Teaching art is rewarding, but it can often feel like you’re on an island. When questions arise, where do you turn for support? Your school community may be wonderful, but they can’t answer specific questions about art projects or truly understand what running an art room is like.
Lucky for you, The Art of Ed Community exists. The Art of Ed Community is a dedicated professional online space for art teachers without the distraction of social media. In The Art of Ed Community, you can ask and answer questions, give and receive support, and have fun networking with other art teachers!
Here are the top five burning questions our members have been discussing lately.
1. How can we work together to push the field of art education forward?
It’s unfortunate that we often have to defend our programs against budget cuts when, in reality, the art room is the best place for students to develop essential critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In The Art of Ed Community, members work together to answer questions like, What’s one thing you’d love to see change in the field of art education? and What’s one SMALL action every art teacher can take today to advocate for their program?
Here are just a few powerful ideas shared:
- Highlight an Artist of the Week.
- Display career posters.
- Get parents involved.
2. What projects are worth repeating year after year?
Curriculum planning is one of the most important and time-consuming tasks art teachers tackle. It can be tough to discern which projects make it onto your map and which don’t. In The Art of Ed Community, members regularly share their wins. In fact, there are well over 100 comments on the question, What’s your all-time favorite elementary project that’s always a huge hit with students and families?
What’s more, as a community member, you can ask your own questions, like What are some really cool and engaging sculptural high school art projects? I have beginners in art class who really enjoy sculpture but don’t like clay. Asking specific questions will help you plan for your unique situation.
3. How do we handle the parts of our jobs that are less than ideal?
Art teachers are naturally reflective, creative practitioners. The Art of Ed Community provides a judgment-free zone to share your feelings and get support! From trying to tackle organizational challenges to making grading manageable, communicate with other members as they discuss What is your greatest struggle in the classroom?
What’s more, art education has changed a lot over the past decade. Join the When it comes to teaching Gen Alpha, what do you struggle with the most? conversation and realize others are in the exact same boat!
4. How can we avoid burnout and stay engaged with the career that we love?
Art teachers are passionate about what they do, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t hard days. It’s critical to actively seek joy and take care of yourself. Community members regularly check in with each other and share what’s working for them. Two fun questions members discussed recently included What brings YOU the most joy outside of teaching? and How do YOU decompress after a bad day?
Members shared a lot of fun ideas, like:
- Get outside.
- Spend time with family.
- Make art.
- Text a trusted co-worker.
- Prioritize a favorite meal.
- Share memes with people who “get” you.
5. How can we build even stronger connections?
Watching this community grow to more than 7,000 members (and counting!) over the past year has been amazing. While getting to know each other through discussions is wonderful, The Community offers many other ways to connect.
Check out some of our favorite ways to network below:
- Events
Each month, The Community hosts two free art education events. Art Club brings members together to learn from experts and create with the classroom in mind. Pop-Up Studio is a more casual time to make art for yourself. We’d love to see you at one of our events! - Social Media Directory
If you want to widen your circle outside of The Community, check out our Social Media Directory. Follow Community members on other platforms to see what else they’re up to! - Creative Pursuits Directory
Do you love to support art teachers? Check out our Creative Pursuits Directory to see all of the cool things art teachers do in addition to teaching. - World Map
The Art of Ed Community has members around the world! Check out the interactive map to see where people are from. Connect with art teachers nearby or meet up with art teachers on a future trip to a new city.
Teaching art can be lonely—but it doesn’t have to be. With The Art of Ed Community, you’re never alone. In fact, you can even download the app and take us with you in your apron pocket. This is a special space that is more than a discussion board. It’s a thriving, supportive network created by and for art teachers who truly understand your world. Whether you’re looking for fresh lesson ideas, advice on how to advocate for your program, or opportunities to make art, this is your place to learn, connect, and recharge. Join today and see how quickly your support circles can grow!
What are your favorite features of The Community?
To chat about the art education community with other art teachers, join us in The Art of Ed Community!
Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.
