National Arts in Education Week runs September 12–18, 2027, a yearly push for music, art, dance and theater in every school. Congress created it in 2010, and teachers and arts groups use it to show what the arts add to learning.
Starting the Second Sunday of September
Every year, for the week that begins on the second Sunday of September. In 2015 and again in 2026, that meant September 13 to 19.
Congress set that timing in House Concurrent Resolution 275. Americans for the Arts, a national nonprofit, has led the week ever since.
Schools and states mark it in their own ways. Maine’s education department, for one, posts classroom ideas for teachers.
A 2010 Resolution
Lawmakers agreed to the resolution on December 22, 2010, near the end of the 111th Congress. Maine’s education department describes it as bipartisan.
Research shaped the 2010 text. It pointed to eighth graders from under-resourced backgrounds who were highly involved in the arts.
Those students earned better grades and were more likely to go to college. They were also less likely to drop out by 10th grade, the resolution noted.
Americans for the Arts took the lead from there. Maine calls the group “the primary national driver of the week since its beginning.”
By 2026, the observance had reached its 16th year, with a state education department and a teachers’ union among those posting the dates.
What the Arts Do for Students
Access is still uneven. More than 2 million U.S. students lack a quality arts education, Americans for the Arts says.
Closing that gap drove the 2026 theme, “Every Student, Every Community.”
Houston offers some of the strongest evidence. A randomized trial there covered more than 10,000 students in grades 3 to 8.
Where arts programs were richer, students had fewer discipline problems and better writing scores, Maine’s summary of the study says.
College is part of the picture too. A study for the National Endowment for the Arts found something similar. Low-income students with heavy arts involvement were three times as likely to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Employers notice. Some 72% of business leaders call creativity and collaboration skills essential, the group says.
Funding is a big theme of the week. The National Endowment for the Arts is the largest national funder of arts education programs, reaching communities in all 50 states.
Washington’s calendar adds urgency. Congress faced a September 30 budget deadline as the 2026 week ended.
Advocates use the week to press for equal access. A 2015 note from Grantmakers in the Arts said it urges lawmakers and school leaders to support the arts for all students.
Ways to Support Arts in School
Teachers don’t need a big budget to join in. Harvard’s Project Zero offers a routine called “See, Think, Wonder” that takes about ten minutes with any artwork.
Ready-made lessons help too. The Kennedy Center offers hundreds of standards-aligned lesson plans, sorted by art form and subject.
- Attend a school concert, play or art show this month.
- Thank an art or music teacher who made a difference for you.
- Ask your school board how arts classes are funded.
- Donate supplies or instruments to a local school.
- Share a story about what arts classes meant to you.
- Invite a local artist or musician to visit a classroom and talk about their work.
- Try the ten-minute looking routine at home with a postcard or a family photo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who leads National Arts in Education Week?
A national nonprofit that advocates for the arts.
Is it only for schools?
No. Libraries, museums and community groups take part as well.
Does it include music and theater?
Yes. It covers every art form taught in schools.
Sources
- Congress.gov – H.Con.Res. 275 (111th Congress)
- Americans for the Arts – National Arts in Education Week
- Maine Department of Education – National Arts in Education Week
- Grantmakers in the Arts – National Arts in Education Week begins Sunday (2015)
- California Teachers Association – National Arts in Education Week 2026