunities for growth. 

Access this dashboard through the direct link. You can also find access on the MAAE website and on the DESE Fine Arts webpage.

We'd love to hear your stories about how you are using the data. Whether it is for grant proposals, reports, research, or to make the case with your administrators for programming changes, let us know. We are collecting stories and testimonials that will help us ensure that we can maintain the funding required for Missouri's continued participation. Please share those stories at fineartsdata@dese.mo.gov and cc: director@moaae.org.  If you see any errors in the data displayed, we need to know that too! Please reach out at any time.

Missouri Fine Arts Academy (MFAA) is now accepting applications from freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior high school students for 2026. MFAA is tuition-free thanks to the continuous support of the State of Missouri and private donations. A committee of artists and arts educators will evaluate all  materials to select the qualified participants. Roughly 130 students only will be accepted for the 2026 Academy. 

MFAA 2026 gives students a great opportunity to establish themselves as a young artist through many interdisciplinary, discipline-specific, and elective courses. Open-ended exploration motivated by passion and creativity is what art is all about at MFAA. 

Students, get engaged in amazing workshops offered by professional artists. Join us to form a strong bond between you and other young artists who are eager to take meaningful challenges to improve their skills and knowledge in the arts. Take part in creating a universal language to express your ideas and emotions through visual arts, music, theatre, creative writing, and dance. Take full advantage of attending performances in the evenings by acclaimed artists, writers, performers, and musicians to enrich your experience at MFAA. It is no secret that many great artists take cues from their own lives, experiences, and inner thoughts to reach out to a world-wide audience. So, EXPRESS yourself. And always remember: You are the inspiration.

In conjunction with its 150 th Anniversary, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District is excited to provide a venue for students within the Eastern District to express their view of “What do courts mean?” through artistic expression. Entry in the competition is free and open to all students in grades 1-12, including public, private and home-schooled, within the territorial jurisdiction of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District.

Artwork will be judged based on the following criteria: originality, design, technique, content, and appeal to the theme of “What do courts mean?”.

View full details and entry form here.

Entry and Deadline

Each entry must include a completed and signed Student Entry and Release Form, along with the original artwork. NOTE: Teachers may contact us for a bulk-submit option for classes.

Entry must be postmarked or hand-delivered no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2026, to:

Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District
Attn: 150 th Anniversary Art Contest
815 Olive, Suite 304
St. Louis, Missouri 63101

Please read the guidelines completely. All guidelines must be followed or entry will be disqualified.

Guidelines

• All entrants must be students in grades 1-12 within the territorial jurisdiction of the Missouri

Court of Appeals, Eastern District for school year 2025-26, spring semester. To see the geographic boundaries of the Eastern District, visit: https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=151

• No entries will be accepted from employees, employees’ spouses, or relatives of an employee or an employee’s spouse by second-degree consanguinity.

• All artwork must relate to the theme of “What do courts mean?” and must be original.

• Only the following mediums will be accepted: painting (oil, watercolor, etc.), drawing (pencil, ink, pastels, charcoal, etc.), prints (block prints, silkscreen, etc.), mixed media (must use more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.), and/or collage (two-dimensional only).

• Artwork must be no larger than 16” x 20” and no smaller than 8” x 10”and can be any shape so long as maximum dimensions are not exceeded. Layout may be horizontal or vertical. No frame is necessary.

• No three-dimensional entries will be accepted. Entries must be flat and on paper, thin canvas, or similar.

• No photography or computer-generated entries will be accepted.

• Only one entry per student is allowed.

• Student should sign or initial entry in lower right corner.

• Students should enter only original artwork. Plagiarism is not acceptable, including work copied from photograph, painting, graphic, etc., created by someone other than the student. Students should visit the Scholastic website: https://www.artandwriting.org/awards/how-to-enter/copyright-plagiarism/

Student Information and Release

All students must submit a Student Entry and Release Form (p.3-4 of this document). Page 4 contains a legal release and certification that the artwork is original in design and execution. The student, a teacher, and a parent or guardian must sign where appropriate. Entries without signed originality certifications and artwork releases may not be accepted.

Both pages of the Student Entry and Release Form must be securely attached to the back of the artwork to certify the originality of the piece. Please retain a copy for your records.

Awards

The art will be blind judged by judges of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District.

Entries will be divided into groups by grade:

- 1 st and 2 nd grades = Lower Elementary

- 3 rd, 4 th, and 5 th grades = Upper Elementary

- 6 th, 7 th, and 8 th grades = Middle School

- 9 th, 10 th, 11 th, and 12 th grades = High School

Three winners will be selected for each group. Winners will be notified during the week of March 30, 2026.

Each group will receive three awards:
First Place: $75
Second Place: $50
Third Place: $25

All winners will also receive a certificate. The first-place winner in each group will be displayed in the Old Post Office at the location of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District during the ceremony celebrating the 150 th Anniversary and up to one year thereafter. Each winner will be invited to the ceremony and their accomplishments recognized by the Court during the ceremony.

NOTE: All winning and non-winning entries become the property of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District and will not be returned except upon special request.

Direct questions to: Joy Hannel, Court Administrator at 314-539-4300 Joy.Hannel@courts.mo.gov

View full details and entry form here.

MoDOT sponsors the No MOre Trash! Trash-Can-Decorating Contest as part of Missouri's "No MOre Trash!" campaign to raise awareness and discourage littering. The contest encourages Missouri students to join the fight against litter by decorating and displaying a large trash can with the "No MOre Trash!" logo and a litter prevention message using a variety of creative mediums.

The 2026 contest is open! There is no entry fee for the contest. Entries can be submitted using the form below. Submissions are due March 13, 2026.

The Rules

• Decorate a 30-gallon (or larger) trash can to be located in a prominent area of the school or community (cafeteria, gymnasium, ball field, library, church, park, etc.).

• Each design must include the No MOre Trash! logo and a litter-prevention slogan. Download a black-and-white or two-color No MOre Trash! logo below.

• Artistic media choices can include, but are not limited to: paint, fabric, glitter, crayon, wax, paper, photos, etc. Use of recycled materials is encouraged but not required.

• No entry fee is required. Only entries submitted by Missouri schools, including home schools, will be accepted. Schools may submit one entry in each category: grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12.

• Schools must submit a release form for MoDOT use of their photo(s) in the event that the school is one of the winners. Download the release form below.

• Entries must consist of the completed entry form below, up to three photographs of the decorated trash can (photos must be in-focus, provide clear images of the project, and one should include participants) and the signed release form. Participants may also submit a video of the project, but it is not required.

The Prizes

• The school submitting the grand prize entry will receive $600 and a trophy.

• $200 will be awarded to one entry in each competition category.

• The grand prize winner will have their trash can displayed at the MoDOT building on the State Fairgrounds during the State Fair in August, with permission of the winning school.

• Please note: winning schools must be registered as vendors with the State to receive payment.

View full details here.

Seed Your Future  Nationwide Art Contest for High School Students!

2025/2026 THEME: Flourished: The Future of Careers in Plants!

View full details here.

Seed Your Future invites high school students across the nation to participate in our  Second Annual art contest. What if the key to a brighter, more sustainable future is  rooted in the careers that connect people and plants? 

Flourished invites student artists to explore the powerful connection between  horticulture careers and the future health of our world. From plant scientists combating  climate change to landscape designers building spaces that nurture mental wellness,  careers in horticulture are transforming how we live, grow, and heal. Through your  artwork, show how the people who work with plants today are shaping a more  sustainable and hopeful tomorrow.  

Winning submissions will be showcased at the 2026 Seed to STEM Cultivators Dinner  and through all social platforms. Art is how we see possibility before it exists. It invites  imagination, emotion, and vision, which are the very same qualities needed to shape  the future of our planet through horticulture. 

CONTEST CATEGORIES:  

• Paintings: Includes oil, acrylics, and watercolor. 

• Drawings: Includes pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers.  (Note: Charcoal and pastel works must be fixed to prevent smudging.) 

• Mixed Media: Use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor,  etc.  

PRIZES AND RECOGNITION:  

• Overall Winner- $500 Visa Gift Card. **Student’s art teacher will also receive a  $250 Amazon gift card for classroom art supplies.  

• Second Place Honorable Mention- $300 Visa Gift Card  

• Third Place Honorable Mention- $150 Visa Gift Card 
***All submitted artwork will be spotlighted on Seed Your Future social media platforms.***  

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:  

(1) Artwork: Must align with the theme: "Flourished: The Future of Careers in Plants." (2) Include a title and a description (maximum 200 words) explaining the piece’s  inspiration and connection to the theme. 

(3) Provide a high-resolution photo of the completed work (minimum 300 dpi). (4) Include artwork dimensions (height x width x depth, if applicable). (5) Photos of Creation Process: Student must submit three photos showing the student  actively working on the piece. Acceptable file formats: .jpeg or .png for photos of the  artwork and creation process. 

(6) Artwork must be the creation a single student. Students may not collaborate on an  entry. 

(7) A TYPED copy of the Student Information and Release Form, signed by the teacher,  a parent or guardian, and the student, must be submitted with the Hi-Res photo of the  completed artwork to certify the originality of the piece. Please retain a copy for your  records. 

(8) All entries must be submitted here by Friday, March 6, 2026.  

IMPORTANT CONTEST DATES:  

• November 21- Student artwork entry portal opens 

• March 6- Student artwork entry DEADLINE 

• March 27- Student Winners Announced  

• June 14- Cultivators Dinner, Pennsylvania 

SHIPPING:  

Finalists may be asked to ship their physical work to Seed Your Future for display.  Shipping costs will be covered by Seed Your Future. Details will be provided to  selected participants. 

MORE ABOUT THE THEME:  

The horticulture industry is enormous and deeply interconnected with science,  business, art, and technology. While there isn’t one exact number (because horticulture  touches so many sectors), industry sources like Seed Your Future, the U.S. Department  of Labor, and the American Society for Horticultural Science estimate that there are  more than 140 distinct careers within horticulture — and thousands of specialized roles  within those. Through those roles, horticulture is at the heart of finding solutions to  global challenges—advancing sustainability, improving food security, protecting  ecosystems, and supporting human health and well-being!

View full details here.

Hello Missouri Educators,

I’m reaching out to share an exciting opportunity for your school: America’s Field Trip: Virtual Artist Residencies with Focus 5, made possible by Crystal Bridges celebrating America’s 250th anniversary through the arts. These residencies are FREE/NO COST for schools and bring high-quality, arts-integrated learning directly to your classroom—virtually.

To learn more about these Free Virtual Artist Residencies please go to: https://tinyurl.com/CrystalBridgesResidencies.

Taking place January - December 2026

While you are there, be sure to check out my virtual residency: Warhol’s Wild Adaptations (Grade 3- 5).

In this three-day high-engagement residency, students investigate how Warhol adapted and abstracted images in his animal series—and ask: How do animals adapt to survive, and how can we abstract that idea into movement? Studying the two strategies of adaptation and abstraction, they create original movement phrases that embody real animal adaptations. The result is pop-art thinking meets life-science insight—students don’t tell you what an adaptation or abstraction is; they show you.

Participation requires a minimum of 4 classes to take part. If you don’t have 4 classes, we can pair you with another school.

If you’d like to secure a spot, you can register here:

• Register: https://tinyurl.com/WarholAdapt 

You can also learn more about Focus 5 arts integration at www.Focus5ArtsIntegration.com

If you have questions I’m happy to help.
- Harlan Brownlee

Contact Harlan via email here.

It’s almost spring! Have you dreamed about next year’s arts happenings yet? Let’s plant some seeds----

All schools: plan a field trip to a museum, performance, or art activity with your students – MAC funds can pay up to $500 for transportation [Big Yellow School

Bus]. OR bring a performance to the kids with our School Touring grant of up to $1500. 

Looking for deeper exploration of a unit of arts learning or integration of the arts with another subject? Contact me about our express arts education grants. These offer up to $4,000 to support a guest teaching artist and supplies related to the project.

High schools are encouraged to add Poetry Out Loud to their competition activities. POL, as we call it, is a dynamic recitation contest that starts in the classroom and moves all the way to the national level, where $50,000 in prize money is awarded each year.

Call or email me anytime.

(314)340-6857

jenni.ryan@ltgov.mo.gov

Jenni Ryan
Arts Education Program Specialist

• Arts Education | Community Music School of Webster University, St. Louis
  One of the premier music schools in the country, the Community Music School of Webster University has enriched the St. Louis community for an entire century. Every year the school serves about 1,200 students across all skill levels, from young children to adults. The programs include individual lessons, group classes, two full orchestras, small ensembles, chamber music programs, summer camps, the Young Composers Competition and more. The school further amplifies its impact on the people of the St. Louis region through awarding scholarships, partnering with public and private school systems, and performing free public concerts and performances in nursing homes, community centers, and cultural institutions. The school makes the transformative power of comprehensive music education accessible to all.
  •  Community Music School of Webster University

• Arts Organization | City in Motion Dance Theater, Inc., Kansas City
  Founded in 1985, City in Motion Dance Theater, Inc. is Kansas City’s longest running contemporary dance company. Co-directed by Ann Shaughnessy and Bobbi Foudree, City in Motion encompasses a professional company, school for youth and adults, Children’s Dance Theater, Apprentice Company, Young Choreographers Workshop, and outreach. Performances range from the annual Modern Night showcasing local choreographers to the free Dance in the Park festival every fall. City in Motion partners with social service agencies to provide free classes to high-risk people such as survivors of domestic violence and students who are visually impaired. The company’s mission is “to create dance opportunities for everyBODY in Kansas City” via eclectic, family-oriented contemporary dance.
  •  City in Motion Dance Theater, Inc.

• Creative Community | City of West Plains
  The arts are crucial to the identity and growth of the City of West Plains, the commercial and cultural hub of south central Missouri. From First Thursday Downtown Strolls to the venerable Ozark Heritage Festival, the city plays host to concerts, exhibits, craft shows, theater productions, and much more. These special events along with many permanent creative businesses make for a vibrant location for residents and a year-round destination for tourists. Close collaboration among city government, West Plains Downtown Revitalization, West Plains Council on the Arts, Missouri State University–West Plains, civic and service organizations, the business community, and innumerable private citizens ensures that the arts are not only celebrated, but embedded in the long-term strategy for community vitality.
  •  City of West Plain s
  
  

• Individual Artist | Ray Harvey, New Haven
  Ray Harvey has brought grand-scale art to small-town Main Streets since 1990. He has painted over 600 indoor and outdoor murals, turning blank walls into vivid stories of local history, work, and heritage. Working with city leaders, nonprofits, and businesses, he creates images that communities recognize as their own. Where galleries are scarce, his murals serve as free open-air museums, energizing downtowns, drawing visitors, and strengthening civic pride. His impact is especially strong in Hannibal, where he has painted 26 murals, earning him the Key to the City, and in Concordia, where eight major outdoor works helped the city receive Missouri’s official “Patriotic Mural City” designation from the State legislature in 2025. His legacy is not only the paintings but the pride and momentum they spark—one wall at a time.
  • Ray Harvey Art

• Leadership in the Arts | Erin Warner Prange, St. Louis
  As executive director of Saint Louis Dance Theatre since 2012, Erin Warner Prange has grown this contemporary dance company from a modest local ensemble with one performance a year to a $1.2 million operation that is a statewide cultural force. Every year the company produces 15 main stage productions, including three pay-as-you-can community concerts. Education ranges from drop-in classes to nationally recognized training for pre-professionals. Ms. Prange has woven accessibility into the company’s core mission. Among the many programs she has implemented are the Champions for Community Initiative for underserved young people, Senior Embrace for retirement homes, and a robust touring schedule throughout Missouri. Arts partnerships beyond traditional boundaries extend Saint Louis Dance Theatre’s impact even more.
  • Saint Louis Dance Theatre

• Philanthropy | David and Thelma Steward, St. Louis
  David and Thelma Steward’s commitment to improving lives and transforming communities spans more than four decades. They have paired deep personal involvement of both time and talent with millions of dollars in philanthropic giving. They support a broad spectrum of artistic expression, from music and dance to cinema and literature. Through the Steward Family Foundation, established in 2013, they also champion initiatives in education, health, human services, and animal welfare. The Stewards are indispensable supporters of many arts organizations and initiatives, including Jazz St. Louis, Confluence Music Festival, The Muny, The Black Rep, The Sheldon, The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Center of Creative Arts (COCA), Nine PBS, Saint Louis Ballet, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Blues at the Arch, and Music at the Intersection Festival and Conference.
  •  Steward Family Foundation
  
  

Every year, the honorees are commemorated on a poster featuring work by a Missouri artist, and are presented with awards created in glass by a Missouri artist.

• Signature Image Artist | Notley Hawkins, Columbia
  Born and raised in Columbia, Notley Hawkins has lived in Missouri his whole life. His three-decade career is highlighted by critically acclaimed exhibitions, permanent collections, and distinguished commercial services, using his artistry to document and elevate the Missouri landscape and built environment. He has blended his classical artistic education with technical photographic mastery, becoming a leading voice in Missouri’s visual arts scene. He is especially celebrated for his control of light and composition and his regionalist vision that reveals emotional depth in common scenes of American life.
  • Notley Hawkins Photography

• Awards Artwork Artist | Jon Biscan, St. Louis
  Jon Biscan has been working at Third Degree Glass in St. Louis for over 20 years. His initial fascination with the medium led him to several years of honing his talent, combining modern and traditional techniques with his tenacity and determination to become a professional glassblower. His creations include custom commissioned sculptures, intricate handblown vessels, seasonal decor items, and unique barware. His art is inspired by the beauty of daily life, whether found in patterns from nature or in the emotional connections between people.
  •  Jon Biscan Hand Blown Glass

Get inspired by the arts that innovate and create in Missouri

Saturday, March 28 | 10 AM – 3 PM | Missouri Theatre | Columbia

#CreativeMissouri2026

Creative Missouri will feature compelling presenters, performers, and networking in one fast-paced, highly entertaining day!

Join hundreds of artists, arts organizations, creative economy sector businesses and professionals, creatives and makers, anyone interested in the arts and ideas.

Register to attend
Go here to get your tickets! They’re only $19.65 per person (in homage to the year we started!). And for students, educators, people aged 65+, and veterans, tickets are just $9.

Who Should Attend
Artists, arts organizations, creative economy professionals, makers, creatives, arts administrators, arts lovers, and innovators of any kind, this is your event!  

Learn more here.

Why you'll love Creative Missouri

If you are an artist, innovator, or someone who simply lives and breathes the arts, our Creative Missouri convening is the place to be on March 28! Hosted at the historic Missouri Theatre in Columbia, this one-day event is designed to spark new ideas and connect our state’s most vibrant creative minds. 

Registration is remarkably affordable. General tickets are just $19.65 (like the year the Missouri Arts Council started), and $9 for students, teachers, veterans, and people ages 65+.

Here are 6 reasons why you should attend!

1. A High-Energy, Fast-Paced Format  Forget dry hour-long lectures! Creative Missouri uses a dynamic format where compelling speakers are interspersed with live performances. This fast-paced approach allows you to experience a wealth of ideas, artistic styles, and innovative concepts in just five hours (10 a.m.–3 p.m., with a freeform networking session following until 4 p.m.).

2. Nine Dives Into Art and Innovation  Our lineup tackles the cutting edge of creativity. You will see firsthand how Missourians are pushing boundaries, and you’ll walk away with the creative fuel to launch your own ideas. You’ll hear from these experts:

– Camry Ivory, inventor of the Coloratura® electronic paintbrushes that combine music with visual art—which you can try yourself!

– Keli Campbell, sourcing recycled materials for artists to create with.

– Tom Ridgely, using Shakespeare to tell a community's stories

– Kaitlyn McConnell, looking to the Ozarks’ past and present to help us understand the future

– Ed Reggi, a master of the art of improv

– Ami Ayars, envisioning communities brought to life through murals

– Andrew Rola, presenting art overlaid with augmented reality.

– Andrea Sporcic Klund, helping filmmakers show Missouri to the world

– Burton Kelso, a tech entrepreneur exploring whether AI will "kill our ability to imagine"

3. Three Performances That Push the Imagination 

– Malena Smith, genre-blending music and storytelling

– Danielle Ate the Sandwich, ukulele songs with warmth and wit

– Compass Choir, a rousing finale that will bring you to your feet

4. Unrivaled Networking With Cultural Champions  Creative Missouri isn't just for spectators! It’s an interactive gathering of artists, makers, arts administrators, and creative economy professionals. Whether you are looking for collaborators for your next project or want to meet the leaders of Missouri’s arts organizations, our built-in networking sessions provide the perfect stage to grow your professional circle.

5. Direct Access to Funders  Navigating the world of grants can be daunting. Creative Missouri features a Funding Focus where you can get one-on-one time with three statewide funders. This is a rare opportunity to learn exactly what Missouri’s major cultural funders are looking for in project proposals.

6. You’ve Got Questions—We’ve Got Experts  Need advice on law, community development, arts funding, filmmaking, arts and health, accessibility, arts education, or arts councils? Just ask.

• Begin making plans and put on your calendar to come to the State Capitol during Fine Arts Education week in April! Check out the schedule in this MAAE newsletter!

• Let me know when you’re here in JC so I can also take you on a tour of the DESE art exhibit in the Jefferson building. They are now in a new gallery space in the recently renovated DESE State Board Room and hallways. Please email me to schedule a time for this guided tour with me. The art highlights students from 2 different districts every couple months from all areas of the state.

• I’ve had the privilege of meeting with so many teachers the last several weeks at the state MMEA conference and in leading professional development for teachers in Webb City, Columbia, Houston, and the northwest regional center. We have amazing arts teachers who love their jobs and students! Share a thank you to your local art, music, and theater teachers in the schools!

• Reminder that your voice is important and necessary for the funding of the arts and support from the State. Please contact your local reps Senator Missouri Senate | Missouri Senate and share with them the value and importance of the arts. Share a personal connection, or your children’s. Inform them of the power of the arts in student learning. The arts have students experiencing higher-level tier thinking and preparing them with the skills necessary to be career-ready. If we want our children to be successful in their future careers and families, then we need to fully support the arts. If we desire our State to stand out as a leader in innovation and abilities to problem-solve, then we need to fully fund the arts.

-Kendra Franks

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is now accepting nominations for Regional Teacher of the Year, the first step for an educator to become next year’s Missouri State Teacher of the Year.

Nominations can be made through the online Teacher of the Year nomination form here.

Visit DESE’s Virtual Art Gallery here, which features creations this month from Green Ridge Elementary and Halls Ferry Elementary

 of Webster Groves School District. For more information about how your school can participate in the art exhibit, please contact Dr. Kendra Franks, DESE’s Fine Arts Curriculum Director at Kendra.Franks@dese.mo.gov.

Artwork is on display in the Jefferson Building 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on Monday-Friday (except for state holidays). Please contact Kendra Franks, Arts Education Director before visiting.

Started in 2004, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has invited public schools throughout Missouri to submit samples of their students' artwork. The art is displayed in the Department's main office in Jefferson City and in the room where the State Board of Education holds its regular monthly meetings. Artwork from each featured school is showcased for a month. The same artwork is now featured here. For privacy reasons, the full names of the student artists will not be published here.

Schools that will be featured in the Virtual Art Gallery are already scheduled for several months in advance. Please do not submit unsolicited artwork. For more information, contact:

Kendra Franks, Ph.D.
Director of Fine Arts Education
573-751-9610
Kendra.Franks@dese.mo.gov

Image Credit: Evie, Troy Buchanan High School

Learn more and register here.

This just in! MAEA Spring Conference 2026 will be in Cape Girardeau, MO for the first time! Mark your calendars for March 26th-28th, 2026. We are currently collecting team

2026 MAEA Conference Request For Presentation Proposals

Vendor workshops proposals will be accepted at any time.

Here are some suggestions from our members:

Pre-K to 2nd grade lessons / Collage & Mixed Media / Cross-Curricular Connections / Paper Mache / Ceramics / TAB / Found Art / Photography / Drawing / Motivation / Mental Health/ Artist Skills / Printmaking / Fiber Arts / Raku / Budget Projects / Book Binding / Artist Talks / Comic Books / Nature Art / Wire Sculpture / Batik Dying / Classroom Organization

Submit here

Save the Date: Fall Conference 2026 at Knob Noster State Park: Oct 2nd-3rd 2026! 

Attn: MAEA Members!

Check out MAEA's upcoming book for book club.

Dates to TBA announced soon. Cassie Stephens is a confirmed keynote speaker at our upcoming Spring Conference 2026. In the meantime, you can purchase your copy today. 

https://cassiestephens.com/products/presale-art-teacherin-101-the-book

The book includes different tips and tricks for your art teacher journey. It includes sections like rules. Routines, consequences, your art teacher journey, art room management, kindergarten, and a day in the life.

268 pages, Paperback Published January 1, 2021

Also sign up for the mailing list to receive all updates on the book club here.

The 6th edition of the MAEA Show Me Art Student Coloring Book is available. Missouri visual art students design a coloring book theme based around a theme. This coloring book is based on Missouri Celebrations and Festivals, featuring 89 art students' drawings from across Missouri in a 185 page coloring book. Each book is $13.99 and 100% of the profits go towards the MAEA Future Art Educator Scholarship Fund, which encourages high school art students to pursue art education as a career. Order your coloring book today on Amazon at https://a.co/d/04P6eSSA.

Next year's 7th edition Coloring Book Contest is now open with a theme of Exploring Missouri State Parks. For more information about the scholarship or the contest, please visit https://www.maea.net/programs-and-events/Contest

A variety of open positions across Missouri

Perennial Arts seeks new executive director.
Stray Dog Theater is hiring a maintenance technician.
Opera Theater STL hiring accounting clerk.
Center for Creative Arts has a controller position open.
These and many more nonprofit jobs await on The Rome Group job board.