History

Founded in 1989

Arts for a Complete Education (ACE) began in 1989 as a collaborative effort among the Florida Department of State/Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Arts Council, represented by Valerie Ohlsson, Arts in Education; the Florida Department of Education represented by the late June Hinckley, Fine Arts Specialist; and Dr. Mary Palmer, Professor, University of Central Florida. With funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Arts in Basic Education Grant Program, over 150 arts, arts education and community leaders crafted a strategic plan for arts education in Florida. This plan was vetted through 12 public meetings in which over 1,200 citizens participated throughout the state. ACE merged with the Florida Alliance for Arts Education in 1994 to serve as the statewide umbrella organization for arts education in Florida.

Highlights

2018-2019

Careers in the Arts Workshop is held at the USF Sarasota-Manatee Campus, with presentations from the Asolo Scene Shop, Gena Cristiani Costuming, The Ringling Asian Exhibit, Kuniko Yamamoto Origami Air, Sarasota Contemporary Dance, Deb Lombard Movement, Sarasota Youth Orchestra, and Matt Dendy Violin Looping.

CPALMS opens the Arts for a Complete Education (ACE) Collection of lesson plans and resources for use in Florida schools.

Pilot for a REDI area teaching artist residency in the Belle Glade area of Palm Beach County is conducted, with funds from a National Endowment for the Arts Special Initiative Program through the Division of Cultural Affairs.

Florida Teaching Artist Roster plans are discussed throughout the state with guidance from the Division of Cultural Affairs.

FAAE and the FDOE launch the first Advancing Arts Education program.

The Annual Arts Integration Symposium “Arts and Restorative Justice” was held at the Jacksonville Museum for Contemporary Art.

Through a sponsorship from the University of South Florida’s Center for Partners in Arts Integrated Teaching, six “PAInT Across Florida” professional development events occurred in Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Lee, Leon, and Manatee Counties.

The Annual Leadership Summit was held at the Riverside Hotel in Fort Lauderdale and honored Nancy Roucher with the Dr. Mary Palmer Trailblazer Legacy Award. Seven schools received the Florida Arts Model Schools Designation.

The Dr. Mary Palmer Trailblazer Legacy Award is established.

Four schools received the Florida Arts Model Schools designation at the Annual Leadership Summit in Fort Lauderdale.

Office moved from Orlando to Sarasota.

2016

Careers in the Arts Workshop Series held at Full Sail University, Ringling College of Art and Design, and Florida State University.

Strategic Plan Phase 1 completed.

Fourteen Schools received the Florida Arts Model Schools Designation at the Annual Leadership Summit in Daytona Beach.

2015

First Careers in the Arts Workshop Series held at UCF-Valencia and the University of Florida’s Digital Worlds Institute.

First Florida Arts Model Schools Designations (fifteen).