Last month, Young Audiences Arts for Learning was honored to welcome U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree [ME-1] as a featured speaker at Telling Our Story, YA’s 2026 National Arts in Education Conference in Washington, D.C.
As co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Arts Caucus and co-sponsor of the 2026 National Young Audiences Arts for Learning Week (YA Week) House Resolution, Representative Pingree addressed conference attendees on the transformative power of the arts and its role in unlocking the creative potential of every student.
The 2026 YA Week Resolution recognizes the importance of the arts in enriching the lives of students and advancing the nation as a whole, affirming that the arts are essential to a complete and well-rounded education. It also highlights the collective impact of the Young Audiences Arts for Learning national network, whose affiliates work across the country to ensure all students have access to high-quality arts education experiences.
Representative Pingree reinforced this message in her remarks:
“Creativity has always been a catalyst for innovation… By expanding access to creative opportunities in every community, and by treating the arts not as an afterthought or a luxury but as an essential to innovation and economic growth, [Young Audiences Arts for Learning’s] work is essential to that effort.”
Young Audiences Arts for Learning remains committed to its mission to inspire young people and expand their learning through the arts, and we are grateful for leaders like Representative Pingree who champion the importance of arts education nationwide. Observed annually each spring, YA Week shines a national spotlight on the impact of Young Audiences Arts for Learning and its dedicated network of affiliates who make this work possible in classrooms and communities across the nation.
Thank you to our partners and supporters nationwide who joined us in celebrating YA Week. For more information advocacy resources and ways to get involved, visit YA.org/YAweek.
