National Leadership, Local Impact: Reflections from the Young Audiences Network

Written by Amelia Schrader, Executive Director

Throughout our 63 years, Arts for Learning WNY has been a proud affiliate of the Young Audiences National network. As the leading network of arts in education organizations in the country, we use our shared expertise to advance learning through the arts across 31 regions in the United States.

This October, I had the privilege of joining other affiliate Executive Directors from across the country at the National Office in New York City for our annual leadership council meeting. These gatherings give us the opportunity to collaborate, learn, and strengthen our collective commitment to best practices in arts in education.

Each affiliate provides distinct programming tailored to the needs of its community, yet we are united by a shared belief in the transformative power of the arts. We know that when the arts are integrated into the classroom, they deepen understanding, strengthen engagement, and foster a sense of belonging for students and teachers alike. Through the leadership council meetings, we exchange ideas and learn from one another’s successes, bringing those insights back to Western New York to enrich learning experiences in classrooms across all eight counties.

These connections also spark meaningful collaborations, including our recent partnership with ArtsNOW and Perry Central School District.

Beyond collaboration, the National Network invests in educational research through the RAISE program, funded by the Department of Education. This groundbreaking initiative examines not only how students learn through the arts, but also how teachers and teaching artists grow in their practice. Now in its fourth year of a five-year study, the RAISE program continues to provide powerful data that reinforces the connection between arts integration and deeper learning across curriculum and communities nationwide. During this year’s leadership council, we were given a first look at the year four findings, which I look forward to sharing locally to continue building understanding of the impact of arts integration.

Our discussions also looked ahead to the network’s upcoming conference and advocacy day in Washington DC this spring. Together, we will gather to educate, learn, and advocate for a future where every student has access to an education enriched by the arts.

Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for updates

about this important event.