Student Advocates for the Arts
Student Advocates for the Arts is a grassroots student organization committed to educating on and advocating for public policy affecting the arts in the United States. Founded in 2002 by graduate students in the Arts Administration Program at Teachers College, Columbia University, SAA was reorganized in 2025 to pursue and support positive change in local arts organizations and policies through research, education, and advocacy.
Our Mission
Our mission is to increase student awareness and engagement in the local visual and performing arts communities by researching and educating about issues surrounding the field, and advocating for positive change in organizations and policies.
Our Scope
- Members come from a variety of academic and artistic disciplines. All students in the Arts Administration program automatically become members of SAA upon entering the program
- The three standing committees of SAA will be the Research, Education, and Advocacy committees, each helmed by their respective Vice-President.
- We collaborate with related arts, arts advocacy, and student organizations.
For more information, please e-mail us at saa@tc.columbia.edu.