A Brief History of PSAE

Guest Post by PSAE Past President & Board Member:
Carol Baker
Coordinator of Outreach
SC Governor's School for the Arts & Humanities 

Did You Know?

Palmetto State Arts Education (PSAE) is South Carolina’s only professional organization dedicated to responding to all five arts education areas, and is especially known for its commitment to supporting arts integration.

PSAE Through the Years

1986
We officially joined the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network (KCAAEN) as a member in good standing under the name SC Alliance for Arts Education (SCAAE). The organization would go on to change its name to Palmetto State Arts Education in 2016. 

1987
Under the leadership of Roy Biddle, Mac Arthur Goodwin, Alicia Moore, Elbin Cleveland, and Virginia Uldrick, SCAAE successfully filed its articles of incorporation, and in 1989 would go on to successfully emerge as a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

PARTY LIKE IT'S 1999!
It’s our very first conference! This highly successful event (titled The Arts: Assessment for Arts Reform) would set the stage for an annual conference dedicated to arts education and arts integration every year since. 

Over time, the conference has grown to reach approximately 350 educators and administrators. 

Speaking of Conferences...

We were the first organization to officially introduce STEAM to South Carolina! The 2011 conference Powering STEM with STEAM featured Keynote Jim Brazell and was held in Charleston, SC. STEAM has gone on to be a regular conference strand and is now one of our state’s most popular initiatives.

It's Not Just About Conferences!

In 2007, with no professional development opportunities available designed to address the specific concerns of District Fine Arts Coordinators, SCAAE created a District Arts Coordinators Committee and began offering meetings designed to support this population.

The committee still exists, and now joins its efforts with the ABC Project’s Peer to Peer Principal’s Network for a twice yearly Joint Arts Administrator’s Institute.

There are Official Documents, Too...

​PSAE has presented 4 major support documents for arts education:  Fine Arts Careers, Standards Companion Documents for Media Arts, Essential Elements of a Quality Visual and Performing Arts Program, and Teaching Standards-Based Creativity in the Arts.

As a Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network Member,

we received funding for some great additional projects, including the development of an Arts Schools Directory and supporting lesson plans for the ABC Arts Infusion Continuum.

Most Recently...

Although the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network eventually dissolved at the national level, our organization has remained strong.  We continue to offer comprehensive conferences, support for educators, and are now proud to present Rising Stars Piccolo Spoleto to showcase the artistically talented youth of the southeast in a high quality setting.

Thank You!

YOU are the reason PSAE (formerly SCAAE) has continued to be a leader in arts education in our state. As we look to the future, we hope you will continue to stay with us as we journey along the way.