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Alexandria, VA— The National Art Education Association (NAEA) has named Emily Holtrop, Director of Learning & Interpretation at the Cincinnati Art Museum, as the recipient of the 2018 National Museum Education Art Educator award.

This prestigious award, determined through a peer review of nominations, recognizes the exemplary contributions, service, and achievements of one outstanding NAEA member annually at the National level within their division. The award will be presented at the NAEA National Convention in Seattle, Washington, March 22–24, 2018.

NAEA President Kim Huyler Defibaugh states, "This award is being given to recognize excellence in professional accomplishment and service by a dedicated art educator. Emily Holtrop exemplifies the highly qualified art educators active in education today: leaders, teachers, students, scholars and advocates who give their best to their students and the profession."

With over 17 years of museum education experience, Holtrop has worked in the Division of Learning & Interpretation at the Cincinnati Art Museum since 2002. Her previous position with the museum was as the former assistant curator for school and teacher programs. In her current role, she oversees the museum’s interpretive and educational initiatives. This includes public programs for all audiences and abilities as well as gallery interpretation.

Before coming to the Cincinnati Art Museum, Holtrop was the Education Outreach Coordinator for the Historical Museum of Southern Florida and the Caribbean, now History Miami.

Holtrop served as the National Art Education Association Museum Education Division Director from 2015–17. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Association of Midwest Museums and the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education. Holtrop holds an A.A. in Art History from Grand Rapids Community College, a B.A. in Public History from Western Michigan University and an MSc. in Architectural History from the University College of London-Bartlett School of Architecture. She currently resides in Dayton, Ky.

NAEA is the professional association for art educators. Members include elementary, secondary, middle level and high school art teachers; university and college professors; education directors who oversee education in our nation’s fine art museums, administrators and supervisors who oversee art education in school districts, state departments of education, arts councils; and teaching artists throughout the United States and many foreign countries. For more information about the association and its awards program visit the NAEA website at www.arteducators.org.

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