BIAESN and Creative Generation to Expand Collaboration

The Berklee Institute for Arts Education and Special Needs (BIAESN) and Creative Generation are excited to continue their collaboration to support the Leadership Network for Arts Education and Special Needs. 

The Leadership Network for Arts Education and Special Needs (LNAESN) was formed out of conversations that began at the 2018 VSA Intersections Conference about ways to convene leaders in the intersecting fields of arts education and special education to move the work forward. There was a particular need to unify and catalyze the many different individuals and organizations doing transformative work in their communities, who would benefit from exchanging knowledge, exploring possibilities for collaboration, and forging a path forward on projects most effectively done together. Since 2019, the LNAESN has been convened by the Berklee Institute for Arts Education and Special Needs (BIAESN).

In 2020, the collaboration between Creative Generation and the BIAESN began to support the professional learning, development of publications, and regular administration of this network.  Throughout 2021, the Network will continue to operate it peer-to-peer learning community and produce several publications including An Agenda for the Future of Arts & Special Education: Closing the Gaps Between Research, Policy, and Practice, and A Field Guide for Arts & Special Education

“Working with these leaders for the past year has been a true joy and we look forward to continued learning, dialogue, and production of knowledge,” said Jeff M. Poulin, managing director of Creative Generation. “At Creative Generation we aspire to uplift leaders engaged in transformative work in their communities and eliminate barriers to the sharing of knowledge with peers; the design of this Network sets the bar for this type of work.”

Creative Generation was founded in April 2019 as a research initiative and has grown its work throughout the United States and around the world. Through pioneering research in the arts and cultural education field – and the relentless support of arts and cultural educators in their work to cultivate the creative capabilities of young people – the organization regularly leads professional learning initiatives through its Academy for Creative Leadership.

“The conversations and collaboration that take place in the Network are transformative for the field of arts education for people with disabilities,” said Rhoda Bernard, managing director of the BIAESN. “At the Berklee Institute for Arts Education and Special Needs, we strive to eliminate ableism in arts education; the Leadership Network is addressing these issues head on through peer learning and collaborative projects.”

About Creative Generation

Contributing to the development of thriving communities and a more just world, Creative Generation works to inspire, connect, and amplify the work of young creatives who catalyze social transformation and those who are committed to cultivating their creative capabilities. Founded in 2019, Creative Generation operates four signature programs: The Campaign for a Creative Generation, the Institute for Creative Social Transformation, The Academy for Creative Leadership, and an Incubator for Creative Impact.

About the Berklee Institute for Arts Education and Special Needs

The Berklee Institute for Arts Education and Special Needs (BIAESN) is a catalyst for the inclusion of individuals with special needs in all aspects of performing and visual arts education. Founded in 2017 but building on work that began at Boston Conservatory in 2007, the BIAESN conducts three major areas of work: arts education programs for people with disabilities of all ages in music, dance, and theater; first-of-their-kind graduate programs in music education and autism; and professional development opportunities, resources, and initiatives.