Historical Perspective
The Iowa Alliance for Arts Education (IAAE) is Iowa's only statewide, non-governmental, non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting an education in the arts for all Iowans. IAAE is a member of the Kennedy Center Network for Arts Education.
A historical perspective of IAAE:
The Iowa Alliance for Arts Education was formed in the late 1980's when inflation in a difficult economy restricted state funds for school districts and resulted in massive layoffs of art and music teachers especially at the elementary level. At that time, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was just initiating their state alliance program offering $5,000 to new state-wide alliances of arts groups.
Jodi Butler, a music teacher in West Branch, learned about this opportunity and contacted the presidents of all Iowa arts education organizations with an invitation to meet to discuss the collective state of arts education. This would be the first ever meeting of its kind in Iowa. Joe Christenson, Director of Bands at Iowa State University and President of IBA responded, "Either the various arts disciplines work together as one to advocate for and protect K-12 curriculum based arts education for all the children in Iowa, or we will stay divided and be conquered."
As a result of this meeting, a partnership with the Kennedy Center was forged and the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education was formed with five areas of focus:
(1) to provide help to parents and teachers battling to keep an arts program or programs off the chopping block. (In the first year, IAAE received 69 calls for help.)
(2) to develop proactive arts education advocacy information to be shared freely with any individuals or groups interested in promoting arts education.
(3) to be at the table where the future direction of education in Iowa is being discussed;
(4) to work closely with the Iowa Arts Council and the Iowa Department of Education arts education program directors; and
(5) to monitor and advocate for issues and bills that affect arts education for all children. With the advent of standards and benchmarks, professional development was added as a focus area.
Soon after the formation of IAAE, it became clear that an executive director would be needed in order for the fledgling organization to be successful in carrying out its mission and goals. All founding members of IAAE were classroom teachers or college professors with little time available for additional work away from the classroom. Jodi Butler was hired as the first IAAE director in 1988 and, using offices donated by the University of Iowa, began working closely with many school districts, teachers, parents, state government agencies and state arts education organizations to achieve our mission of a quality, curriculum based arts education for ALL students.
Building on its foundation of three decades of experience, the collaborative work of IAAE continues to grow and to benefit Iowans despite new political, fiscal, and organizational challenges. The IAAE Board embraces these challenges and is determined to use them as springboard opportunities for renewal, creative and strategic planning, and stronger relationships with member organizations and other stakeholders.