Florida Alliance for Arts Education Hosts National Arts Education Policy Briefing with Americans for the Arts
On June 16, 2026, the Florida Alliance for Arts Education (FAAE) hosted a national Arts Education Policy Webinar via Zoom, bringing together arts education advocates, educators, administrators and cultural leaders from across Florida and beyond. Moderated by FAAE Managing Director Marialaura Leslie, the webinar featured Tooshar Swain, Public Policy Director for Americans for the Arts, and Jennifer Jones, President and CEO of the Florida Cultural Alliance.
With nearly 40 participants registered from across the state, the briefing provided timely updates on federal education policy proposals and their potential impact on arts education programs nationwide. Attendees included Ellie Potts Barrett, President of the Florida Dance Education Organization and Scott Evans, President/CEO of the Center for Fine Arts Education, Florida Arts Education Association and the Florida Music Education Association.
Tooshar shared insights into current legislative developments in Washington, D.C., including proposed reductions to federal education funding that could affect arts education opportunities, educator professional development, and student access to arts learning experiences. Drawing on his extensive background in federal and state education policy, he outlined the implications of recent U.S. House proposals and discussed strategies for effective advocacy at both the state and national levels. Participants learned about the importance of maintaining federal investments that support arts education and explored ways to engage policymakers and community stakeholders in protecting access to high-quality arts learning opportunities for all students. Tooshar shared a comprehensive and informative presentation, organized by his AFTA colleague Katia Apedoh, and you can download the slide deck here.
The webinar also highlighted the critical role that arts educators, school leaders, parents, and community advocates play in communicating the value of arts education and ensuring that arts programs remain an essential component of a well-rounded education.
Don’t miss the Americans for the Arts Action Fund's free webinar: ArtsVote: Make Your Plan on Thursday, June 25th at 3 PM ET, to explore how arts and culture organizations can help their communities prepare for Election Day through nonpartisan voter engagement and voter education efforts. Register here: https://www.artsactionfund.org/artsvote.
You can join the Arts Action Fund for free here: https://www.artsactionfund.org/join.
As federal policy discussions continue, FAAE remains committed to working with our partners to providing arts education stakeholders with timely information, advocacy resources, and opportunities for engagement.