Welcome to the WAEA where we gather to promote ​and grow Art Education and Advocacy in Washington State.

---

OPSI High School Visual Art Show

Live Stream May 19th from 3:00-5:00

OSPI HS Art Show 2026 WAEA Award Winner

“Plasticized”
Jisun Kim, Steilacoom HS
"Plasticized" captures the moment in my life when I broke through the barrier in which I felt confined to from so many years of unspoken hardship and toils of growing up with an autistic sibling. However, it was through him that I was able to find my identity and establish myself in the world greater than the expectations placed on me. In this piece, I intended to convey themes of resilience.

2026 WAEA Tribute Award Winner

"Tracy Fortune​Tracy has organized and presented at many WAEA conferences and presented Nationally multiple times. Her contributions to WAEA live on in the structure of the WAEA Governing Documents, and was a KEY player at WAEA for her organizational strategy. The way she was able to "tap" newcomers into leadership positions is commendable. She was a welcoming presence who made you feel a part of something big in your first meeting and she wouldn't let us leave without helping to find a way for each of us to feel a part of it! Tracy is advocating for ceramics education by making her own curriculum and continuing to lead workshops (although she is in Texas now). She was a crucial part of building and sustaining the WAEA."

Youth Art Month 2026 Overall Winner

Ryan Kim, 4th Grade
Studio S, Issaquah, WA
"The World Needs Art"
Flag displayed at the 2026 National Art Education Association Conference in Chicago, IL

Art Education Advocacy

WAEA is Fighting for arts education!

Arts Education is in jeopardy of being eroded. Washington State institutions are slowly reducing their support for the Visual, Media, and Performing Arts even though Washington is one of the strongest creative economies in the nation and research shows that the arts have a positive impact on our students' success.

Arts as a graduation requirement.

There is a framework of the graduation requirements to be introduced to the state legislature in 2027 that eliminates the 1.0 requirement for Arts in HS education, while only maintaining an art credit as a possible "personal pathway". This will have a domino effect on Pre-K through University arts education.

Take Action

Let policymakers know how you feel about the reduction of support and graduation requirements in arts education. Make a comment to let them know how you feel about the proposed change.

WA Art Educators: Join WAEA to help support the work that WAEA does on the behalf of the art education community, and have a voice in the direction of our organization.

Members Supporting Members

Washington PreK-16+ Active and Retired, Public and Private Educators, Post Secondary Arts Educators and Organizations, Teaching Artists, Museum Educators, Arts Administrators, and educators who support the Visual and Media Arts.

​Giving in 2026

Please consider contributing to WAEA in support of Student Scholarships and Educator Professional Development for this year. Check with your advisors about 2026 Donation Deductions

Without you, there would not be a WAEA! Your membership, voice, advocacy, and support for our students in the Visual and Media Arts is everything!

WE are YOU