Governor’s Proclamation Spotlights National Arts in Education Week

Baltimore, Maryland. September 14-21, 2025. By official proclamation, Governor Wes Moore acknowledged the annual celebrations of arts in public schools enshrined in Federal Law that takes place during the second full week of September. National Arts in Education Week is a celebration that calls attention to the transformative impact of the arts on students, teachers, and school communities. 

Passed by Congress in 2010, this week is designated to highlight the benefits of and need for the arts in education so that elected officials and educational decision-makers nationwide can find ways to support equitable arts access for students of all backgrounds. Arts education is not a luxury. Arts education is required by State (COMAR) and Federal (ESSA) regulation and is a critical component of a well-rounded and world-class education, and yet it is too often undervalued and deprioritized in education policies and decisions made at the state and local levels. 

The proclamation includes the “priority that we reflect this recognition in policies and practices that expand access to arts education for Maryland’s public school students, so that they can access the cognitive, social, and emotional benefits of a robust arts education,” and “Maryland will continue working towards expanding access to arts education as an integral part of its mission to deliver a world-class education to its public school students.”

Comments: 

“Arts education is a vital part of a well-rounded education and a cornerstone of student development. Governor Moore’s proclamation reaffirms Maryland’s commitment to ensuring that every child has access to high-quality arts instruction, regardless of zip code. The arts foster creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking – skills that are essential for success in school, career, and life. As State Superintendent, I am proud to stand with educators, families, and communities in championing arts education as a fundamental right for all Maryland students.” – Dr. Carey M. Wright, State Superintendent of Schools

“The Maryland State Department of Education is committed to supporting and uplifting the powerful and high-quality arts education taking place in classrooms and concert halls across the state. We know the arts are a crucial and vibrant part of the state’s culture and economy, and we are supporting our schools in graduating students to be college- and career-ready in the arts through our new Arts Pathways.” - Lizzie Devereux, Director of Comprehensive Arts Education, Maryland State Department of Education

“Creative expression is at the core of our humanity and our society. We at AEMS applaud the students, teachers, school leaders, and communities who invest in robust arts education for Maryland’s public schools and are already off to a transformative start to the school year. Every child deserves the opportunity to develop artistic skills that will help them explore their identity and process the world around them.” -Rachel McGrain, AEMS Executive Director

“This proclamation is a significant acknowledgement of the importance of arts education in Maryland’s school communities, and how our rich artistic learning experiences make us national educational leaders. We must continue to demonstrate how we value arts education in every district and school by keeping intentional structures in place, including consistent central funding, scheduling, staffing and consistent student access to artistic opportunities.” -Amy T. Hairston, Maryland Music Educators Association President 

“Governor Moore’s proclamation uplifts arts education in Maryland schools and underscores the importance of the arts in our communities. Art education is essential for developing creativity, critical thinking, and emotional expression. It encourages students to explore ideas, solve problems, and view the world from multiple perspectives. Beyond creativity, art builds confidence, focus, and cultural awareness. By funding an accessible arts education for all students, we ensure the growth of well-rounded individuals prepared to engage meaningfully with the world.” - Rachel Valsing, Maryland Art Education Association President

“The National Dance Education Organization upholds the motto: 'Dance Education for All." As a state with rich traditions and deep historical ties to dance, Maryland has a responsibility to ensure that every public school student has access to high-quality, well-funded dance programs. Dance education does more than teach movement—it fosters essential life skills such as confidence, leadership, discipline, and perseverance. In today’s world, where dance permeates everything from social media to advertising, it remains a powerful form of expression that brings joy and light through movement. This proclamation affirms Maryland’s commitment to empowering students through dance, opening pathways for creative growth, personal development, and future careers in the arts.” - Darryl Pilate, Maryland Dance Education Association President

“The International Thespians Society inducts members with the phrase “Act Well Your Part, Therein Lies All the Honor.” The art of theatre, along with its sibling art forms, is one of the cornerstones not only of culture but of civilization itself. To perform a spoken narrative in front of a live audience invokes the power of connection and catharsis. When we laugh at universal foibles or gasp at extraordinary circumstances, we become one humanity and can engage in the dialogue of democracy. Theatre education continues to empower storytellers onstage and backstage to relate the ubiquitous truths of human drama across millennia and create the third space that leads to community and social change. This proclamation creates a vision of access to the arts that ensures Maryland will forever and always be the Free State.” - Steven L. Barker, Maryland Theatre Education Association President.

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AEMS is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization committed to ensuring that all students in the state of Maryland have access to high quality arts education. AEMS envisions a public education system in Maryland that supports, cultivates, nurtures, and uplifts ALL students’ creativity through a robust arts education experience so that they can thrive in a healthy society.

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