Advocacy at MAAE is rooted in education, collaboration, and student experience. Through the Arts are Basic Coalition, we bring together educators, students, teaching artists, and community partners to share how arts education strengthens learning environments and supports student success. Our advocacy efforts focus on raising awareness, informing decision-makers, and amplifying authentic voices from classrooms across the state of Maine. Advocacy is not about partisanship — it is about ensuring that the arts are understood as fundamental to a well-rounded education.
Advocacy – the Heart of Arts Education
The Maine Alliance for Arts Education works to ensure that the arts remain visible, valued, and supported in schools and communities across the state. Through collaboration with educators, students, teaching artists, and partner organizations, we elevate the voices of those most impacted by arts education and help inform decisions that shape learning opportunities for all Maine students. A key part of this work is MAAE’s leadership of the Arts Are Basic Coalition (ABC), a statewide advocacy partnership that brings together representatives from Maine’s professional teachers’ associations in art, music, theater, and dance to advocate for arts education.
Advocacy – the Heart of Arts Education
The Maine Alliance for Arts Education works to ensure that the arts remain visible, valued, and supported in schools and communities across the state. Through collaboration with educators, students, teaching artists, and partner organizations, we elevate the voices of those most impacted by arts education and help inform decisions that shape learning opportunities for all Maine students. A key part of this work is MAAE’s leadership of the Arts Are Basic Coalition (ABC), a statewide advocacy partnership that brings together representatives from Maine’s professional teachers’ associations in art, music, theater, and dance to advocate for arts education.
ABC’s mission is to advocate with a strong, unified voice for the visual and performing arts for all students in Maine. The coalition was formed in the summer of 2000, when the Maine Arts Commission and the Maine Alliance for Arts Education convened a broad group of arts education organizations and supporters to explore collaborative strategies in support of the shared goal of arts every day for every child. That convening led to the creation of the Arts Are Basic Coalition.
Youth Art Month & Advocacy Day
Each spring, during Youth Art Month, MAAE helps coordinate advocacy efforts that celebrate student creativity and highlight the impact of arts education across Maine. A centerpiece of this work is Advocacy Day at the Maine State House, where students and educators share artwork, performances, and personal stories with legislators and community leaders.
These events provide students with meaningful opportunities to:
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- Share their creative work publicly
- Practice civic engagement
- Speak about the role of the arts in their education
- Connect learning to real-world contexts
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Student Voice & Leadership
At the heart of MAAE’s advocacy work is student voice. By creating platforms for students to speak about their experiences, MAAE helps ensure that advocacy efforts reflect real learning environments and real outcomes. Students are encouraged to share how arts education supports their confidence, creativity, and connection to school. Student participation helps policymakers and community members better understand the value of arts education through authentic, lived experiences.
Advocacy in Action
Below are highlights from the Arts Education Advocacy Month — a virtual gathering organized by the Maine Alliance for Arts Education in collaboration with the Arts Are Basic (ABC) Coalition. These videos feature Maine students sharing their advocacy experiences, state leadership affirming the importance of arts in education, and conversations with education and arts partners working together to strengthen access to the arts for all learners.
Together, they offer a powerful look at how advocacy, creativity, and community come together to support arts education statewide.
Student Advocacy Month
Lilliana Cortez, Belfast Area High School National Art Honor Society.
In 2024, students, educators, community members and decision makers participated in Arts Education Advocacy Day at the State House in Augusta, Maine. The Belfast Area High School students spoke about the value and importance of the arts and arts education.
“In a world that often rushes by, consumed by technology and daily routines, it’s easy to forget the profound impact of art. But we must take a moment to acknowledge its importance in shaping our lives and communities.
Art isn’t just about entertainment or decoration; it’s a way to speak to the soul. It’s a language that goes beyond words, connecting us deeper.
And with this, It brings me immense joy to witness the encouragement given to our young artists to immerse themselves in the world of art and to express themselves fully, particularly during this special month.
Art has a unique power to transcend boundaries, to evoke emotions, and to spark conversations. It serves as a vessel through which our youth can explore their innermost thoughts, dreams, and aspirations. And here in Maine, we are fortunate to see our young minds embracing this opportunity with enthusiasm and passion.
This month, as we highlight the importance of art in our communities, we also recognize the invaluable role it plays in shaping the identity of our youth. Through various forms of artistic expression – whether it be painting, drawing, photography, music, or dance – our young artists can find their voice, tell their stories, and connect with others in meaningful ways.
But beyond the canvas or the stage, engaging in art fosters a sense of belonging and empowerment. It cultivates confidence, resilience, and empathy, nurturing individuals who are not only skilled in their craft but also compassionate towards others and the world around them.
In this special month, I’m among many other young individuals who feel empowered by art. When we create and we express ourselves, our voices reach far beyond just words, art is a global language, a language anyone can speak.
In Maine, the land of rugged coastlines and breathtaking landscapes, let us continue to cultivate a culture where the arts thrive and the youth is free to be creative.
Thank you for letting us be creative. Thank you for letting us be seen.”
“Art has a unique power to transcend boundaries, to evoke emotions, and to spark conversations. It serves as a vessel through which our youth can explore their innermost thoughts, dreams, and aspirations. And here in Maine, we are fortunate to see our young minds embracing this opportunity with enthusiasm and passion.”
2021 Arts Education Advocacy Day
Governor Janet T. Mills Arts Ed Advocacy Message
Remarks from Governor Janet T. Mills affirming the value of arts education statewide and the importance of student engagement and creative learning.
Conversation with Maine Arts Commission Director Martha Piscuskas
Maine Arts Commission Arts Education Director Martha Piscuskas discusses the role of arts in learning and community, reflecting on statewide collaboration and commitment.
Working Together
MAAE’s advocacy efforts are strengthened through collaboration with educators, arts organizations, and statewide partners. By working together, we amplify shared goals, coordinate outreach, and support a unified message about the importance of arts education for all Maine students.
Building Community Through the Arts (BCTA)
An artist-in-residency program that integrates theatre and dance into classrooms, engaging students in collaborative, creative learning experiences that strengthen academic and social connections.
Arts Advocacy & Youth Art Month
Statewide advocacy efforts that bring students, educators, and communities together to highlight the essential role of arts education in Maine schools.
Student Leadership Groups (SLGs)
Programs designed to elevate student voices and empower young leaders to share the impact of arts education in their schools and communities.
Get Involved
There are many ways to participate in arts advocacy with MAAE. Whether you are an educator, student, teaching artist, or supporter, your voice matters.