Press Release: The Association of Arts Administration Educators to Receive $25,000 Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts
The Association of Arts Administration Educators (AAAE) is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to receive a Grant for Arts Projects award of $25,000. In total, the NEA will award 958 Grants for Arts Projects awards totaling more than $27.1 million that were announced as part of its first round of fiscal year 2024 grants.
“The NEA is delighted to announce this grant to The Association of Arts Administration Educators, which is helping contribute to the strength and well-being of the arts sector and local community,” said National Endowment for the Arts Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “We are pleased to be able to support this community and help create an environment where all people have the opportunity to live artful lives.”
This funding will support the second iteration of our Mentorship Program.
“We are grateful for the support of the NEA, which is essential to sustaining the Mentorship Program. The outcome of the pilot program and its concrete impact on the individual professional lives of both mentors and mentees have motivated us to integrate the program into AAAE’s long-term offerings,” said Milena Deleva, Executive Director.
Testimonials from the pilot edition, conducted in 2023:
“I appreciate this program so much and thank the AAAE for the invaluable opportunity! While I initially did not exactly expect that my mentorship would focus on research, I think it turned out to be something important for my growth as a scholar that I didn’t even know I needed. I am grateful that alongside receiving advice and guidance, my mentorship program was able to yield tangible research outcomes that benefited both myself and my mentor. I love the fact that the focus of the mentorship was flexible so that it could be relevant for both the mentee and the mentor, and honestly think this kind of professional engagement would benefit everyone, and not just early-career professionals. Hope this wonderful program continues into the future as well.”
“It was the perfect support system for me as I entered the job market and once I got the job and needed to prepare a curriculum for the program I was joining.”
“Thank you for giving me such a wonderful opportunity. It was very helpful for me to advance my career in academia.”
“In essence, the mentorship program came at a crucial juncture in my career journey, providing targeted support that has allowed me to seamlessly integrate my performing arts background with newfound skills and expertise in Arts Administration. I am now better positioned to pursue leadership and directorial roles in both academic and organizational realms within the field.”
“I’ve had a wonderful experience with my mentee and the program. (I hope my mentee felt similarly!) It was a true pleasure that I looked forward to each session, to allow a professional relationship to develop without the constraints of a teacher/student relationship. I think this was a tremendous success and hope that the program continues and grows. Given the times we are in, this program has a great deal of value and worth for those involved.”
“This is an excellent program, and I hope it can continue and grow in the future.”
“I am very happy with the progress of my Mentee who, during the Program, joined a large-scale interdisciplinary project, co-designed a grant application for research funds, participated in the International Conference, presenting her research developments related to the Project, and now is working on a research publication to be published next year.”
Prospective mentees, learn more HERE and apply by 24 February 2024, 11:59 pm EDT. Prospective mentors, express your interest in serving as a mentor HERE by 24 February 2024, 11:59 pm EDT. For more information on other projects included in the NEA’s grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.
CONTACT: Milena Deleva, Executive Director
[email protected]
