The Guild is Coming to Philadelphia!
This November, the National Guild for Community Arts Education launches its FY27 Regional Convening series in Philadelphia with Connect – Learn – Lead: a one-day gathering bringing together community arts education leaders, practitioners, teaching artists, and partners to strengthen relationships, exchange ideas, and explore what our field needs next.
We’re especially excited to begin this next chapter in partnership with Settlement Music School, a founding member of the National Guild.
Friday, November 6, 2026
Settlement Music School | Philadelphia, PA
Event at a Glance
Friday, November 6, 2026
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Settlement Music School
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
One full day of:
Networking • Keynotes • Breakout Sessions • Regional Conversations • Shared Learning
Featured Keynote: Widening the Aperture: Leading with Curiosity, Intention & Connection
James C. Horton
President & CEO
Harlem School of Arts
Heather Ikemire
Executive Director
Lifetime Arts
What changes when we widen the aperture of our work?
Drawing on their perspectives in creative youth development and creative aging, James C. Horton and Heather Ikemire explore a shared proposition: creativity is essential infrastructure for human flourishing across the lifespan.
At a moment of real challenge for arts education, this keynote invites us to look beyond the boundaries of our individual programs and organizations and recognize how deeply our work connects to some of the most pressing priorities facing our communities.
James and Heather will explore what it means to lead with curiosity about where our work can matter, intention about the change we seek to make, and connection to people and priorities beyond our field. Drawing from their work at different ends of the lifespan, they’ll share practical approaches to building relationships across sectors and communicating the value of our work in ways that open new doors.
Whether you’re a teaching artist, administrator, or executive director, the question isn’t simply how we sustain what we’ve built—it’s how we recognize and activate the power of what we bring to the table.
Moderator: Helen Eaton, Settlement Music School
Registration
We’re keeping the Regional Convening accessible while providing additional value for Guild members.
| Registration | Guild Member | Non-Member |
|---|---|---|
| Early Bird | $75 | $155 |
| Regular | $95 | $185 |
| Group Rate — 3 Participants | $180 | $420 |
Bring Your Team
Organizations are encouraged to attend together.
Our group rate for three participants makes it easier for colleagues to experience different breakout sessions, make connections across the field, and bring the learning back to their organization.
Come Back to the Guild. Or Come Meet Us for the First Time.
Whether you’ve been connected to the National Guild for decades or are discovering this network for the first time, Philadelphia is an opportunity to be part of what we’re building next.
The Guild is bringing together the people already doing the work, learning from one another, strengthening regional relationships, and rebuilding a national network around what the field needs now.
LEAD NATIONAL SPONSOR
REGIONAL & EVENT SPONSOR
