2026 AAE Fall Conference
ARKANSAS ART EDUCATORS
FALL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
Join us for two days of inspiration, creativity, and collaboration at the Fall Art Educators Conference! This year's theme, Art Without Limits: Teaching Beyond Boundaries, celebrates the power of art education to break barriers, embrace innovation, and create meaningful learning experiences for every student.
Discover fresh ideas through hands-on workshops, engaging discussions, and dynamic professional learning sessions designed to help you expand your teaching practices, foster creativity, and inspire learners of all abilities and backgrounds.
Connect with fellow educators, share strategies and successes, and explore resources from colleges, universities, local art businesses, art supply companies, and nonprofit organizations. Whether you're searching for innovative lesson ideas, new classroom materials, or a supportive network of passionate art educators, you'll leave energized and equipped for the year ahead.
Don't miss this opportunity to think beyond traditional boundaries, expand your creative practice, and celebrate the limitless possibilities of art education!
Dear AAE Members,
As we prepare for this year’s Fall Conference, Art Without Limits: Teaching Beyond Boundaries, we want to share a few important updates and the reasoning behind some of the changes you’ll see this year.
We're excited to kick off conference week with a new opportunity to connect! Join us on Wednesday, November 4, at 5:30 p.m. at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. Start your conference experience a day early while earning your first hour of professional development through an evening of creativity, connection, and inspiration. Enjoy a docent-led tour of the museum, discover educational resources available through AMFA, and wrap up the evening at Bright Nights, featuring live jazz, drinks, and festive bites. It's the perfect way to connect with fellow art educators before the conference officially begins!
First, our conference luncheon, traditionally held on Friday, will move to Thursday this year. This change was necessary due to scheduling considerations in order to accommodate our keynote speaker. We appreciate everyone’s flexibility as we adjust the schedule.
Presenters: Please check your email for your updated presentation date and time. Because this change required several adjustments to the conference schedule, we ask that you review your new time and respond as soon as possible if you have a conflict.
Once we have confirmed the new schedule with the presenters we will share the schedule.
We also want to be transparent about changes to conference registration this year. Like many organizations, AAE has experienced rising costs associated with hosting our annual conference, including venue, food, materials, and other event expenses. After attending the National Leadership Conference and connecting with art education leaders from across the country, we also realized that AAE's conference registration rates have remained significantly lower than those of many comparable state art education organizations. Even with this year's increase, our registration will continue to be lower than many similar conferences across the country.
Another change this year is that luncheon tickets will be purchased separately from conference registration. In previous years, the luncheon was included for every pre-registered attendee, meaning AAE covered the cost of a meal whether or not an attendee chose to participate. This sometimes resulted in more meals being ordered and paid for than were ultimately needed. By separating the luncheon ticket from registration, we can provide our caterer with a more accurate count, reduce food waste, and be better stewards of AAE's resources while helping keep overall conference costs as reasonable as possible.
2026 Fall Conference Early Bird (Pre-Registration) Rates
In many ways, these changes reflect this year's theme, Art Without Limits: Teaching Beyond Boundaries. We challenge our students and ourselves as educators to think differently, push beyond what is familiar, and imagine what is possible. We believe AAE should be willing to do the same. Moving beyond boundaries sometimes means rethinking traditions, trying something new, and learning as we go. Not every change will be perfect the first time, but we can't move forward without being willing to evolve.
Through all of these changes, our goal remains the same: to provide an engaging, valuable, accessible, and sustainable conference experience while building a stronger organization for Arkansas art educators.
Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and willingness to grow alongside us. We're excited about where AAE is headed and look forward to experiencing Art Without Limits together this fall!
Warmly,
Nickie Owens | President-Elect
Lynn Smith | President
Discover fresh ideas through hands-on workshops, engaging discussions, and dynamic professional learning sessions designed to help you expand your teaching practices, foster creativity, and inspire learners of all abilities and backgrounds.
Connect with fellow educators, share strategies and successes, and explore resources from colleges, universities, local art businesses, art supply companies, and nonprofit organizations. Whether you're searching for innovative lesson ideas, new classroom materials, or a supportive network of passionate art educators, you'll leave energized and equipped for the year ahead.
Don't miss this opportunity to think beyond traditional boundaries, expand your creative practice, and celebrate the limitless possibilities of art education!
Dear AAE Members,
As we prepare for this year’s Fall Conference, Art Without Limits: Teaching Beyond Boundaries, we want to share a few important updates and the reasoning behind some of the changes you’ll see this year.
We're excited to kick off conference week with a new opportunity to connect! Join us on Wednesday, November 4, at 5:30 p.m. at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. Start your conference experience a day early while earning your first hour of professional development through an evening of creativity, connection, and inspiration. Enjoy a docent-led tour of the museum, discover educational resources available through AMFA, and wrap up the evening at Bright Nights, featuring live jazz, drinks, and festive bites. It's the perfect way to connect with fellow art educators before the conference officially begins!
First, our conference luncheon, traditionally held on Friday, will move to Thursday this year. This change was necessary due to scheduling considerations in order to accommodate our keynote speaker. We appreciate everyone’s flexibility as we adjust the schedule.
Presenters: Please check your email for your updated presentation date and time. Because this change required several adjustments to the conference schedule, we ask that you review your new time and respond as soon as possible if you have a conflict.
Once we have confirmed the new schedule with the presenters we will share the schedule.
We also want to be transparent about changes to conference registration this year. Like many organizations, AAE has experienced rising costs associated with hosting our annual conference, including venue, food, materials, and other event expenses. After attending the National Leadership Conference and connecting with art education leaders from across the country, we also realized that AAE's conference registration rates have remained significantly lower than those of many comparable state art education organizations. Even with this year's increase, our registration will continue to be lower than many similar conferences across the country.
Another change this year is that luncheon tickets will be purchased separately from conference registration. In previous years, the luncheon was included for every pre-registered attendee, meaning AAE covered the cost of a meal whether or not an attendee chose to participate. This sometimes resulted in more meals being ordered and paid for than were ultimately needed. By separating the luncheon ticket from registration, we can provide our caterer with a more accurate count, reduce food waste, and be better stewards of AAE's resources while helping keep overall conference costs as reasonable as possible.
2026 Fall Conference Early Bird (Pre-Registration) Rates
- AAE Member: $85
- New Member (includes AAE membership): $205
- Non-Member: $125
- Preservice/New to the Profession: $50
- Retired: $50
- Luncheon Ticket (Thursday): $30
- Members Single Day: $50
- Non-members Single Day: $60
In many ways, these changes reflect this year's theme, Art Without Limits: Teaching Beyond Boundaries. We challenge our students and ourselves as educators to think differently, push beyond what is familiar, and imagine what is possible. We believe AAE should be willing to do the same. Moving beyond boundaries sometimes means rethinking traditions, trying something new, and learning as we go. Not every change will be perfect the first time, but we can't move forward without being willing to evolve.
Through all of these changes, our goal remains the same: to provide an engaging, valuable, accessible, and sustainable conference experience while building a stronger organization for Arkansas art educators.
Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and willingness to grow alongside us. We're excited about where AAE is headed and look forward to experiencing Art Without Limits together this fall!
Warmly,
Nickie Owens | President-Elect
Lynn Smith | President
VENDORS AND SPONSORS INFORMATION
2026 Fall Conference Dates
Wednesday evening November 4th, Thursday November 5th-Friday November 6th.
Wednesday evening November 4th, Thursday November 5th-Friday November 6th.
Pre-Registration Deadline: October 15, 2026
Wyndham Riverfront Hotel
2 Riverfront Place
North Little Rock, AR 72114
1-501-371-9000
2 Riverfront Place
North Little Rock, AR 72114
1-501-371-9000
Awards Ceremony
FRIDAY AFTER LUNCHEON SPEAKER
Cost of Attendance
COMING SOON
COMING SOON
AAE Presidents’ Foundation Raffle
“Art Treasures From the Hearts of Arkansas Art Teachers”
Remember the excitement and fun of winning an original art treasure created by your fellow art teachers at the fall conference luncheon? We are having the raffle again with the proceeds going towards funding for mini-grants awarded by the AAEPF. The raffle will be held during the luncheon on Friday, November 6, 2026.
Remember the excitement and fun of winning an original art treasure created by your fellow art teachers at the fall conference luncheon? We are having the raffle again with the proceeds going towards funding for mini-grants awarded by the AAEPF. The raffle will be held during the luncheon on Friday, November 6, 2026.
Membership Information
Please make sure to renew your NAEA and AAE membership!
Membership must expire after 11/30/2026 to receive member pricing for the conference. Join NAEA or renew membership today!
Membership must expire after 11/30/2026 to receive member pricing for the conference. Join NAEA or renew membership today!
