United by their common commitments to quality, accessibility, and accountability in arts education, Guild members foster lifelong participation in the performing, visual, and literary arts and develop the artists (amateur and professional) and audiences of the future.

Who They Are

• Our more than 450 member organizations include community schools of the arts, arts centers, and arts education divisions of performing arts institutions, universities, museums, and other organizations. They are located in urban, suburban, and rural communities in 45 states.
• More than two-thirds of Guild members were founded in the last 25 years. Half of those were founded after 1990.
• The oldest member organization was founded in 1894. The youngest is a few months old.
• Enrollments at member organizations range from fewer than 100 to more than 7,000.

Who They Serve

• Together our members serve 1.2 million students of all ages, backgrounds, and aptitudes each year by providing open access to classes, lessons, and workshops in dance, literary arts, media arts, music, theater, visual arts, and other artistic disciplines.
• They reach six million more Americans through performances and exhibitions each year
• Through partnerships with public schools, senior centers, public agencies, and other organizations, our members ensure the broadest possible access to arts education.

What They Offer

• Guild member organizations provide direct instruction in the arts through group classes and individual lessons.
• They also offer learning and development  through the arts, with a focus on such areas as positive aging, youth development, and community building.

Their Economic Impact

• The annual budgets of Guild member organizations range from $5,000 to more than $10 million.
• The combined budget of member organizations is more than $300 million per year.
• More than 16,000 professional artists are employed as teachers in Guild member organizations.