2026 MAEA Conference

MASS CONNECT: The World Needs Art

Keynote 

Jennifer “Jen” Ferrari (M.Ed., M.A.) is a celebrated educator and leading voice in choice-based art education. Based in Massachusetts, Jen partners with young artists to develop learner-directed curricula rooted in student-centered creative exploration. Her classroom expertise informs her research and authorship, focusing on the intersection of Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB), inquiry-based curriculum design, and authentic assessment.

 

As a former president and current advisory board member of Teaching for Artistic Behavior, Inc., and co-host of the TAB Storytellers podcast, Jen is dedicated to advancing the field through national advocacy and mentorship. Her insights have been featured in SchoolArts magazine and the Art Education Journal, and her debut co-authored book, “What Artists Do: TAB Pedagogy and Practice for K-12 Choice-Based Art Classes” (Teachers College Press, 2026), offers a deep dive into best practices for the contemporary art room for educators at all stages of their career.

 

A 2025 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year finalist and the 2023 Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year, Jen passionately continues to shape the future of visual arts education.

Call for session proposals

The call for conference session proposals is now open.

We are looking for a variety of sessions for our 1 day conference held in Sturbridge, MA on October 17, 2026. Please consider submitting a proposal for a Best Practice Lecture, Demonstration, Research Lecture, Interactive Discussion, Studio Workshop, or other type of session offering not listed here.

All presenters selected to present at the 2026 MAEA conference will receive complimentary tickets to attend the conference. We encourage new presenters! The deadline for session proposals is June 23, 2026. More presenter information can be found on the session proposal form, linked here.

• Best Practice Lecture – Presentation of exemplary lessons, instructional practices, programs, and/or initiatives followed by Q&A.
• Demonstration – Presenter demonstration of an artistic technique, arts-based method, or pedagogical approach.
• Research Lecture – Presentation of academic papers and/or discussion of research.
• Interactive Discussion – Participatory discussion about art education issues/topics among presenter and attendees.
• Studio Workshop – Studio art-making session. 

Other Event Details & Accommodations

Join us for the awards ceremony the evening of Friday October 16. More specific details will be shared as they are finalized. 

Attendees can stay directly at the hotel. There are a limited number of rooms reserved for a discounted rate of $129 a night.  Call the Sturbridge Host Hotel & Conference Center (508-329-0452) to take advantage of the discounted rate – mention MAEA conference. The room block is available until September 15 or until all rooms in the block have been reserved. 

Have ideas for the 2026 Conference?

If you have ideas you would like the conference committee to consider, or if you would like to join the 2026 MAEA Conference Committee, please contact Cari DiCicco at president@massarted.com.