06/17/2026
Last week, Yale Schwarzman Center hosted the 2026 Annual Meeting of Arts Administrators in Higher Education (AAHE) for several days of thoughtful collaboration, performance, and dialogue.
The conference served as an important platform for addressing the complex challenges facing the arts in higher education today. Through workshops and discussions, as well as works-in-progress viewings, participants connected with colleagues across different institutions, exchanged ideas, and shared innovative approaches to problem-solving. These conversations reinforced the vital role that the arts play in fostering creativity, belonging, and learning across campuses and communities.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the AAHE Executive Committee for their dedication to advancing the arts in higher education, as well as Schwarzman Center co-chairs Jennifer Newman and Nichole L. Knight, whose vision and hard work helped bring this gathering to life. We also thank the attendees, presenters, and staff whose engagement and expertise made the conference an enriching experience for all!
Special shoutout to our community partners who made this conference possible: Beinecke Library, Yale University Art Gallery, Yale Center for Collaborative Arts and Media, Lost in New Haven, NXTHVN, New Haven Symphony Orchestra, New Haven Department of Arts, Culture, and Tourism, Yale School of Art, Southern Connecticut State University
Photo: Laura Dragusha ‘27