March 24-26, 2010
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Albany, NY

Click HERE to Register Online!

CommonGround is the annual New York State arts-in-education conference that brings over 150 administrators, teachers, teaching artists, and community members together for three days of policy setting, planning, exchange of skills and inspirational speakers. This gathering contributes to fresh curriculum design, school reform and new models for classroom learning.

This year the NYS Alliance for Arts Education will be serving as the lead organizer of the conference, working in collaboration with Empire State Partnerships, the Capital Region BOCES, the NYS Department of Education, and the BOCES Arts in Education Network.

NYS Commissioner of Education
David Steiner

NYSAAE is excited to announce that NYS Commissioner of Education David Steiner will be delivering the keynote address on Thursday, March 25th. Beginning his tenure last October, Dr. Steiner was formerly the Dean of the Hunter College School of Education at the City University of New York, Commissioner Steiner is best known for his leadership of the national effort to transform teacher preparation and improve teacher quality.

Prior to Hunter College, Dr. Steiner served as the Director of Arts Education at the National Endowment for the Arts where he designed and inaugurated the first national program to fund intensive teacher-preparation to present major, complex works of art in classrooms; strengthened assessment and accountability systems to evaluate learning outcomes in the NEA’s arts grants programs; and worked with Jazz at Lincoln Center to co-develop the Endowment’s first on-line jazz curriculum.

For more details on our keynote speaker, click here.

NYSAAE is pleased to announce a number of special opportunities in conjunction with the CommonGround 2010 conference.

VSA arts Pre-Conference Workshop
Wednesday, March 24
This full day program will offer insights on providing arts experiences for and with people with disabilities. Click here for further details.

Empire State Partnerships Pre-Conference Program 'Spring Seminar'
Wednesday, March 24
This full day of programming targeted to the professional development needs of those participating in ESP partnerships is open to all. Click here for further details.

Capital Region BOCES - ARTS Professional Development Day 2010
Friday, March 26
Offers workshops specifically designed to meet the needs of Specialists in Visual and Performing Arts to integrate arts into other curricular areas and to foster 21st Century Skills and interdisciplinary team teaching. Click here for details on the workshops that will be offered.

BONUS CULTURAL OPPORTUNITY
During February and March Capital Repertory Theater is presenting "To Kill A Mockingbird", with a performance on Wednesday, March 24th at 7:30PM. Cap Rep has graciously made discounted tickets available to those attending the CommonGround conference for just $20 each! In order to receive the discounted rate, tickets must be purchased by calling the box office 518-445-SHOW (518-445-7469) and mention promotional code #552. Don't miss the opportunity to take in this both "heartwarming and chilling" show!

Click HERE to Register Online!

This conference is designed for general classroom teachers, sequential arts and music educators, school administrators, teaching artists, library media specialists and cultural organizations.

Registration includes all workshops, keynote address, networking opportunities, and lunch.

Registration is now OPEN - All registrations can be processed online including those who will be paying via purchase order. (You will receive and e-mail and on-screen confirmation of your registration which can be submitted to your business office.)

Click HERE to Register Online!

* Early Bird rates expire January 31, 2010

Join NYSAAE TODAY and SAVE! - Click here to Join online!

$35 for Students (with valid college ID)
Valid on single day registrations only.

Groups
Groups of three or more registering together are eligible for a 10% discount on registration.
Groups may register online (please enter the same 'group name' for each registration) and submit ONE check to cover all registration fees. (Select 'send a check' option on online registration form.)

Teachers who attend may be eligible for up to six hours of professional development credit per day attended.

Click HERE to Register Online!

Discounted hotel rooms are available at:
The Crowne Plaza Albany Hotel
$110 / night
Call 1-877-462-4441 to book a room
Mention "CommonGround" or group code "AZR" to receive the discounted rate.
Note - this is the lowest available room rate - equal to government approved rate.
PLEASE be sure to mention CommonGround or the group code when booking to ensure that our event is credited for your stay.

You must book your room by February 28, 2010 in order to receive the discounted conference rate!

Take the Train to CommonGround and SAVE!

NYSAAE has arranged for a special discount code to save YOU money on train fare.

If you travel between 3/21 to 3/29 to Albany, NY via Amtrak, you are eligible for a 10% discount off of the lowest available rail fare.

To access this discount you must book your reservation by calling 1-800-872-7245 and use the Special Amtrak Convention Fare Code number X92A-979.

This code is not available for booking travel online – you MUST book your travel by calling 1-800-872-7245.

Note: The Crowne Plaza offers FREE shuttle service to and from the train station.

NYSAAE offers two scholarships to every professional development program we sponsor. Please submit an application for the Robert J. Ludwig Scholarship to be considered for the scholarship opportunity. For details on the Robert J. Ludwig Scholarships - click here

Applications for the Robert J. Ludwig Scholarship for this event must be received by February 26, 2010

Technical Assistance Program (TAP) - The NYSCA TAP funds formerly adminstered by Partners for Arts Education will NOT be available to support attendance at this year's CommonGround conference.

Exhibitor tables are $95 each. Electricity is an additional $35 per day.

Exhibitor registration includes access to exhibit area only. Exhibitors or exhibitor representatives who wish to attend conference programming and events must register separately for the conference.

Click HERE to register as an EXHIBITOR.

Program Display Adversting

Provide our attendees with information on your organization with a display ad in our conference program. Space is limited!

You can reserve your program display advertising space using the exhibitor reservation form - click here.
All program adverstising must be submitted electronically as 300dpi jpegs.

Questions? director@nysaae.org