Frequently asked questions

Arts Schools Network, established in 1981, is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to advancing specialized arts schools and programs.  Our network of schools, districts, and organizations supports high-quality education in visual arts, music, theater, dance, and media arts.  ASN provides professional development, leadership support, national recognition programs, and opportunities to collaborate, share ideas, and support one another.  Together, we strengthen arts-focused learning environments and champion the value of arts education.

ASN’s Fall Conference brings together 400 arts educators, administrators, and arts education champions from across the United States and around the world. The 2026 conference will take place October 20–22 in San Diego, with workshops, professional development, performances, networking, and tours. 

The theme, Borderless Creativity: Arts Bridging Cultures, highlights how the arts foster dialogue and collaboration across cultures and communities.  In partnership with our host, San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts, the ASN team is planning a dynamic conference that showcases San Diego’s rich culture, dynamic schools and vibrant institutions, all with an arts focus. With its deep connection to Tijuana, Asian and Pacific Islander communities and indigenous Kumeyaay tribes, San Diego has long been a hub of cultural exchange and collaboration, giving rise to a unique cultural ecosystem. In San Diego, the arts are not an afterthought; they are central to civic identity, innovation, and dialogue.  San Diego’s inspiring arts and arts education institutions break down traditional silos, creating opportunities for cross-disciplinary innovation, arts integration, and dialogue that transcends borders of subject, culture, and geography.

The 2026 ASN Annual Conference in San Diego will celebrate the incredible work being done in arts education as well as invite us to reimagine what it means to be truly borderless through partnerships, innovation, and the power of the arts to connect us all.

We are expecting about 400 attendees who work as educators, administrators, leaders, counselors, nonprofit leaders and fundraisers, representing arts schools and arts education programs from all over the country. We serve arts focused programs for grades TK-12 programs, community colleges, four-year colleges and universities and arts conservatory programs. If you want to discuss your particular profession or interest, contact Sharon at smaier-kennelly@artsschoolsnetwork.org.