The Arts, Media, and Entertainment (AME) Institute is dedicated to strengthening the pipeline from public education to the creative industries, with a special focus on ensuring that students, particularly those from underrepresented communities, have access to high-wage jobs in the creative sectors. With the rise of digital technologies and shifting industry demands, there was a pressing need to equip educators with the knowledge to better prepare students for careers in the creative industries. Additionally, the Institute's Board was seeking to refine its strategic goals to ensure that its initiatives would have a lasting impact on students and educators nationwide.

Our ongoing engagement with the AME Institute involves two key initiatives: supporting their annual conference and facilitating Board goal-setting and strategy sessions. We began by conducting a comprehensive analysis of the current trends in creative occupations, which informed our approach to developing training programs for educators. With the Board, we focused on ensuring that the Institute’s mission — bridging the gap between public education and high-wage creative industry jobs — was reflected in their strategic objectives. Our recommendations included expanding partnerships with industry leaders, enhancing curriculum offerings to align with industry needs, and leveraging data to measure changes in the creative career landscape.