The Wisconsin Alliance for Arts Education is an affiliate of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network, a network of state-wide alliances that work on partnership with the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to ensure that the arts remain as an essential part of every child's pre K - 12th grade education.

The WAAE was formed in 1975 as a result of a state position paper on arts education. Since that time the WAAE has been instrumental in ensuring the arts remain a part of every child's education through advocacy work and staff development opportunities.