​Welcome to the Washington Art Education Association.
We gather to promote ​and grow Art Education and Advocacy in Washington State.

WAEA is Here For YOU!
​​​We are here for each other. We are here for the students. We are here... for the ART.

WAEA hosts a variety of events, workshops, student art contests, educator exhibition opportunities, and other ways for you to stay connected. More information on our highlighted WAEA events & resources can be found under UPCOMING EVENTS.
WAEA E-News: December E-News Part 2- New stuff in this email!
Nominations for Board Positions

We are launching into the 2026 Youth Art Month Design Contest to build advocacy for the Arts in Washington! The WORLD NEEDS ART! 


Click on this link or the image below to view the YAM Slides to learn about the many ways to get ready to participate in Youth Art Month!

THE WORLD NEEDS ART!


WAEA members are encouraged to participate in this year’s Youth Art Month Design Contest! Each March, we celebrate visual art, media art, and design education through advocacy and celebration. One way WA celebrates is by hosting a design contest!

The winning design will be printed on shirts and other gear. Most importantly, it will represent our state at the National Art Education Convention!

Each WAEA member can submit up to 10 entries.
Due Jan. 16, 2026.

Have all your students tackle this design challenge and then choose 10 to submit!

Forms and links on the WAEA website YAM PAGE.

Questions? email Nicole Dibble at [email protected]
Check out the WAEA SWAG Store here!
  • found on waea.net website under the Join/Connect Navigation Menu.
Feeling a bit sad that due to budget constraints we were not able to give out t-shirts this year... well you are in luck! We have a whole swag store where you can cunstomize your shirt or even create a new design for us to share! 

WAEA gets a share of the profits from the Threadless sales!

2026 Teachers as Artists Show


Maryhill Museum of Art is excited to announce its annual juried exhibition, dedicated solely to members of the Washington Art Education Association (WAEA) and the Oregon Art Education Association (OAEA).

Get prepared to jump in and submit your creations this January 2026!

The theme for this year is The Space Between, and we encourage you to express your interpretation freely.
 
  • Theme: Theme: The Space Between
  • Submission process: Monday, January 12-Monday, February 9
  • Notification of selected works: Wednesday, February 25
  • Delivery of works: Friday & Sat 2/26 & 2/27 or Monday-Sat 3/2 through 3/7
  • Opening reception: Saturday, March 21 from 2-4 pm
  • Exhibition closes: Thursday, April 16
  • Pick up works: April 17-26
 
We eagerly look forward to showcasing your work in the museum gallery that boasts the finest view in the Gorge!
 
https://forms.gle/TByVVMZW8LUyUhav5
Please click on the link above to apply.
Let’s uplift local arts education TOGETHER!
Together in SOCO Creative District Downtown Kennewick.
Together in Downtown Spokane.
Together at Youngstown Flats Seattle.
AND together on Zoom!
Thanks to volunteers who are hosting in their hometowns, and sponsors who are giving generously, we are offering four ways to connect without a ticket fee.

RSVP at the QR code or the link here, and join us at the location of your choice on Dec. 6!

This is an ArtsEd WA event in collaboration with Arts WA, Seattle Office of Arts and Culture and 4Culture. ALL great Arts Advocacy Groups that WAEA supports!
The  WAEA Tribute Award is given annually to recognize an individual or group who over time has made significant contributions and/or service to WAEA. We are looking to honor individuals who have made contributions in one or more of the following areas
 
  • LEADERSHIP: ​​​Leadership contributions to the State and/or National Association.
  • LEARNING: Contributed to WAEA/NAEA through their knowledge and understanding of the processes of artistic growth as well as the the theory and practice of teaching art (for example by presenting at conferences and writing articles)
  • ADVOCACY: Advocated for visual arts and the importance of art education in schools
  • ASSESSMENT: Helped develop accountability systems for assessing performance in art 

​Award winner will be honored at the OSPI Superintendent High School Art Show Reception in May.

Nominations are strengthened by....
  • Letters of Support: from WAEA/NAEA Members, Co-workers, Administrators and friends of the Nominee
Nomination for Tribute Award Linked here.
More information on the Tribute Awards page including past winners.
 
□✨ Spotlight on Art Educators! ✨□The Washington Art Education Association is proud to celebrate amazing art educators throughout the year in our Spotlight series!

This is a simple yet powerful way to:
✅ Celebrate the hard work of art teachers
✅ Advocate for arts programs
✅ Honor the dedication of educators who inspire students every day

✨ Nominate yourself or a colleague today! Whether you’re teaching from a cart, shaping young artists in the classroom, or preparing future educators in higher education—we want to celebrate YOU.When selected, you’ll be contacted by WAEA Membership Chair Jessica Garrick, [email protected], for next steps.□

Nominate here:https://forms.gle/ttj69xMJVraK48gW6

From Museum to Classroom: New Approaches to Social-Emotional Learning
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
4:00 - 5:00 PM PST
FREE for NAEA members; $49 for nonmembers

 

Discover how museums can support social–emotional learning (SEL) in your classroom. This webinar highlights a five-unit, art-based SEL curriculum aligned with the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework (a model for applying evidence-based SEL strategies to your community), and explores how museum partnerships can build empathy, reflection, and community. You'll also learn about a self-paced online course that helps educators apply SEL through themes like mindfulness, identity, and agency—complete with practical tools and classroom strategies. Gain fresh ideas and inspiration for integrating SEL into your teaching through the power of art. 

These are also recorded and available to watch at later times for WAEA professinal Development Clock Hours.
See the process of claiming these on the Virtual Workshop page on the waea.net website.

Apply for Clock Hours from WAEA here.

Register here.
Please email [email protected], or fill out the proposal form, if you want to present a Virtual Workshop on Dec 20th to set us up for the Holiday Break.
Virtual Workshops are held the 3rd Saturday of the Month and pay the presenter a $100 honorarium for their time and expertise. 
Proposal Form Here

Please start sharing the WAEA Student Scholarship information with your students and High School Counselors. 

 

Deadline is May 9th at noon (PST) this year and will not be extended.

 

Please Click here to Download: a Printable version of the Scholarship Flyer to hang in your art space and post on your Social Media.

Here is the .pdf for print
Here is the .png for social

 

Questions: email [email protected] and see website for more details.
Donate to WAEA TODAY!
Registration is open for the 2026 NAEA National Convention, taking place in Chicago, Illinois, March 5–7. 
Register NOW to save the most!
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Washington Art Education Association · 7345 164th Ave NE STE i145-1323 · Redmond, Washington 98052 · USA

Youth Art Month Chair, Nicole Dibble, shares this year's YAM Flag with King 5 News

2025 Youth Art Month
FLAG-BANNER Design CONTEST
"Healing Through Color"

more information on our winners here.
Lillian Park, who attends Liberty High School in the Issaquah School District, entitled her work, "Emerald Remedy." Youth Art Month Chair, Nicole Dibble, shares this year's YAM Flag with King 5 News
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Overall YAM Winning Flag Displayed at NAEA held in Kentucky in March 2025! With YAM chair Nicole Dibble, Mark Moody (coPresident-Elect) and Becky Broyles (coPresident)
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Gov Ferguson proclaims March as Youth Art Month in Washington!
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State Superintendent Chris Reykdal officially Recognizes March as Youth Art Month!
Thanks to all students who submitted their wonderful work! Congratulations to this year's winners and their teachers!
​Post your Art Shows or Best Student Work on WAEA Social Media and your own to help advocate for Quality Arts Education in WA!

Building Regional Advocacy
Building Regional Advocacy is a presentation on how to make an interactive Google Map to increase advocacy and collaboration. Given at the National Leadership Conference for NAEA by Becky Broyles, Co-President, in July 2024.

Our map is on our Regional Events Page here for reference.
Are you a member? Please add information about yourself and your district on the Regional Events Page in order for us to have up-to-date data.
The Washington Art Education  Association (WAEA) has about 325 members, including K-12 art teachers from public and private schools, administrators, museum educators, art school and college professors, retired and pre-service educators. WAEA is affiliated, at the national level, with the National Art Education Association (NAEA) and is part of the Pacific Region. The NAEA has over twenty two thousand members.
​2024-2025
Open Membership Meetings
All are welcome to join us for a WAEA Open Membership business meeting in which we will discuss our goals, upcoming events, and general agenda items.

Use this link to Add ALL these dates (and all General WAEA Events) to your Google Calendar.

*Please note that there are no open membership meetings during the summer.
**Meeting Minutes can be found at the Meetings page


Use this link to Add ALL these dates (and all General WAEA Events) to your Google Calendar.

SPLATTER MAGAZINE


2025 Fall Conference Splatter Issue
(You can be a published author too!
​Submit your lesson plans & articles below)

WAEA'S Splatter Magazine Was Awarded The NAEA Newsletter Award in 2021.
AND again in 2023! 

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

AFFILIATIONS
​WAEA is an affiliate of NAEA. Visit NAEA's site for more information

Sponsors

 GOLD SPONSOR PLUS

WAEA Fall Conference Sponsors


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