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ART & SOUL explores the human need to creatively connect, question, and create.
As artist educators, we tap into a soulful place when we seek inspiration and curiously navigate the beautifully tumultuous learning landscapes of 2026.
How do you express? Where do you connect? What can you share?
It is important to read the information below to insure that your proposal is complete and follows the guidelines to be reviewed.
IMPORTANT DATE:
Submission Deadline
June 19, 2026 at 11:59 pm ET
Notification of Acceptance
PAEA strives to notify members of the status of their submission as early as possible; you can expect notification by July 1, 2026. For inquiries, e-mail conferenceconsultant@paea.org.
The PAEA State Conference brings together teachers, district and state administrators, preservice students, college and university professors, art museum educators, teaching artists, and researchers to build community and generate new insights into issues, research, and practices affecting visual arts and design education.
Sessions proposed for review should encourage dialogue and debate on current and emerging issues and trends that contribute to advancing visual arts education. Proposals should be inclusive of diverse professional communities, respective of cultural identity, and provide a safe and supportive environment for all points of view. Successful proposals will put forth sessions that feature an interactive and participatory format encouraging discussion, reflection, and creative problem solving.
Individual Presentation Limit
Members may submit multiple presentation proposals for review. However, no member will be accepted for more than two presentations as lead presenter and no more than two presentations as co-presenter (excluding business meetings, divisional or regional functions, or a special presentation at the invitation of the PAEA Conference Consultant).
SESSION REVIEW
Before and after drafting your presentation proposal, look carefully at the criteria reviewers will use to evaluate your proposal. Proofread your proposal and be certain all parts are completed according to instructions before submitting.
Do not identify presenter or co-presenter names and/or institutions by name within your presentation title or description. Doing so compromises the blind review process.
WRITING YOUR PROPOSAL
Use the checklist below to collect the details needed to compile your presentation proposal before submitting it online. Carefully consider the components that will be used by peer reviewers to assess your presentation. Additionally, pay close attention to the tips following the checklist. Please Note: All sections must be completed as instructed to ensure that your presentation is reviewed.
A current (renewed) NAEA/PAEA membership number is REQUIRED for the lead presenter on each proposal.
Title (15 word limit)
Brief Program Description (50 word limit)
This version of your presentation description is what will be seen by Convention participants in the printed program, the website, and mobile app. It will influence the attendance of your session.
Presentation Description (500 word limit for sections 3a-d combined):
a. Statement of Purpose and Outcomes
State the purpose of the presentation and the anticipated outcomes. The purpose will communicate the intention or goals, and the anticipated outcomes will give details of what those attending can expect from the presentation.
b. Organization of Content
Describe the content to be presented in a well-organized manner with a clear outline of the presentation. Include descriptive examples that provide supporting evidence such as, but not limited to, lesson or unit designs, narratives, exhibits or community events, etc. for the subject matter being presented—this will vary for the different presentation formats.
c. Relevance of Topic
Include details about how the topic is relevant and makes a timely contribution to visual arts education issues and trends in the Division, Interest Group, or Area of Focus selected.
d. Impact on Practice
Indicate how the presentation promotes best practice and provides an enriching professional development opportunity for attendees.
e. Cultural Appropriation
Ensure that any / all references to cultural origins, images, and their implied meanings are used to inform societal practices and uses that avoid misinformation and perpetuating stereotypes.
CHOOSE A SESSION FORMAT
Select ONE of the formats in this category:
Art/Ed Talk: Discussion of exemplary lessons, instructional practices, programs, and/or presentation of a professional paper about questions and findings from timely research studies followed by Q & A. Time: 25 or 50 minutes.
Panel Presentation: Explores a core idea in art education. Two to five panelists present their research, followed by small group discussions and moderated summary. Time: 80 Minutes
Hands-on Studio: Workshop-style presentation of a technique or method that engages participants with the materials/processes being presented. If accepted, presenters will be reimbursed for materials up to $75. Time: 110 minutes.
Research Poster & Social Session: The PAEA Higher Education Division invites anyone engaging in research to submit a poster (24” x 36”) highlighting key findings and information about your work. The posters will be displayed in the Members Mart area throughout the conference, and a 50 minutes Research Social will be held where conference attendees are invited to engage with the researchers informally about their work. If you are a professor, please share this call widely with graduate students!
Proposal Review Process
All proposals submitted for sessions are peer-reviewed and evaluated by members of the Proposal Review Committee. All proposals will be reviewed using a blind review process. In an effort to ensure state conference sessions are not repeated from year to year, the PAEA proposal review committee reserves the right to decline proposals that are a repeat of a session previously presented at a PAEA conference in the last five years. Notification of proposal acceptance/rejection will be sent via email by July 1, 2026. Please find below the scoring rubric used by the review committee and the points awarded for each:
Scoring Criteria: Click here for full rubric
Statement of Purpose and Outcomes: Is the purpose clearly stated and are the anticipated outcomes well-defined?
Organization of Content: Is the topic well-organized with a clear outline of the content to be presented using examples as supporting evidence such as lesson or unit designs, narratives, exhibits, or community events, etc. for the subject matter being presented?
Relevance of Topic: Does the topic make a relevant and timely contribution to issues and trends in visual arts education in the Division, Interest Group, or Area of Focus selected?
Impact on Practice: Does the proposal promote best practices and provide enriching opportunities for professional development?
Cultural Appropriation: How does the proposal promote best practices that guard against cultural appropriation by demonstrating an insightful, competent, and respectful approach to art education content?
ALL PRESENTERS MUST REGISTER TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE BY September 11, 2026.
If you have questions, contact Dana Attivo, PAEA Conference Consultant, at conferenceconsultant@paea.org.
Last day to submit proposals is Friday, June 19, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
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