National Guild for Community Arts Education

The National Guild for Community Arts Education is the national service organization for nonprofit community arts education providers in the United States. With 450 member organizations (40 percent of which are in California) and a broad constituency of more than 5,000 organizations nationwide, the Guild provides a variety of programs, including research services and information resources, professional development and networking opportunities, and a well-attended annual conference. The Guild has transitioned its membership in recent years from strictly community schools of the arts, to include community-based arts education organizations that work in public schools and community afterschool settings. As a result, its membership has diversified, and its conferences have become a must-attend forum for national discussions on youth development, social justice, and teaching artistry in arts education. A renewal Hewlett Foundation grant will assist in the organization’s work to advance and support arts education in communities across the Bay Area and the United States.