What Arts Education Partnership does

Arts Education Partnership (AEP) is a U.S. national coalition established in 1995 and administered by Education Commission of the States. The organization convenes a network of more than 200 partner organizations across education, arts, government, and philanthropy, and serves state policymakers, K-12 schools and districts, arts educators, and education leaders. AEP's mission is to disseminate high-quality, unbiased research and policy information to advance arts education.

AEP's core products are information platforms rather than proprietary technology: ArtsEdSearch, an online clearinghouse of more than 300 peer-reviewed studies on arts education outcomes, with ongoing curation by an ArtsEdSearch Review Panel; ArtScan, a database tracking K-12 arts education policy across all 50 states plus DC; The Arts Count, a four-part special-report series (Music Matters, Visual Arts Matters, Theatre Counts, Dance Counts) using ArtsEdSearch evidence; the STEAM Resource Guide; the Arts and Literacies interactive resource; the ArtsEd Digest bi-monthly newsletter; the ArtsEd Amplified blog; and an annual national convening (next: Jacksonville, FL, Sept. 1-4, 2026). Distribution is self-serve via web and email at no cost to users.

AEP operates as a 501(c)-style nonprofit and generates no commercial revenue. Its funding is concentrated in four anchor relationships: cooperative-agreement support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Department of Education (both since 1995), plus foundation grants from The Hewlett Foundation and The Wallace Foundation. The organization runs with a staff of 1-10, relying on partnership-based engagement, content publishing, and convenings as its go-to-market motion. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Arts Education Partnership

Legal name

Arts Education Partnership

Website

https://aep-arts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Arts Education Partnership is a U.S. national coalition, established in 1995 and administered by Education Commission of the States, that convenes 200+ partner organizations to disseminate research and policy information on arts education to state policymakers, K-12 schools, and arts educators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Policy Research

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts Education Instruction (Visual/Performing) (EDAJAFAK), Education Access & EdTech for Equity (Low-cost Learning, Skills Platforms) (BPAGALAH)

Keywords

• Arts education research
• Arts education policy
• Education research clearinghouse
• State policy database
• Arts curriculum resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Government Grants: AEP is funded through grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (since 1995), U.S. Department of Education (since 1995), The Hewlett Foundation, and The Wallace Foundation. These grants support AEP's efforts to communicate, collaborate, convene, and connect policymakers and stakeholders across the arts education field.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Arts Education Partnership (AEP) operates a national network of more than 200 partner organizations that advances arts education through research dissemination, policy tracking, and stakeholder convening. It maintains ArtsEdSearch (the nation's clearinghouse of arts education research), ArtScan (a database tracking K-12 arts education policy across all 50 states plus DC), and a series of research reports, resource guides, and an annual convening.

Product overview

Arts Education Partnership operates as a national network offering multiple interconnected resources rather than a single unified product. The core offerings include ArtsEdSearch (research clearinghouse), ArtScan (state policy database), The Arts Count series (research reports), and STEAM Resource Guide, supplemented by ArtsEd Digest newsletter, ArtsEd Amplified blog, Partnership Directory, and Annual Convening events. All resources work together to advance arts education through research dissemination, policy tracking, professional development, and community building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ArtsEdSearch: The nation's hub for research on the impact of arts education.
• ArtScan
• The Arts Count
• ArtsEd Digest
• ArtsEd Amplified

Products and services

• ArtsEdSearch The nation's hub for research on the impact of arts education, serving as a national clearinghouse that compiles, summarizes, and organizes over 300 research studies on outcomes for students and educators.
• ArtScan A database providing the most current information on state policy areas related to K-12 arts education across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, tracking standards, assessments, and graduation requirements.
• The Arts Count Series A four-part series of special reports (Music Matters, Visual Arts Matters, Theatre Counts, Dance Counts) using ArtsEdSearch to illustrate the benefits of arts education.
• STEAM Resource Guide A living resource guide on STEAM education providing curated information, programs, training resources, and inquiry questions to help define STEAM as an approach to teaching and learning at the intersection of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.
• Partnership Directory A directory listing over 200 partner organizations dedicated to advancing arts education across education, arts, government, business, culture, and philanthropy sectors.
• Annual Convening Annual gathering bringing together arts education leaders, policymakers, and practitioners for networking, learning, and collaboration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Research shows students participating in arts education during middle school are more likely to be civically engaged as adults (voting, volunteering, nonprofit board service)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Education Commission of the StatescoreOthersECS administers AEP and hosts the organization's operations. AEP functions as a center within ECS, contributing to the commission's mission of helping states learn from each other and improve education outcomes.
• National Dance Education Organization (NDEO)Strategic or Co-development PartnerNDEO served as a reviewer for the Dance Counts special report and shares photographs for AEP publications, supporting research quality and resource development.
• National Dance Institute – New MexicosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization sharing photographs for AEP's Dance Counts resource, contributing to the visual documentation of dance education benefits.
• Educational Theatre AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerServed as a reviewer for the Theatre Counts special report and shared photographs for the publication, supporting research quality assurance.
• American Alliance for Theatre & EducationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerServed as a reviewer for the Theatre Counts special report, contributing to research quality and credibility for the theatre education resource.
• ArtsEdSearch Review PanelsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerA team of arts education leaders working across the country who conduct ongoing reviews of existing research to ensure ArtsEdSearch remains a trusted resource.
• National Association for Music Education (NAfME)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization collaborating on initiatives such as Music in Our Schools Month and supporting music education advocacy.
• SEADAE (State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative organization of state education agency arts specialists that AEP partners with on various initiatives including the Customized Arts Learning Toolkit.
• Americans for the ArtssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational arts advocacy organization that co-sponsored the 2018 AEP State Policy Symposium and collaborates on various arts education initiatives.
• John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing ArtssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational performing arts center that co-sponsored the 2018 AEP State Policy Symposium, supporting policy-focused convenings.
• National Alliance for Public Charter SchoolssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization collaborating on research regarding arts education in charter schools.
• NAMM FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting music education that partnered with AEP on the Music Matters report and recognizes Best Communities for Music Education.
• Country Music Association FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partnered with AEP and NAMM Foundation on the Music Matters report, supporting music education advocacy.
• Ingenuity (Chicago)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago-based nonprofit working to increase arts education access, equity, and quality. Partnered with AEP on developing theory of action for arts education and SEL outcomes.
• UChicago Consortium on School ResearchsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch organization partnered with AEP and Ingenuity on developing a Theory of Action describing how arts education programs affect SEL among K-12 students.
• Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts EducationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitute providing expertise on accessible arts education, contributing content through guest blog posts and resources on inclusive arts teaching practices.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Education Commission of the States: ECS administers AEP and shares a closely aligned mission of helping states improve education outcomes through cross-state learning. As AEP's parent/host organization, it is the most directly comparable entity — both operate as nonprofit education policy infrastructure with state-level focus.
• NAMM Foundation: Foundation supporting music education advocacy and research, including the Music Matters report co-developed with AEP. Comparable as a foundation-backed arts education advocacy and research organization.
• Americans for the Arts: National nonprofit dedicated to advancing the arts, with overlapping mission areas including arts education advocacy. Has co-sponsored AEP convenings and works on parallel arts policy issues, making it a directly comparable peer in mission and constituency.
• National Association for Music Education (NAfME): Professional association for music educators and a strategic AEP partner. Both organizations work to advance arts education through research, advocacy, and resource development for K-12 educators.
• National Dance Education Organization (NDEO): Professional organization for dance educators that partners with AEP on research reviews and resources. Comparable in mission focus on a specific arts discipline within K-12 education.
• Educational Theatre Association: National nonprofit organization supporting theatre education, with overlapping work on research dissemination and teacher professional development. Has directly contributed to AEP publications.
• SEADAE (State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education): Organization of state education agency arts specialists that partners with AEP on multiple initiatives including the Customized Arts Learning Toolkit. Highly comparable — both serve state-level arts education policy and practice audiences.

Broad incumbents

• Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO): National nonprofit representing state education agency chiefs, with broader scope than AEP but overlapping focus on state-level education policy and convening. Operates as a broader incumbent in the same state-policy infrastructure space.
• John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: National performing arts center with extensive education programming. Co-sponsors AEP convenings and operates as a broader institutional incumbent in arts education with overlapping policy and convening functions.

Emerging players

• Ingenuity (Chicago): Chicago-based nonprofit working to increase arts education access, equity, and quality. Has partnered with AEP on theory of action for arts education and SEL outcomes — operates as an emerging regional player with overlapping research and advocacy focus.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aep_arts
• Facebookfacebook.com/ArtsEdPartnership
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/artseducationpartnership
• Instagraminstagram.com/aep_arts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arts Education Partnership