NATA 1923-2023 History

NEBRASKA ART TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

In 1983, a committee compiled a history covering the first 60 years (1923-1983) of NATA. It is included on the next pages.

For the 100 Year Celebration in 2023, a committee compiled a history covering the next 40 years (1984-2023) of NATA. It is included following the 60 year compilation.

We hope you enjoy reading about NATA’s history. It is a time to reflect and appreciate the journey NATA, its leaders, and its members have taken over the last 100 years. Our hope is that in 2123, those who make up NATA can look back at our rich history and know the organization was built on advocacy, community, and professional development…and all in service to our members and the learners they serve daily through visual art education.

1923-1983

The 1980s (1984-1989)

1984

NATA Logo contest held.
The Youth Art Month Show became the Governor’s Youth Art Month Show to garner more support from the governor in using the capitol for the show.
NATA’s newsletter Perspective received second place out of twenty-three newsletters from NAEA; the award started in 1979.
Sheila Brown was hired as the Nebraska Department of Education Visual and Performing Arts Consultant. She retired in 2003. Her position was not filled until 2013 when Debbie DeFrain filled the position. Sheila produced an art newsletter called The Art Bag.
NAEA adopts a new constitution and bylaws.

1985

The spring conference was held in Sioux City in March. North and South Dakotas, Iowa, and Nebraska collaborated on the conference titled Growing Together.

1986

The Elementary Art Show celebrated its 40th anniversary, starting in 1946.
Recognition honoring outgoing presidents established.
Summer Art Camp held its 5th annual event enriching Nebraska youth with visual arts experiences.
Much effort extended to coordinate Educational Service Unit Representatives.

1987

In February, Prairie Visions began. Prairie Visions was a consortium of visual arts organizations wishing to establish a statewide plan to encourage discipline-based art instruction. NATA presented special plaques to Sheila Brown and John Clabaugh for their work in starting Prairie Visions. Prairie Visions was a joint project of the Nebraska Department of Education and NATA. Funded primarily by yearly grants from the Getty Institute for DBAE in California, matching funds were received from the Cooper Foundation, Woods Charitable Fund, Nebraska Arts Council, and Nebraska Council for the Humanities, as well as smaller grants from private sources.
The Nebraska Department of Education explored a K-6 visual art endorsement.
NATA Constitution revisions committee formed.
NAEA celebrated its 40th anniversary (1947-1987).
NAEA States Assembly was renamed the Delegates Assembly of NAEA.

1988

A more formalized plan for budgeting income and expenses was explored.
Fall conference meeting was multi-state in Minneapolis involving North & South Dakotas, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska.
John Clabaugh was elected NAEA Western Region Vice President, serving from 1988-1990.
Making the Arts Basic in Education report released by the Nebraska State Advisory Committee on Arts as Basic in Education.
A pilot conference of the Prairie Visions Institute was held in June.

1989

Youth Art Month 1989 featured work resulting from Discipline-Based Art Education (DBAE) lessons, highlighted with a Nebraska’s Parade of Masters.
Nebraska Alliance for Arts Education (NAAE) supported by NATA and other arts organizations; John Clabaugh, NAAE Chairperson. ArtsLine was the newsletter of NAAE.
Carole Debuse represented Nebraska on the Impact of Federal Report on Art Education Committee titled A Study of the Federal Report on Arts Education, TOWARD CIVILIZATION, Implications for the National Art Education Association.
The first 3-week Prairie Visions Institute summer conference was held in June.

The 1990s

1990

Request from Congressman Doug Bereuter to have NATA be involved in implementing the Congressional Art Awards.
The Nebraska state party at the NAEA convention in April in Kansas City had the theme of “Cornival”; various corn related ideas were implemented. Hoping it wasn’t too “corny”.

1991

Dues agreement with NAEA resulted in an increase of dues (active member dues were $50 NAEA and $15 NATA).
A long-range planning survey was conducted to research the needs of members.
NATA began investigating how to make the NATA Awards Program correlate with the NAEA Awards Program.

1992

Mission statement created, “To develop and maintain quality art education in Nebraska through 1. a strong professional support system 2. opportunities for growth development 3. leadership and service.

1993

Discussion around having a telephone tree for ESU Representative Communications. “Would Internet be better?” Using a 1-800 number provided the Nebraska State Department could be a possibility.
The Getty Trust continued to fund Frameworks program and Prairie Visions.

1994

Goals 2000: Educate America Act signed by President Clinton. National Standards for the Education in the Arts approved.
New Prism Award given to three classroom teachers who integrate visual arts into the curriculum.
Jean Detlefson was involved with The National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, encouraging others to participate in a field test.

1995

Investigation by the board to connect with music, dance, and theater organizations.
Frameworks was the guiding curriculum document for Nebraska.
President Frances Thurber wrote several elected officials urging continued financing of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

1996

Nebraska Alliance for Arts Education reactivated.
Exploration in adding a non-public school art educator position to the board.

1997

Nebraska Arts Council assumed management of Prairie Visions.
Process established to contact lapsed members of three months (enrollment in NATA had dropped to 126 members in late 1997).
A special board meeting was held in May to address budget issues.

1998

Exhibits held at the Nebraska Department of Education and Nebraska Council of School Administrators.
The Nebraska K-12 Visual and Performing Arts Framework guided curriculum development across the state. It was housed on ARTnet, hosted by the Nebraska Department of Education and supported by NATA.

1999

No conference was held.

The 2000s

2000

Sister Margaret Proskovec chaired the fall conference at Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha with a theme of Photography: Celebration of a Century. Nancy Childs oversaw the conference at Joslyn as president. Keynote presenter was Zig Jackson from the Savannah College of Art and Design, member of the Mandan-Hidatsa-Arikara people.

2001

Iowa and Nebraska once again collaborated for a fall conference in Council Bluffs called Art on the River. Debbie Kippley chaired the event as she would do again in 2012 when Iowa and Nebraska hosted the fall conference together.

2002

Blackboard Interface utilized for board communications. President Donalyn Heise created an intranet system for board members to share documents; it was password-protected.

2003

NATA received a $5000 grant from Nebraska Arts Council to support ArtNet and for workshops in Educational Service Units.
Mission Statement and Job Descriptions formulated.

2004

A K-12 Art Educator of the Year Award was adopted.
Strategic planning and digitizing NATA archives were association initiatives.
Statewide Advocacy Teams (SWAT) formed to support advocacy efforts across Nebraska.
NATA Art for Fun Workshop held in Chadron in June. Art making activities included pastels, bead making, stained glass, and silverpoint drawing.

2005

Faith Ringgold highlighted the NATA Fall Conference in Omaha titled Art…Keep the Faith.

2006

NATA traveled to Hastings for the fall conference that took place in October. Gerald Brommer was keynote.

2007

Bob Reeker was elected as the NAEA Elementary Division Director serving 2007-2009 as elect and 2009-2011 as director.
Twenty-four NATA members presented sessions at the 2007 NAEA Convention in New York. NATA’s publication The Perspective received the Award of Excellence at the NYC convention; editor Julie Ryan accepted the award for NATA.
Job descriptions for board positions created and finished in 2008.
A project of archiving NATA historical documents was considered.

2008

NATA’s 85th Birthday was celebrated at the fall conference in Seward with a theme of “paper”; participants were encouraged to create a paper birthday hat for the awards banquet.
Effort put forward to standardize the awards process with rubrics.
From 2008-2010, Exhibits Chair Christy Kosmicki designed and established the online art educators annual exhibit site and process.

2009

Along with several other fine arts organizations, NATA recommended the reinstatement of a state consultant for visual and performing arts; this was a position vacant since 2003.
The Nebraska School Visual Arts Contest Committee investigated reinstating NATA’s involvement with Scholastic Arts Competition.
A new NATA Funding Proposal Form was introduced as a means for members to request funds for special projects.
Code of Ethical Conduct and Conflict of Interest policy documents utilized by the board.
NAEA began the process for writing platform and position statements for members to use in their work.

The 2010s

2010

Longtime leader Marvin Spomer passed away in November. Later, an award in his name would be created to honor outstanding pre-service members.
Nebraska hosted the NAEA Western Region Summer Leadership Conference, June 25-27; Angie Fischer chaired the event.
Proposal from NATA Student Representative Amber Kosmicki to host the first annual preservice spring forum at UNK in 2011. This was a one-day workshop for art education majors from Nebraska colleges and universities. This forum continues to this day.

2011

Angie Fischer was elected as NAEA Supervision and Administration Division Director serving 2011-2013 as elect and 2013-2015 as director.
ESU Meet & Greets utilized for learning, creating, and connecting.
Spring Preservice Student Forum utilized instead of a spring conference; student forum continues to the present day.

2012

Longtime leader Dr. Frances Thurber passed away in May. Later, an award given to novice art educators would bear her name.
Co-Presidents Bob Reeker and Lorinda Rice spearheaded an in-depth study to reconfigure the NATA Board of Directors.
Nebraska / Iowa Collaborative Conference held in the fall in Council Bluffs and Omaha..

2013

Debbie DeFrain hired as Nebraska Department of Education Director of Fine Arts in May. She held that position until she retired in August 2021.
Wayne, Nebraska hosted fall conference for the first time.

2014

Co-Presidents Lynette Fast and Allison Fees-Varah, with board approval, piloted a nine voting member board of directors down from 30+. This included four appointed directors overseeing chairs (Advocacy/PR, Community, Member Services, and Professional Learning).
Job Descriptions were formulated to reflect the new board structure.
The use of Google Drive formats began in earnest as all official NATA documents became digitized, moving forward.
Using the National Fine Arts Standards as guidance, Nebraska developed statewide standards in visual arts, music, dance, theater, and media arts.
Fall conference was held in Aurora with the theme of Retreat into Art…Naturally. Carolyn Albracht chaired the event that brought together artists, naturalists, and educators to collaborate on workshop sessions.

2015

Sandy Skoglund was keynote speaker at the Joslyn in Omaha at the fall conference.
NATA purchased several display boards for use during Youth Art Month and other exhibits.

2016

Bob Reeker served as NAEA National Convention Coordinator for Chicago.
Reeker was also elected as NAEA Western Region Vice President serving 2016-2018 as elect and 2018-2020 as vice president.
Awards committee completed new piloted awards rubrics.

2017

Lorinda Rice was elected as NAEA Supervision and Administration Division Director serving 2017-2019 as elect and 2019-2021 as director.

2018

NATA received an illustrious Governor’s Arts Award.
Dr. Sheila Brown, former Nebraska Department of Education Fine Arts Consultant passed away in November. She retired from NDE in 2003.
Under the direction of Past President Julie Ryan, NATA began the process to reinstate the organization's 501(c)(3) status, completing it in 2019.

2019

This was the first fall conference where no theme was chosen; it followed the trend of national convention. Held in Nebraska City, it was the first time to ever be in the Arbor Day City.

The 2020s (2020-2023)

2020

Due to the world-wide pandemic, NATA pivoted and hosted its first ever virtual fall conference with Jane Langenfeld and Julie Ryan serving as co-chairpersons.
Camaraderie and Conversations virtual meetings, spearheaded by NATA Co-Past President Jody Boyer and Josephine Langbehn held to connect members during the pandemic.

2021

With President Bill Cavill moving out of state, Bob Reeker became the Interim President with Josephine Langbehn moving to Interim President-elect and Jody Boyer completing the Past Presidency.
Webinars hosted by NATA supported retired members and those rural members teaching K-12.

2022

Mission and Vision statements updated, value statements formulated through a lens of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. Adopted by board fall 2022.
Long-time NATA leader, Roscoe L. Shields Jr. passed away in December. The service award in his name has been given to a member in long standing who has made many contributions since 1977.
Cody Talrarico was hired as the Nebraska Department of Education Fine Arts Specialist.

2023

A review of NATA Board and Liaison Job Descriptions was conducted.
A grant awarded to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln provided funds for Art Teams which allowed cohorts of art educators to collaborate and further learning; this grant also provided funds for each cohort member to receive a NATA membership.

NATA Executive Committees NATA Conference History

NATA Awards History

*Forty-year summary (1984-2023) compiled by Bob Reeker, NATA President with support from former NATA Presidents: Lynette Fast, Christy Kosmicki, Sister Margaret Proskovec, and Julie Ryan.

-October 12, 2023