AEP was established in 1995 through a unique inter-agency agreement between the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Department of Education, an agreement that has continued unabated since that year. The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA)—the two preeminent national organizations representing state level education and the arts respectively—work in cooperation with the two federal agencies to administer the Partnership. Representatives of all four entities serve as members on AEP’s Governing Council.
The Council guides the vision and mission of the organization, and determines AEP’s strategic priorities. It also helps develop internal policies for AEP operations, garners community support for key AEP initiatives and promotes AEP as the nation’s “hub” for individuals and organizations committed to making high-quality arts education accessible to all U.S. students.
Governing Council members:
Edith Harvey
U.S. Department of Education
Director, Improvement Programs
Office of Innovation and Improvement
Doug Herbert
U.S. Department of Education
Special Assistant
Office of Innovation and Improvement
Ayanna Hudson
National Endowment for the Arts
Director of Arts Education
Jonathan Katz
National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
Chief Executive Officer
Patrice Walker-Powell
National Endowment for the Arts
Deputy Chairman for Programs and Partnerships
Gene Wilhoit
Council of Chief State School Officers
Executive Director