This theme issue presents art advocacy as a necessary means of bringing art and art education to an elevated status in the elementary secondary curriculum and educational system. Articles include: (1) "Editor's View" (Margaret Scarr); (2) "Art Education: Why Is It Important" (Arts Education Partnership Working Group); (3) "Why Art in Education and Why Art Education?" (Elliot W. Eisner); (4) "Informed Advocacy and Art Education" (Rita L. Irwin); (5) "Seeing through the Eyes of the Arts" (John C. Polanyi); (6) "More Than Pumpkins in October - Visual Literacy in the 21st Century" (National School Boards Association); (7) "Creative Showcasing Student Work Bridging Gaps, Forming Networks" (Myra Eadie); (8) "Art Instruction in the Elementary Classroom" (R. Lloyd Ryan); and (9) "Arts Education as a Catalyst to Reform: Cultural Diversity and Arts Education" (F. Graeme Chalmers). (MM)